The city of Sterling Heights, Michigan (124,000), wants to encourage residents to maintain their homes. Because homes often start needing repairs once they are 10 years old, the city offers discounts on permits for repairs on homes that are 10 years old or older. The city council has also adopted the latest property maintenance standards and takes a proactive approach to enforcing these standards. Michael Bartholomew Building Official City of Sterling Heights 40555 Utica Road Sterling Heights, MI 48311 586/446-2360 Fax: 586/276-4061 E-mail: mbartholomew@sterling-heights.net