New Michigan Legislation Exempts Landscaping from Permit Process

A new bill exempting waterfront property owners from obtaining a permit for routine landscaping has alarmed some environmentalists who say this will have a negative impact on soil erosion.
Photo courtesy of Dreamland Homes, Michigan.

The Michigan State senate recently approved a bill that exempts homeowners along waterways from obtaining a permit to perform routine landscaping on their properties. Michigan Republicans passed the bill, despite objections from Democrats who said the legislation would hurt efforts to protect waterways from pollution. Before this legislation was passed, laws required a locally issued soil erosion permit for any ?EUR??,,????'??earth change?EUR??,,????'?? that disturbed one or more acres or was within 500 feet of a lake, stream or wetland. The Detroit Free Press reports that residents have been fined in the past for planting flowers or repairing seawalls without a permit. But the new bill exempts property owners from acquiring a permit for ?EUR??,,????'??normal and customary?EUR??,,????'?? residential landscaping; gardening, as long as the area's natural elevation is not raised; digging holes for fences, decks and mailboxes; and stockpiling less than 10 cubic yards of soil, sand or gravel at least 100 feet from the water. Opponents of this bill say that regulations regarding soil erosion should be dealt with on a statewide basis, rather than at the individual county or city level.