We pour concrete in Sterling Heights, MI for driveways, approaches, patios, walks and steps, just east of Troy across Dequindre Road. Sterling Heights is stricter than many neighbors: all proposed concrete work needs plan review and a concrete permit, whether a homeowner or a contractor does it. Front-yard pavement is also capped at 45 percent of the front yard, which matters if you want to widen a driveway. We prepare the plot plan, apply for the permit and design within the limits. Call (248) 453-1088.
Sterling Heights homes and driveways
Sterling Heights is Macomb County's largest suburb near Troy, with neighborhoods built mostly from the 1960s through the 1990s along Van Dyke, Hall Road, Schoenherr, Utica Road, Dodge Park Road and Metropolitan Parkway. Ranches and colonials here often still have their original driveways and approaches, now cracked, settled and scaled after decades of salt. Replacement is the most common job, frequently with a request to widen.
The Sterling Heights concrete permit
The city publishes a Concrete Packet that explains the rules. The key points:
- All proposed concrete work requires plan review and a concrete permit before work starts.
- The plot plan shows the existing and proposed driveway and approach, the thickness and the distance to property lines.
- Front-yard pavement is limited to 45 percent of the front yard. The service walk counts toward that limit; the public sidewalk does not. The packet lists certain exemptions.
- Pavers and stamped concrete are not allowed in the public sidewalk. Pavers or stamped concrete in the approach require a hold-harmless agreement.
- If the approach meets a county road, a Macomb County road permit is also required.
We draw the plot plan, calculate the front-yard paving percentage and submit the packet. Work starts only after approval.
Widening within the 45 percent limit
Widening is where the front-yard cap comes in. On a typical lot, a two-car driveway plus a service walk already takes up a good share of the front yard. Before you plan a third-car pad or a circular drive, we measure the front yard and calculate what is allowed. Sometimes the answer is a narrower extension, a side-yard pad or a different layout. Learn more about concrete driveways in Sterling Heights and how we build them.
Decorative work on private property
Because the public sidewalk cannot be stamped, decorative work in Sterling Heights usually happens on private property: stamped concrete patios, front walks and borders. Backyard patios in Sterling Heights are popular in the newer northern subdivisions, where yards are bigger.
Places we work around Sterling Heights
We work across the city, from the neighborhoods near the Sterling Heights Nature Center on Utica Road to the homes around Dodge Park along the Clinton River. The Clinton River side of town has lower, wetter soils in places, and we pay close attention to base and drainage there.
Soils and drainage near the Clinton River
Parts of Sterling Heights near the Clinton River and the lower areas east of Van Dyke have heavier, wetter soils. Concrete poured on soft, wet clay tends to settle and crack, especially near the garage where roof water collects. On those properties we dig out soft material, add base depth where needed and set slopes that carry water away from the house. We also check downspout discharge points, because a downspout dumping beside a new driveway can wash out the base within a few seasons.
What a Sterling Heights quote includes
Because every Sterling Heights concrete job needs a permit, our quotes here include the plot plan, the front-yard paving calculation for any widening, and the permit application. The quote lists the driveway and approach dimensions, thickness, base, mix, joint layout and finish. If the approach meets a county road, we note the Macomb County road permit as a separate item. You will know before work starts what the city will review and what the inspection schedule looks like.
Ranches and colonials from the 1970s and 1980s
Many Sterling Heights homes from this era have the original two-car driveway with a narrow service walk to the front door. Owners often want a wider walk, a larger landing at the door, or a small stoop rebuilt at the same time as the driveway. Combining them into one permit and one pour day saves time and keeps the look consistent.
We also check where the driveway meets the public sidewalk, since that crossing is thickened and must line up with the city's walk at the correct grade.
Nearby cities
Sterling Heights borders Troy directly, across Dequindre Road. Many projects here look like our work back home, so the Troy concrete contractor homepage is a good place to compare. See all service areas for more.
County roads and approaches
Many Sterling Heights homes sit on city streets, but some front county roads under the Macomb County Department of Roads. In those cases the approach needs a county road permit as well as the city concrete permit. We check the road owner and plan both permits together, so the inspection schedule does not hold up your pour.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a new driveway in Sterling Heights?
Yes. Sterling Heights requires plan review and a concrete permit for all proposed concrete work, including driveways, whether a homeowner or contractor does it. The application includes a plot plan with the existing and proposed driveway and approach, thickness and distance to property lines. Work starts only after the permit is approved.
How much of my front yard can I pave in Sterling Heights?
The city caps front-yard pavement at 45 percent of the front yard. Your service walk counts toward that total, but the public sidewalk does not, and the city lists certain exemptions. We measure the front yard and calculate the percentage before designing a widening or new layout, so the plan passes review.
Can I have stamped concrete in my approach or sidewalk?
Not in the public sidewalk. Sterling Heights does not allow pavers or stamped concrete there. In the driveway approach, pavers or stamped concrete require a hold-harmless agreement with the city. Most owners keep decorative concrete on private property, such as patios, front walks and driveway borders, where those rules do not apply.