Can I widen my driveway or add a parking pad in Sterling Heights?

Yes, up to a hard cap: impervious and hard surfaces may cover at most 45 percent of your front yard, counting the driveway, any extension strips, and paved parking areas (Section 3.04.A.14). A corner lot gets the 45 percent measured only on the front yard containing the driveway to the garage, not both frontages (Section 3.04.A.14.a).

A horseshoe driveway is allowed if the lot can fit one within the 45 percent (Section 3.04.A.13). On streets with a right-of-way of 86 feet or more, one paved turn-around pad up to 200 square feet is allowed on top of the 45 percent (Section 3.04.A.14.b).

New driveways must be poured concrete (or approved alternative paving) installed under Chapter 48 of the City Code and city engineering standards, including flares (Section 3.04.A.12). Parking must stay on paved surfaces; parking on the lawn is not allowed, and paved front yard parking is only lawful as part of a driveway configuration (Section 23.01.J). Relief from the 45 percent cap requires a Zoning Board of Appeals variance (Section 3.04.A.14.c).