What is the minimum house size in Sterling Heights?
It scales with the district: 2,000 square feet in R-100 and R-90, 1,800 in R-80, 1,400 in R-70, and 1,000 in R-60 (Section 3.04.A.7). These are per-dwelling floor area minimums, so many newer Sterling Heights neighborhoods require substantially larger homes than the region's older suburbs.
Every new house must also be at least 24 feet wide across any front, side, or rear elevation, sit on a permanent perimeter foundation, connect to public sewer and water (or approved private facilities), and be aesthetically compatible with homes within 2,000 feet, including a roof overhang or approved drainage design (Section 28.08.D-G).
In R-2, each duplex unit needs 800 square feet; multiple family minimums run from 600 square feet for an efficiency to 1,100 for four bedrooms (Section 4.04.A.5; Section 6.04.C.3).
Sources
Full text: Sterling Heights ordinance on American Legal Publishing codelibrary (2026 S-46, current through Ord. 509, passed 5-19-26). Applies to districts: R-100, R-90, R-80, R-70, R-60, R-2.
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