Autos and Trailers

Autos and Trailers: Ordinance 66-13 Section 1 defines a vehicle as:

Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices moved by
human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

Therefore, any car, truck, van, camper, motor home, or
trailer, motorcycle, snowmobile, or trailer carrying a boat, etc. is subject to
this ordinance.

Junk Cars, Wrecked Vehicles and Unlicensed Vehicles

• No person shall allow any partially dismantled, non-operating wrecked, junked or discarded vehicles to remain on any property within the City longer than 48 hours.
• All vehicles must display a valid license issued by the Michigan Secretary of State. It is unlawful for a vehicle to remain unlicensed on any property within the City for a longer time than 48 hours.

Exceptions:

• A vehicle stored within an enclosed building.
• A vehicle on the premise of a business enterprise operated in a lawful place and manner, when necessary to the operation of such business enterprise.
• A vehicle in an appropriate storage place or depository maintained in a lawful place and manner by the City.
• Temporary storage on residential property of not more than one unlicensed vehicle, for not more than 30 days, while the owner is actively engaged in attempting to sell such motor vehicle.

Parking of Vehicles

Zoning ordinance C-2 states that vehicles shall be parked
on a concrete or asphalt driveway, parking strip, garage or combination of
same.

Parking of vehicles on the grass or in the front yard is prohibited.

Any pop up trailers, motor homes, camper trailers or recreational vehicles must be parked behind the front house setback. No portion of the vehicle may extend beyond the front of the house. They must also be parked on a concrete or asphalt driveway.

Commercial Vehicles

In districts zoned for one family, two family or multiple family use for each dwelling unit on a lot not more than one (1) commercial vehicle having a weight fully equipped of not more than 6,000 pounds owned by an
occupant may be parked or housed on the premises.

Violators of these ordinances will be issued Civil Infraction tickets, or may be arraigned in the 44^th District
Court.

Fences and Screens

Fences and Privacy Screens

In general:

• Fences can not be taller than 6 feet.
• Front yard fences can not be taller than 4 feet.
• On corner lots, sight-obscuring fences within 20 feet of a street intersection cannot be taller than 3 feet measured from the level of the street.
• Sight-obscuring fences within 10 feet of an intersection of a driveway and sidewalk cannot be taller than 3 feet measured from the level of the sidewalk.
• Privacy screens are allowed in rear yards only.
• Privacy screens may be 8 feet tall if they meet the required side yard set backs (See Zoning Ordinance C-2).
• Fences can not be installed in the Public Right-of-Way.
• The good side of a fence must face out (support posts inside).
• Old materials can not be used.
• Materials must be of similar type (wood posts for wood fences, etc.)
• Barbed wire is not allowed.

Note: Effective September '95, the Building Code Board of Appeals approved vinyl materials for use in fencing.

For further details, see Fence Ordinance 91-17, available in the City Clerk's Office, or the Building Inspection Department.

Violators of this ordinance will be issued Civil Infraction tickets. If you have any questions, please ask a Building Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer, prior to installing your fence.

Home Occupations

HOME OCCUPATIONS

As defined in Zoning Ordinance C-2 Section 201 (22):

It is the intent of this paragraph to recognize the need for and permit residents to use their dwellings in the conduct of an occupation while insuring that the occupation is compatible with the residential character of the neighborhood so as to preserve its tranquility, property values and general welfare. Therefore, home occupations shall be defined as those meeting the following standards:

• The occupation shall be clearly subordinate and incidental to the primary use of a dwelling for residential purposes.
• No person other than a resident of the dwelling is engaged or employed in the home occupation.
• The home occupation shall be carried on wholly within the dwelling - no such occupation may be conducted in any accessory building or attached garage and there shall be no exterior operations, storage or display of materials, products, inventory or equipment.
• Not more than ten percent (10%) of the total habitable floor area of the dwelling including any basement area may be used in connection with the home occupation.
• The home occupation shall not require, or result in, any interior or exterior alterations to the dwelling or property upon which the dwelling is located.
• No material or mechanical or electrical equipment may be utilized except that which is necessarily, customarily and ordinarily used for household or leisure purposes.
• No toxic, explosive, flammable, combustible, corrosive, radioactive or other restricted materials may be used in connection with the home occupation or stored in the dwelling.
• No storage or display of goods within the dwelling unit shall be visible from outside the dwelling unit.
• Both the type of vehicles involved and the frequency of vehicular trips resulting from or necessary to the home occupation shall not differ perceptively from that normally, customarily and reasonably expected for a dwelling unit absent a home occupation.
• The home occupation shall not require additional off-street parking spaces or loading/unloading areas.
• There shall be no advertising display or identification of the home occupation on the property other than one non-illuminated name plate attached flush to the dwelling entrance which is not more than one square foot in area.

