Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids requires a City Clerk business license for every home occupation, sorting them into Class A, B, or C by neighborhood impact and capping most home businesses at 300 square…

Home occupations in Grand Rapids fall back on the residential district's Nameplate Sign: one per dwelling, 8 square feet maximum, wall-mounted only, unilluminated, and issued without a…

Grand Rapids caps Class B home occupations at two adult customers, clients, students, or patients on the premises at any one time under the City's home occupation ordinance.

State-licensed family and group child care homes in Grand Rapids are fully exempt from the City's Home Occupation licensing chapter.

Michigan's Cottage Food Law lets you sell certain homemade non-hazardous foods without a license. Annual gross sales are capped at $50,000 ($75,000 for items $250+ per unit) until…

Michigan has never created a microenterprise home kitchen permit. The word "microenterprise" returns zero results in a full-text search of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and the only…

Fence permits in Grand Rapids run through the City's general Zoning Permit process: the Planning Department reviews applications for Chapter 61 compliance, charges a fee set by City…

Grand Rapids zoning caps retaining wall height under Table 5.2.11.C and requires a Zoning Permit for any wall over thirty inches, with taller walls allowed away from front yards.

Grand Rapids prohibits barbed wire and electrically charged fences on any residential property citywide; barbed wire is allowed only around nonresidential uses when installed at least…

Solid, opaque privacy fences and walls in Grand Rapids are capped at 3 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side and rear yards; chain-link fences fitted with privacy slats need Planning…

Grand Rapids bars dogs from city parks and playgrounds unless leashed on a line no longer than 8 feet, and requires owners to pick up their animal's waste on park grounds.

Grand Rapids Code Compliance treats any animal that is not on the domestic or farm-animal lists, including reptiles, exotics, and other wild species, as a prohibited wild animal on any…

Grand Rapids prohibits horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and poultry within any dwelling or within 100 feet of a home, well, or drainage ditch, effectively barring livestock…

Grand Rapids requires a City Manager permit before keeping bees, limits placement to the rear yard at least 25 feet from homes, and caps hives at two per lot under 11,000 square feet.

Grand Rapids makes it illegal to cruelly treat, abuse, or poison any bird within city limits, extending the same anti-cruelty and anti-poisoning rules that protect domestic and farm…

In Grand Rapids' Mixed-Use Commercial Zone Districts, opening a veterinary clinic or hospital, including one that boards animals, requires Planning Commission special-land-use…

Kent County sets no general household pet cap, but any establishment keeping three or more dogs for sale, boarding, breeding, or training for pay is a 'kennel' requiring a county…

Kent County doesn't regulate dogs by breed; instead its Animal Control Ordinance bans letting any dog or animal menace, attack or bite a person or another animal, Section 11(c). Owners…

Michigan DNR prohibits baiting and feeding of free-ranging deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula due to chronic wasting disease. State wildlife law preempts local rules permitting such…

Grand Rapids requires the owner-operator of a licensed bed and breakfast or one-room rental to live on site and be present on the premises for the entire time paying guests are staying.

Grand Rapids treats a bed and breakfast as short-term lodging and requires one extra on-site parking space per guest room beyond what the home already needs: street parking cannot be…

Renting a room in your Grand Rapids home by the night or week requires a Class B Home Occupation license from the City Clerk before you advertise or host guests.

Grand Rapids limits short-term lodging licenses to owner-occupied homes: a one-room rental or bed and breakfast must be the operator's principal residence, so non-owner-occupied…

After issuing a one-room short-term rental permit, the Grand Rapids City Clerk must notify every owner and resident within 300 feet, listing the address and permit number.

Kent County levies an 8% lodging (hotel/motel) excise tax, effective January 1, 2025, on anyone providing accommodations to transient guests, short-term rentals included. Stays of 30…

Grand Rapids zoning requires a tree protection plan under the development permit process, and only allows removing a protected tree for specific reasons like poor health or a safety…

Grand Rapids' City Manager may regulate, limit, or prohibit water use, including lawn watering, whenever needed to protect the supply for essential needs and firefighting.

