Custom Home Builder in Birmingham, MI
Building In Birmingham
Birmingham looks after its neighborhoods carefully, with published rules on fencing, working hours, deliveries and street trees. It protects your future neighbors, and it protects you. We plan your build around those rules from the first day.
We work alongside your architect or designer. They lead the design. We help make sure it fits Birmingham’s rules, keep you informed at every step, and build it with care.
What To Know Before You Build In Birmingham
This is what the City of Birmingham itself publishes. Each link goes to the city’s own page, which is the one to rely on.
How Big A Home Can Be
The city’s zoning rules set limits on the size and position of a home, and they vary by lot. As published, they include:
- How much of the lot buildings may cover, listed as up to 30%
- How much of the lot stays open, listed as at least 40%
- How far the home sits back from the street, in line with the homes around it
- A rear yard, listed as at least 30 feet, and space on each side
- Height, listed as up to two stories
The city confirms the figures for each lot. We go through them for your address with your designer.
Source: City of Birmingham Zoning Ordinance. Checked October 11, 2026.
Taking Down An Old House
Whether a house may come down is the city’s decision for each property. The city’s page lists a separate permit for it, and asks for these first:
- The power, gas and water shut off
- A survey of the lot
- A written note to the next-door neighbors
- Photos of each side of the old house
- A fence around the lot before any work starts
We check with the city for your address and work through the list with you.
Source: City of Birmingham, Demolition Requirements. Checked October 11, 2026.
Permits
The city reviews the plans for a new home, along with how the lot will drain and connect to water and sewer. We put the application together with you and your architect.
The city says to allow about two to three weeks for its review. That is the city’s own estimate, and it can vary. We will always tell you where things stand.
Sources: City of Birmingham, Building Permits and Building Permit Procedures. Checked October 11, 2026.
While We Are Building
The city publishes rules for building sites. They are ours to follow, not yours, and they keep the street pleasant for the people who will be your neighbors. As published, they cover:
- Working hours, listed as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, with no work on Sundays or holidays
- Fencing the site, and locking it whenever nobody is working
- Delivering materials onto the lot, not the street or sidewalk
- Keeping the street and sidewalk clean
Source: City of Birmingham Construction Site Regulations. Checked October 11, 2026.
Trees
The city sets the rules for trees, including the trees along the street, which it protects during building. Before any tree is touched, we check the current rules for your property with the city.
Sources: City of Birmingham, Forestry FAQ and tree protection rules. Checked October 11, 2026.
Water And Sewer
The city describes its own water and sewer systems on its website. The connection for a new home is looked at as part of the city’s review, and we arrange it.
Source: City of Birmingham, Water and Sewer. Checked October 11, 2026.
Historic Homes
The city lists some homes and districts as historic, and changes to those need its approval. If you are looking at an older house with a rebuild in mind, we check with the city whether it is listed.
Source: City of Birmingham, Designated Historic Districts. Checked October 11, 2026.
This page is general information, not legal advice or an official answer. The City of Birmingham decides what is allowed on each property, and its rules change. For anything official, the Community Development Department is on (248) 530-1850. We are always happy to check with them for you.
Questions About Building In Birmingham
What does Birmingham ask for before an older house comes down?
Whether a house may come down is the city’s decision for each property. Its page lists a separate permit, with steps such as shutting off the utilities, a survey and a written note to the next-door neighbors. We check with the city for your address and work through the list with you.
How does Birmingham limit the size of a new home on a lot?
The city’s rules set this, and they depend on the lot. We go through them for your address with your designer, and confirm with the city wherever something is unclear.
What does Birmingham say about how long its plan review takes?
The city says to allow about two to three weeks for its review. That is the city’s own estimate, and times vary from project to project. We keep you updated as your plans move through.
Does Birmingham have rules about telling the neighbors before a build?
The city has its own notice rules and a code of conduct for builders. We follow both and take care of the notices for you.
Who decides what happens to the trees on a Birmingham lot?
Tree rules are set by the city and can change. Before any tree is touched, we check the current rules for your property with the city.
This is general information, not legal advice or an official answer. The City of Birmingham decides what is allowed on each property. Sources: the City of Birmingham pages linked above, and the city’s Builders Code of Conduct. Checked October 11, 2026.
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