The three questions that decide it
1. Will a loaded trailer fit through the door? Measure your tallest rig loaded, with equipment on it. A mower deck, a skid steer or a stacked trailer is taller than people estimate. Rankin's 14-foot doors clear most of what small landscaping operations move. A 10-foot door will not.
2. Where do the trucks and trailers sleep? The requirement most landscaping tenants discover after signing. Overnight vehicle parking and trailer storage are not automatically included. Z Novi Commons includes free overnight company vehicle parking. At Rankin, exterior use requires prior written approval.
3. What has to live outside? Bulk material, pallets of sod or stone, and equipment left in the yard all fall under outdoor storage, which requires landlord approval and must comply with zoning, often including screening and surface requirements. See Outdoor Storage, Trailer Parking and Yard Space.
Sizing for a seasonal business
- Landscaping has a shape most industrial tenants do not: heavy equipment and material in season, mostly storage out of season, and a winter operation that may be entirely different if you plow.
Size for what has to be indoors at the same time. Count equipment inside overnight, material storage, bench or repair area, a small office, and aisle space to move a machine without shuffling three others. Then check that your door and turning space let you get the largest item in and out without unloading everything else.
If you plow in winter, factor in salt storage, which frequently carries specific containment rules.
Which property fits
Rankin Business Park, Troy — the strongest fit. 14-foot grade-level doors, 16'–18' clear for vertical material storage, 1,287 to 10,000 SF, 299 parking spaces, lowest rate at $11.95/SF/YR MG. Contractors, trades and equipment storage are core tenant types. Exterior storage and trailer parking require prior written approval.
Z Novi Commons, Novi — worth considering if the fleet matters more than door height, since free overnight company vehicle parking is included. 10-foot rear drive-in doors, so measure carefully. $17/SF/YR MG.
Northville Research Center — 12-foot doors, 16-foot clear, 1,278–5,800 SF, serving western Wayne and southern Oakland. $20/SF/YR MG.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store my trailers on site?
Not automatically. Requires prior written approval and must comply with property rules and zoning. Ask with specifics: how many, what size, where.
Can I park trucks overnight?
Included at Z Novi Commons. Requires approval at Rankin Business Park.
Can I store bulk material like mulch or stone outside?
Usually the hardest ask, because it raises screening, surface and drainage questions.
What size space do landscapers usually need?
Commonly 1,500 to 3,000 square feet for a small operation, more once multiple pieces of equipment come inside.
Can I do equipment repair in the space?
Frequently permitted with the right use clause. Fluid changes and disposal need specific review.
Tell us what equipment comes inside and what needs to stay outside. 248-246-1752.
See available space Call 248-246-1752