Grand Rapids allows residential composting only in a fully enclosed, commercially made bin no larger than 64 cubic feet, kept in the rear yard of an occupied home and never loaded with…

Grand Rapids zoning requires landscaping on sites with an approved landscape plan to be pruned and trimmed so it never blocks utilities, pedestrian or vehicular access, or creates a…

Grand Rapids declares grass, weeds or undergrowth taller than 12 inches a public nuisance on any property in the city, with narrow exceptions for wooded, undeveloped or lightly…

Grand Rapids bars accessory dwelling units from short-term rental use entirely: no ADU stay may run under 30 days, and a non-owner-occupied ADU must be registered under Chapter 140.

Grand Rapids treats a carport as an accessory structure subject to the same setback and placement rules as an attached or detached garage or shed, per Sec. 5.2.08.F of the Zoning…

Grand Rapids allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot with a single- or two-family home, capped at 850 square feet and 25 feet in height under Zoning Ordinance Section 5.9.03.

Grand Rapids bars amplified sound audible across a residential property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., part of a broader ban on unreasonable noise disturbances.

Grand Rapids bans owning a dog whose loud, frequent, or habitual barking, yelping, or howling annoys people in the neighborhood, treating it as a prohibited noise citywide.

Grand Rapids prohibits running pile drivers, shovels, hammers, derricks, hoists, tractors, or rollers on construction sites between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. within 600 feet of a residence or…

Grand Rapids bans vehicle sound systems audible 50 feet away between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., dropping to 25 feet audibility overnight, for stopped or moving vehicles.

Grand Rapids bars playing amplified sound, radios, TVs, drums, instruments, loud enough to cross a residential property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., with added 100-foot limits near…

Grand Rapids bans running leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and other yard maintenance or power tools between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. under its Noise Control Ordinance.

Grand Rapids bars helicopter landings and takeoffs in its TN-CC and TN-TCC districts between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., caps monthly flights, and requires operators to stay within Chapter 151…

Special land uses in Grand Rapids's SD-IT Industrial-Transportation districts get higher decibel allowances, up to 66 dB(A) at commercial boundaries, measured at 125 feet or the zone…

Grand Rapids bans open burning citywide except for narrow exemptions like cooking fires, construction salamanders, Fire Department burns, and permitted recreational fires under Sec…

Grand Rapids caps liquefied petroleum gas storage within its congested-area limits at 500 gallons water capacity, or 210 pounds gas capacity, per installation under its local Fire Code…

Grand Rapids bans consumer fireworks year-round except for specific holiday windows, including June 29 through July 4 and New Year's Eve into New Year's Day.

Grand Rapids requires operating smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every story of a dwelling, including rental units before occupancy.

Grand Rapids requires a City permit for any outdoor fire pit or chiminea, plus a 20-foot setback from structures and lot lines and a 15-foot setback from overhead lines.

Grand Rapids can designate Residential Parking Permit zones where only vehicles displaying a valid city-issued permit may park on-street, based on a Parking Commission demand study.

Grand Rapids deems a vehicle abandoned after 48 hours parked in one spot on a public street, on private property without consent, or 15 days in a garage without a service contract.

On streets marked as snow routes, Grand Rapids bans overnight parking from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. between November 1 and April 1 to keep roads clear for plowing.

Grand Rapids caps loading zone use at 20 minutes without active loading or unloading, and lets the Proper Authority establish zones on streets or in the parkway strip.

Grand Rapids bars parking in front of driveways and alleys, and separately lets the city restrict or prohibit parking on any street where traffic, safety, or roadwork conditions…

Grand Rapids caps on-street parking for commercial vehicles over one ton at two hours, and limits angled loading or unloading stops to one hour, on any public roadway citywide.

Grand Rapids prohibits painting or marking any curb or roadway surface unless the Proper Authority has authorized it, closing the door on homeowner DIY curb markings.

On streets posted as snow routes, Grand Rapids bans parking from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. whenever the City Manager restricts a street for snow removal, but the rule doesn't apply from April 2…

Grand Rapids limits residential lots to one 25-foot recreational vehicle, generally stored in the rear yard, with driveway parking allowed only from May 1 through October 31.

Grand Rapids bans parking motor vehicles anywhere in a residential front yard and requires driveways to be surfaced with concrete, asphalt, gravel, or similar material.

