How Farmington Hills Handles Rental Property Rules: A Practical Guide
Farmington Hills maintains 60 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Farmington Hills falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Rental Registration
Owners of single-family rental homes in Farmington Hills must register every rental with the Planning and Community Development Department before it is rented, under City Code § 7-343, and re-register every three years. A landlord who has not registered cannot lawfully collect rent from a tenant.
Key details: Who must register: Every single-family rental owner. When to register: Before the home is rented. Re-registration cycle: Every 3 years. New owner deadline: Within 30 days of sale. Info update deadline: Within 30 days of any change.
Renting or allowing occupancy of an unregistered single-family rental, or failing to update registration information within 30 days of a change, violates §§ 7-343 and 7-344. Section 7-354 makes any violation of the article a municipal civil infraction and a nuisance per se the city can seek to abate in court, on top of the registration, inspection and certificate fees the owner already owes under § 7-352.
This is one of the stricter rules in Farmington Hills's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Repairs & Habitability
Farmington Hills holds every single-family rental to the Property Maintenance Code it adopted in Chapter 7, and City Code § 7-350 spells out when that standard triggers an interior inspection rather than just a look at the exterior and yard.
Key details: Adopted standard: 2015 International Property Maintenance Code. Screen season: Required April 1 to October 31. Heating season: Sept 1 to May 31, §§602.3-602.4. Routine inspection scope: Exterior and premises only. Interior trigger: Unsafe, dangerous, or moisture-intrusion conditions.
A single-family rental that fails to meet the Property Maintenance Code standards § 7-350 incorporates, such as unrepaired conditions letting in moisture or animals, can lose its certificate of compliance under § 7-346 and be cited under § 7-354, which treats a violation of the rental article as both a municipal civil infraction and a nuisance per se subject to court-ordered abatement.
The Bottom Line
Farmington Hills's rental property rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Farmington Hills is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Farmington Hills's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.