RESTRICTIONS ON PARKING OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

In distrcts zoned for one-family, two family or multiple family use, for each dwelling unit on a lot not more than one (1) commercial vehicle having a weight fully equipped of not more than 6,000 pounds, owned by an occupant, may be parked or housed on the premises.

DAY CARE AS A HOME OCCUPATION

This is permissible when the furnishing of care and supervision at one time to not more than five (5) minor children who are unrelated to an adult member of the household by blood or marriage is provided by an occupant of the dwelling unit.

Rodent Harborage

Preventing Rodent Harborage

All structures and exterior property shall be kept free from rat infestation. Where rats are found they shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes which will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.

All foundation walls shall be maintained plumb and free from open cracks and breaks and shall be kept in such condition so as to prevent the entry of rats.

Exterior Storage

All Building materials, lumber, boxes, cartons, barrels, bottles, cans, containers, machinery, junk, raw materials, fabricated goods and similar items which may afford harborage for rats shall be stored or stacked either upon rat-proof paved areas or elevated eighteen (18) inches above the ground and shall be separated into storage units as to minimize the possibility of rat harborage and as to permit inspection and extermination procedures.

Logs must be stacked upon a cement pad or elevated eighteen (18) inches above the ground.

Bird Feeders

No person shall feed wild birds other than by means of approved containers elevated at least forty-eight (48) inches above the ground level.

• No person shall throw food on the ground for birds or other animals as this may also cause rodent harborage.
• Do not put food for pets outside of the house, as this will attract rodents.

All exterior storage of rubbish shall be securely stored in a container with a tight fitting lid to prevent rodents from disturbing.

Tall Grass

Code Enforcement overview and summary of: Tall Grass & Weeds

Public Service Department workers clear a property Code Enforcement had ordered cleaned up due to weeds, illegal dumping, rodent harborage and graffiti. When a property owner fails to comply, Code Enforcement relies on DPS to respond to clear the violation. This includes everything from mowing grass and weeds to removing junk. DPS assesses the cost of the work to the property owner.

Tall Grass, Scrub Tree Growth and Weeds

Within the City of Royal Oak, it shall be the duty of all owners of land to see that no scrub brush, scrub trees or long rank grass grows more than twelve (12) inches in height. Failure of the owner to maintain their yard will result in the issuance of Civil Infraction tickets. The City may also enter upon said land where tall grass or weeds are found and destroy by cutting all growth over twelve (12) inches in height. The cost incurred will be billed to the owner of the property. (Ordinance 62-13 Section 4.1)

It shall be the duty of all owners of land on which noxious weeds are found growing to destroy the same before they reach a seed-bearing stage and to prevent such weeds from perpetuating themselves or to prevent such weeds becoming a detriment to public health. (Ordinance 62-13 Section 4.1)

NOTE: Properties not maintained are subject to being cleared by the Public Services Department at the property owner's expense.

For yard waste disposal information, visit any one of the following:

• www.socrra.org
• Yard WasteGuidelines
• Brush Chipping

Temporary Signs

TEMPORARY SIGNS

GARAGE SALE, ELECTION SIGNS, HOUSE FOR SALE, HOUSE FOR RENT, HELP WANTED, ETC.

Sign ordinance 77-21 of the City of Royal Oak regulates the size and location of all signs in Royal Oak, including those mentioned above.

It is unlawful to place a sign or advertisement or other matter upon any lamp post, electric light, telephone pole, fire hydrant, tree, or on any pavement, sidewalk or crosswalk, public building or any property or thing belonging to the City, or any article or thing within any park.

Signs placed on a city easement or public right of way, including the area between the sidewalk and curb, will be removed.

It is also unlawful to place any sign on any private property without first having obtained the permission of the owner, agents or occupants of the premises.

INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY SALE OR RENTAL SIGNS

• Signs may be freestanding or wall mounted only. Signs may not emit direct illumination and must be removed within 14 days after sale or rental of property.
• In single family residence and two family residence a maximum of one (1) sign per dwelling, with a maximum area of six (6) square feet, and a maximum height of five (5) feet.
• Sign location must be setback of a minimum of ten (10) feet from the curb line, but wholly upon the premises.

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN SIGNS

• Signs can not exceed ten (10) square feet
• Signs shall be confined to private property and shall be removed within fourteen (14) days after election for which they were erected.

Any sign which by reason of its size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers, or by obstructing or
detracting from the visibility of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads is strictly prohibited.

GARAGE SALE SIGNS ARE NOT TO BE PLACED ON UTILITY POLES OR ANY OTHER CITY OWNED PROPERTY. THESE SIGNS WILL BE REMOVED AND A CIVIL INFRACTION TICKET MAY BE ISSUED.

Any person or business wishing to construct or install a permanent sign should obtain a copy of the Sign Ordinance 77-21 from the City Clerk's Office. A sign permit must also be obtained from the Building
Department.

Please note, Sign Ordinance 77-21 is currently under review and this information is subject to change (July 1999).

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