Michigan regulates nonconsensual towing through the Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300. MCL 257.252k makes an owner or lessor of private real property post a sign at every vehicular…

Grand Rapids' Zoning Ordinance regulates 'swimming pool placement' without distinguishing above-ground or portable pools from in-ground pools, requiring a 7-foot setback from rear and…

Public pools in Kent County are licensed and inspected by the Health Department, which requires monthly water sampling and operation reports. Private pool safety (barriers, alarms…

Grand Rapids bans loitering in a public building or private premises after being told to leave by the owner or occupant, and separately bans loitering or obstructing any doorway in a…

Grand Rapids makes it illegal to urinate, defecate, or perform any act creating a hazardous or unsanitary condition in a public place or on someone else's property; the ban doesn't…

Grand Rapids makes it unlawful to consume alcoholic liquor in any public place or place open to the public, except on premises properly licensed by the Liquor Control Commission for…

Grand Rapids requires pedestrians to use a marked crosswalk between signalized intersections; crossing elsewhere means yielding the right-of-way to every oncoming vehicle under the…

Grand Rapids prohibits smoking, including e-cigarettes, in any public place whether open or enclosed: covering city parks, playgrounds, and other areas the public uses, under Chapter…

Grand Rapids prohibits letting your property host a 'residential disturbance,' a gathering between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. whose sound is frequent, repetitive, or continuous and audible 25…

Skateboarding, long boarding, and inline or roller skating are banned within Grand Rapids' Downtown Improvement District south of I-196, with sidewalk and street exceptions by rider…

Possessing, delivering or using marijuana or any other controlled substance anywhere in a Kent County park is unlawful under the county's Parks Ordinance, which defines controlled…

Begging or soliciting contributions of any kind, public or private, anywhere in a Kent County park is illegal unless the Parks Director issues a written permit first. The rule sits in…

Grand Rapids' zoning ordinance bans planting any of eighteen invasive tree and shrub species citywide, including common buckthorn, Japanese knotweed, multiflora rose, and Norway maple…

Grand Rapids designates trees of exceptional historic, cultural, or ecological value as Public or Private Landmark Trees through its Urban Forestry Committee, protecting each one for…

Grand Rapids requires one small street tree per 25 feet of lot frontage, or a medium/large tree per 40 feet, whenever a site triggers a LUDS permit.

Grand Rapids' zoning code protects any tree six inches or more in trunk diameter from removal during site development, requiring preservation plans and marked root-protection zones…

No rental dwelling in Grand Rapids may be occupied until the Code Compliance Department issues a Certificate of Compliance confirming it meets the Property Maintenance Code.

Every rental dwelling in Grand Rapids, any unit not occupied by its owner, must be registered with the City annually under the Property Maintenance Code.

Before evicting, a Michigan landlord must serve the correct written demand: 7 days for nonpayment of rent, 7 days for serious health hazards, extensive damage, or physical violence…

Michigan eviction procedure is governed uniformly by the Summary Proceedings Act. Landlords must follow statutory notice and court process under MCL 600.5701 through 600.5759.

Michigan has no statute requiring a landlord to give advance notice before entering a rented unit. A tenant's protection comes instead from the lease terms and from MCL 600.2918, which…

Either party may end a Michigan estate at will or month-to-month tenancy by giving one month's notice. When rent is payable at intervals shorter than three months, the notice need only…

Michigan has no statewide rent control and no cap on rent increases. A 1988 state law, MCL 123.411, bars every local government from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance…

Michigan's Landlord-Tenant Act caps a residential security deposit at one and one-half months' rent. A landlord who keeps any of the deposit for damages must mail the tenant an…

Michigan requires 15 years of adverse possession before a squatter can claim title to land. Under MCL 600.5801 the owner's action to recover land is barred after 15 years in most…

Grand Rapids requires owners and occupants to clear ice and snow from abutting public sidewalks within 24 hours, or the City can remove it and bill the property after 48 hours' notice.

Grand Rapids prohibits dumping litter on any open or vacant private lot in the city, whether or not you own it, and the City Manager can order an owner to clear a lot that threatens…

Grand Rapids bars owners from maintaining any structure that is unsafe or a menace to public health or safety, and lets the City Commission condemn it and order repair, teardown or…

Grand Rapids allows solar energy systems as an accessory use in every zone district by right, but sets fixed placement standards for ground- and roof-mounted panels.

