The lake township of Oakland County
West Bloomfield was created in 1833 when the original Bloomfield Township split in two, with the western half taking the West Bloomfield name; the area was first surveyed in May 1817. The township holds roughly two dozen named lakes covering close to 1,800 acres — about 12.5% of its 27.3 square miles is water — giving it more lake surface than nearly any other township in the country and earning it the local nickname "Lake Township of Oakland County."
What two dozen lakes mean for a deck build
With that much shoreline in play, lake-view and multi-level decks are the norm rather than the exception in West Bloomfield, and outdoor-living scopes here often need to account for a walkout lower level, a steep lake-facing grade, or a dock connection in addition to the deck structure itself.
Deck project paths in West Bloomfield
Prepare a West Bloomfield inquiry
Share the desired deck size and use, material preference, the attachment point on the house, and any known slope or drainage issues on the lot. Provider availability varies, and homeowners should verify credentials directly. In West Bloomfield, note which of the township's lakes the lot borders, if any, since a lake-facing deck carries different grading and access questions than an inland lot.
Michigan frost-line and snow-load basics
Even on a lakefront lot in West Bloomfield, new footings need the same 42-inch Michigan frost depth as an inland property; a walkout lower level common on the township's lake lots can also change how a deck ties into the existing structure.
For Farmington Hills' own master-plan and floodplain sources, see local research and verification notes; West Bloomfield maintains its own planning department for site-specific requirements.