Dearborn cracks down on industrial storage; adopts ordinance with some of the strictest regulations in the state

May 1, 2024

DEARBORN, MI - The City of Dearborn will now mandate some of the strictest guidelines in the state of Michigan for the proper storage of industrial materials that most commonly produce hazardous fugitive dust. The Dearborn City Council unanimously voted in support of an amendment to the City’s “bulk storage” ordinance brought forward by Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

The amended ordinance creates minimum standards for the safe handling and storage of bulk solid materials, which includes any solid substance or material that can be used as a fuel, ingredient, or component in a manufacturing or construction process that may create fugitive dust.

These standards include but are not limited to:

• Prohibiting any fugitive dust past the property line; 
• limiting pile height for outdoor storage to 25 ft. (15 ft. for combustible materials); and
• Control of fugitive dust.
• Enclosures or water spray systems to control dust at conveyors and transfer points.
• An 8 miles-per-hour truck speed limit within a property. 
• Requirements for all outgoing trucks be cleaned of loose materials and pass through wheel wash or rumble strips.
• Mandate for all trucks carrying bulk solid materials to have covered truck beds and trailers.
• Requirements for facilities to use street sweepers on paved roads inside or within one-quarter mile of their perimeters.
• 25 feet height limit for outdoor storage and 15 feet for outdoor combustible materials.
• Mandate for piles be set back at least 100 feet from waterways, unless in process of being loaded/unloaded to vessel for no longer than 24 hours.
• Establishment of enclosure requirements for "carbonaceous bulk solid materials”

The amended ordinance takes effect July 31, 2024.