Since April 2, 2025, Michigan's Homeowners' Energy Policy Act (2024 PA 68, MCL 559.301 to 559.317) makes any provision of a homeowners' association agreement that prohibits or has the…

A Grand Rapids marijuana provisioning center or retailer gets simple Director Review only as a small accessory use in the IT district; everywhere else it's authorized, the TCC, TBA…

Grand Rapids marijuana provisioning centers and retailers must stay 1,000 feet from schools, child care centers, youth centers, parks, religious institutions, and treatment programs…

Michigan's MRTMA allows adults 21+ to grow up to 12 plants at home, preempting local bans on personal cultivation.

Grand Rapids gives cited non-residential property owners 24 hours for emergencies, 10 days for hazardous conditions, and 120 days for standard violations to bring a building into…

Grand Rapids' property maintenance nuisance list covers unlicensed vehicles left outdoors more than 7 days, indoor furniture left outside, unsecured vacant buildings and abandoned…

Grand Rapids lets residents report a suspected non-residential building code violation without giving their name: contact information is recorded only if the complainant volunteers it.

Grand Rapids caps residential building height at 35 feet (2½ stories) in Low Density Residential districts and up to 52 feet (3½ stories) in Medium Density Residential districts, under…

In Grand Rapids' Traditional Neighborhood Low-Density Residential (TN-LDR) zone, homes must sit at the 27-foot required building line, keep a 5-foot interior side setback, and a…

Grand Rapids indirectly caps lot coverage through a minimum greenspace standard set by Neighborhood Classification and density: detached single-family lots must leave 30% to 60% of the…

Grand Rapids lets residents repair their own vehicles at home in any residential zone district, but only one vehicle at a time, no outside storage of parts or equipment, and no…

Grand Rapids secondhand and junk dealers need a city license and must fingerprint sellers, tag goods, and report daily to police under Chapter 101.

Massage businesses in Grand Rapids must employ only Michigan-licensed massage therapists, display each therapist's valid license at the front entrance, and keep hours between 7 a.m…

Grand Rapids pawnbrokers must hold a city license, post a $6,000 bond, and follow strict recordkeeping and stolen-goods rules under Chapter 100.

Grand Rapids confines adult bookstores, cabarets, theaters, and model studios to zones where they're specifically allowed, at least 500 feet from residential zones and 1,000 feet from…

Michigan regulates retail sale of vapor products and alternative nicotine products under the Youth Tobacco Act, MCL 722.641 and MCL 333.12601.

Grand Rapids bars new construction in flood-prone drainage areas from having a building opening below the Flood Protection Elevation, the base flood elevation plus one foot, under…

Grand Rapids bans discharging anything but stormwater into its City Stormwater Drainage System, requiring dischargers to keep pollutants out to the Maximum Extent Practicable under…

Grand Rapids prohibits idling a motor vehicle over five tons for more than two minutes while stationary within 150 feet of residential property, with exceptions for work vehicles…

Grand Rapids requires a Stormwater Discharge Permit before any earth change of 2,500 square feet or more, or any parking area addition of 1,000 square feet or more, under Chapter 32 of…

Grand Rapids regulates construction in FEMA-mapped floodplains along the Grand River, adopting the current Flood Insurance Study and rate maps and enforcing Michigan's flood-resistant…

Michigan's Part 323 NREPA preempts local coastal rules in designated high-risk erosion, flood-risk, and environmental areas along the Great Lakes.

Grand Rapids lets multi-family developers in its TCC, TBA, TOD, and C zone districts shrink the minimum lot area per unit by up to 500 square feet, building denser, by mixing in…

Grand Rapids requires new development in areas with an approved streetscape plan, including downtown, to follow the Downtown Streetscape Design Guidelines for walkways, street…

Grand Rapids collects yard waste as part of its city-run Solid Waste program. The City Manager sets container types and pickup schedules for yard waste under Chapter 25 of the Code of…

Grand Rapids requires solid waste carts at the curb before 7 a.m. on collection day, and bars setting them out before 7 p.m. the night before.

