Royal Oak Township, MI Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)
Key Facts
- First violation in 3 years
- $50.00
- Second violation in 3 years
- $125.00
- Third violation in 3 years
- $250.00
- Fourth or later in 3 years
- $400.00
- Bureau costs
- $10.00 within ten days of service, otherwise $20.00
- Payment office
- Ordinance violations bureau at township hall; treasurer is bureau clerk
Summary
In the Charter Township of Royal Oak, Michigan, municipal civil infraction fines paid at the ordinance violations bureau climb from $50.00 for a first violation to $400.00 for a fourth or later violation within a 3-year period, plus $10.00 or $20.00 in costs depending on how fast the person pays.
(a) Unless a different schedule of civil fines is provided for by subsequent resolution, the civil fines payable to the bureau upon admissions of responsibility by persons served with municipal ordinance violation notices shall be determined pursuant to the following schedule: Schedule of Fines First violation within 3-year period* $50.00 Second violation within 3-year period* $125.00 Third violation within 3-year period* $250.00 Fourth or subsequent violation within 3-year period* $400.00 Notes: *Determined on the basis of the date of violations (b) In addition to the civil fines prescribed in subsection (a) of this section, costs in the amount of $10.00 shall be assessed by the bureau if the fine and costs are paid within ten days of the date of service of the municipal ordinance violation notice. Otherwise, costs of $20.00 shall be assessed by the bureau.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 12, Article III of the Charter Township of Royal Oak Code establishes a municipal ordinance violations bureau under section 8396 of the Revised Judicature Act of 1961 (MCL 600.8396). The bureau sits at the township hall unless the Township Board designates another location (§ 12-104). Its staff are township employees, with the township treasurer as bureau clerk (§ 12-105). Its job is narrow: under § 12-106 it accepts admissions of responsibility, without explanation, for municipal civil infractions where a violation notice has been issued and served, and it collects the scheduled fine. It does not take payment from anyone who denies the violation or admits it only with explanation.
The schedule in § 12-110(a) climbs with each repeat inside a 3-year window measured by the dates of the violations: $50.00, $125.00, $250.00, then $400.00 for a fourth or subsequent violation. The Township Board can replace the schedule by later resolution. Costs under § 12-110(b) are $10.00 if the fine and costs are paid within ten days of the date of service of the notice, and $20.00 after that.
A notice must state the violation, the time to contact the bureau, the amount of the scheduled fines and costs, how to admit or deny, the consequences of not paying, the bureau's address and telephone number, and the days and hours it is open (§ 12-107(a)). If the person does not admit and pay in time, the bureau clerk advises the complainant to file a citation in district court (§ 12-107(b)). The court is the 45-8 district court in Oak Park (§ 12-136). The Township can skip the notice and go straight to a citation (§ 12-109), and collected fines go to the Township general fund (§ 12-108). If a judgment on a land or building violation goes unpaid 30 days after it is due, § 12-143 lets the Township record a lien with the county register of deeds. Curfew violations under § 16-259 are one example of an offense treated as a municipal civil infraction.
Violations & Fines
A violation designated a municipal civil infraction carries the § 12-110 schedule when admitted at the bureau. When a case goes to court instead, § 12-140(c)(1) sets the civil fine at not less than $100.00, plus costs and other sanctions, unless the ordinance says otherwise. Repeat violations by the same person for the same property within 12 months draw not less than $100.00 for a first repeat and not less than $200.00 for a second or later repeat, plus costs. A violation not designated a civil infraction is a misdemeanor, with a fine not exceeding $500.00 plus costs or imprisonment not exceeding 93 days, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a first ordinance violation fine in Royal Oak Township?
Can I explain my side at the violations bureau?
Does a repeat violation cost more?
What happens if a property-related fine goes unpaid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Royal Oak Township
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