Novi Water Damage Restoration

Novi has 26,801 occupied homes. Owners live in 17,758 and renters in 9,043, so about one home in three is a rental.

The median Novi home was built in 1993. The plumbing and wiring in a typical house are about 33 years old.

Only 14,130 of Novi's 28,351 housing units are detached houses, about half. The other half is attached homes, condos and apartments.

Novi has 2,134 units in buildings of 50 or more units and 2,761 in buildings of 5 to 9 units. A water loss in a multi-unit building often reaches neighbors.

The census counts 1,972 mobile homes in Novi.

Novi built homes in two big waves. The census counts 5,337 homes from the 1970s, 4,781 from the 1980s, 5,493 from the 1990s and 5,711 from the 2000s.

Only 1,336 Novi homes (about 5 percent) were built before 1960. The housing is mostly from the 1970s on.

Novi added 4,264 homes in the 2010s and 591 since 2020.

Novi lists three flood sources: a river or stream leaving its banks in heavy storms, snowmelt, and ice or debris jams.

Novi names eight smaller streams that flood during or soon after heavy storms, including Shaw Creek, Leavenworth Creek and the Novi-Lyon Drain.

Walled Lake, Shawood Lake and Twelve Oaks Lake can also cause flooding in Novi.

Novi records a major flood on June 26, 1968.

Grand River Avenue over the Walled Lake Branch of the Middle River Rouge, west of Novi Road, sometimes floods over after heavy rain.

The city says floodwaters in Novi can cover many blocks and reach four or five feet deep.

Novi averages three flood advisories, 0.5 flood warnings and 0.6 flash flood warnings a year, based on 13 years of National Weather Service data.

In 2021 Novi had more flood advisories than in any of the previous 13 years.

About 496 Novi homes are at minor flood risk, based on First Street Foundation data cited in the master plan.

The master plan cites a Great Lakes climate program forecast of 1.5 to 2.0 inches more rain a year in Novi over the next 20 to 40 years.

Roughly 30 percent of Novi is covered by impervious surface, which sends rain to storm drains instead of soil.

The city utilities page names DTE Energy as the Novi electric and gas provider and links DTE outage information.

Novi has designated three warming and cooling centers: Meadowbrook Commons, Novi Public Library and Novi Civic Center.

On July 7, 2021 NOAA recorded wires down across both directions of I-275 near Grand River in Novi, a 50 knot thunderstorm wind, with $500,000 property damage.

On June 27, 2013 a 50 knot thunderstorm wind in Novi brought down an 8 inch branch.

On September 3, 2015 a 56 knot thunderstorm wind in Novi uprooted trees.

On June 10, 2020 a 52 knot thunderstorm wind uprooted a large tree in Novi.

On September 25, 2025 a 42-inch GLWA water transmission main broke on 14 Mile Road just west of M-5 in Novi.

On August 10, 2026 Novi City Council awarded a $7,420,865 contract for the Crescent Boulevard to Lee BeGole Drive extension.

The Novi emergency preparedness page includes a history of the multi-state blackout of 2003.

Novi Public Works will visit a property on request to review a flood problem. The visit is free.

The city sandbag plan protects critical roads, buildings and services. It is not meant to protect every house that might flood.

In Novi, work on a building in the floodplain that costs more than 50 percent of its value requires the existing structure to be raised one foot above the 100-year floodplain.

Novi applies the same 50 percent rule to damage from any cause, including fire, flood and tornado.

Allowed construction in a Novi floodplain must have its lowest floor at least one foot above the 100-year floodplain.

Novi keeps Elevation Certificates for all new or substantially improved construction.

Flood insurance bought in Novi has a 30-day wait before it takes effect.

Novi allows small recreational fires in a metal or non-combustible container, 50 feet from structures, with seasoned dry wood only.

Novi Community Development answers floodplain questions at 248-347-0415.

For flooding or drainage problems, Novi residents call the Department of Public Works at 248-735-5640.

The Novi Water and Sewer Division takes sewer backup questions at 248-735-5644.

Novi Fire Department takes open-burning and disabled alarm complaints at 248-349-2162.

Novi Police non-emergency line is 248-348-7100.