Grand Rapids requires residential premises to keep one or more rigid, rodent-proof refuse carts of no more than 100 gallons, stored out of view between collections.

Grand Rapids requires households enrolled in its Single Stream Recycling Program to keep a cart sized for at least 14 days of recyclable material, twice the 7-day standard set for…

Commercial dumpsters and other non-residential waste receptacles in Grand Rapids can't go in the front yard, must sit at least 3 feet from the rear or side lot line, and stay at least…

Grand Rapids bans throwing or depositing garbage or rubbish on any street, alley, or public or private property, and requires owners to keep premises free of accumulated waste.

Grand Rapids requires households to keep solid waste in rigid, rodent-proof carts of no more than 100 gallons and to store those carts at the rear or side of the building, away from…

Grand Rapids requires mobile food businesses to hold a City Clerk-issued license before operating on public property, with a written application, fee, and proof of insurance.

Grand Rapids confines licensed mobile food vending to about 19 designated public locations, plazas, parks, and metered on-street zones, listed by name in the ordinance.

Grand Rapids caps Downtown Vending Carts at 10 feet tall, 10 feet long, and 5 feet wide, requires an attached litter receptacle and stability brakes, and bans enclosed vending trailers…

Grand Rapids enforces its non-residential Building Maintenance Code through inspections of buildings, accessory structures, and any property covered by Chapter 135, backed by a Notice…

Grand Rapids requires the interior of any pre-1978 residential structure to be kept free of deteriorated lead-based paint above a set threshold, with loose paint particles presumed a…

Grand Rapids enforces the Michigan Plumbing Code locally, and every plumbing contractor working in the city must register their state license with the Building Inspections Department.

Grand Rapids enforces the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code locally, and the Neighborhood Improvement Department can issue a stop-work order for construction started…

Grand Rapids requires outdoor play areas at child care centers to be enclosed by a 4-foot fence and routes pick-up and drop-off traffic away from street intersections under Zoning…

Grand Rapids requires every exterior door on a rental unit to have a working lock and mandates a peephole viewer on entry doors without windows.

Grand Rapids requires all electrical contractors to register their State Electrical Contractors License with the Building Inspections Department before doing any wiring work in the…

Grand Rapids gives multi-family developers a zoning break, not a construction mandate, for pursuing LEED certification, cutting required on-site greenspace by up to 50 percent when a…

Grand Rapids requires a Parks and Recreation permit for commercial activity, political or religious meetings, public speeches, and concerts held in a city park under Chapter 41.

Restaurants and cafés in Grand Rapids can add outdoor seating as an accessory use, but must keep a six-foot pedestrian path clear and stop table service by 10 or 11 p.m. under the…

Parades and other special events in Grand Rapids need a City Commission resolution and a special event permit before they can happen; holding one without both is a code violation.

Only vendors authorized by the event sponsor and the City may sell goods or prepare food inside a Grand Rapids street fair or festival's boundaries; unauthorized vending is banned.

Grand Rapids has no general residential camera ordinance, but its CPTED code lets the city require businesses declared chronic nuisances to install video surveillance and enroll in the…

Grand Rapids' zoning code requires High Intensity Discharge fixtures on reviewed outdoor lighting installations to keep a unified citywide standard and cut sky glow, and it flatly…

Security lights in Grand Rapids must be shielded, full cut-off fixtures aimed only at the area they protect; general floodlighting and lights aimed above the fixture's own horizontal…

Grand Rapids caps digital billboard brightness at 0.3 footcandles of ambient light and bans flashing, moving, or scrolling displays.

Grand Rapids prohibits parking within or on a marked bike lane and bars blocking or partially blocking one, while separate rules require cyclists to follow vehicle traffic laws and…

Grand Rapids treats any e-bike with a motor under 750 watts as an ordinary bicycle, giving it the same street, bike-lane, and sidewalk rights and duties as pedal bikes: no state-style…

Shared e-scooters count as 'micromobility devices' under Grand Rapids' bicycle ordinance, riders must follow the rental vendor's terms of service, and downtown sidewalk riding is…

Michigan does not legalise golf carts on public streets statewide, and it does not leave the question to every council either. MCL 257.657a switches street use on only where the local…

Grand Rapids limits painted, stenciled, or applied window signs to no more than 25 percent of the window, door, or transparent surface area, citywide, in every zone district.

Grand Rapids designates an Upgrade Eligibility Zone for off-premises signs aimed at drivers on I-196, I-96, and US-131, letting owners earn credits toward limited upgrades.

Grand Rapids allows seasonal string lighting on homes and buildings without a Director Review permit, but only inside a set window: up to 60 days before the holiday and removed within…

Grand Rapids caps digital billboard conversions in its freeway Upgrade Eligibility Zone at 10 faces citywide, split between the I-96/I-196 and US-131 corridors.

Kent County itself does not regulate political signs. Size and removal rules are set by your city, village, or township, and signs are not permitted in state-highway right-of-way. The…

Garage-sale sign rules come from your city or township, not Kent County. In Kentwood, temporary signs of six square feet or less must stay on the sale property and may not be placed on…

Non-residential buildings in Grand Rapids must keep exterior walls, siding, and trim free of holes, cracks, or deterioration that could let water or vermin inside.

Grand Rapids bars and nightclubs may not emit sound audible 100 feet or more from the property line during nighttime hours, including from patios or outdoor areas.

Grand Rapids limits generator noise from mobile food businesses to 80 decibels measured 15 feet away, checked by the Fire Department before a license is issued.

Grand Rapids parks are open only from sunrise to sunset; staying in a park after dark without Parks and Recreation authorization is unlawful under Chapter 41.

Grand Rapids sets tiered curfews for minors on public streets: 10 p.m. for under-12s, 11 p.m. for under-15s, and midnight for under-17s, all until 6 a.m., unless accompanied by an…

Grand Rapids bars erecting a tent in any public area without a permit and lets the City remove personal property or encampment gear left in the right-of-way after posted notice…

Grand Rapids requires anyone canvassing or peddling door-to-door to hold a transient merchant license from the City Clerk before making a single sale.

Grand Rapids bans occupying a sidewalk with construction materials or equipment unless a Temporary Occupancy Permit is obtained, and any permitted obstruction must still leave a…

Balconies, awnings, and other private projections into a Grand Rapids public right-of-way need an encroachment permit from the City Engineer before they can extend over the sidewalk or…

Grand Rapids' Charter makes abutting owners responsible for sidewalk repair, but that duty is expressly switched off while the City's current 1.5%/0.75% income tax rates remain in…

Grand Rapids inspects a rental's structure, units, accessory buildings, and yards before issuing the Certificate of Compliance required for occupancy.

Grand Rapids does not require a permit for a garage, yard, or basement sale that stays within the zoning code's duration limits. Section 5.9.35.K exempts it outright.

Kent County's Animal Control Ordinance carves customary farming and animal husbandry practices out of its definition of unsanitary conditions. A working farm cannot be cited for…

Kent County levies an 8% excise tax on any business renting rooms for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping to transient guests, meaning anyone staying fewer than 30 consecutive days. The…

Michigan Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (PA 436 of 2016, MCL §259.301–259.327) creates a comprehensive state framework for drones and preempts local ordinances regulating UAS ownership…

Michigan minimum wage is set by the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (PA 337 of 2018). The Local Labor Regulatory Limitation Act (PA 105 of 2015, MCL §123.1381+) preempts local…

Michigan preempts local paid leave ordinances; statewide paid sick leave is governed by the Earned Sick Time Act under MCL 408.961.

Michigan's Local Government Labor Regulatory Limitation Act preempts local predictive scheduling and fair workweek ordinances under MCL 123.1387.

Michigan issues Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPLs) under MCL 28.425 series, with statewide rules that local governments cannot override or supplement.

Michigan firearms preemption (MCL §123.1101–123.1104) prohibits local units of government from imposing any ordinance, regulation, or policy on the purchase, registration, ownership…

Michigan law under MCL 750.227 makes it a felony to carry a concealed pistol in a vehicle without a valid Concealed Pistol License or other statutory exemption.

Michigan's Gaming Control and Revenue Act reserves commercial casino gaming to cities whose local legislative body passes an ordinance approving it and signs a certified development…

Michigan bars bingo, raffles, charity games, numeral games, and millionaire parties unless a licensed 'qualified organization' runs them under the Traxler-McCauley-Law-Bowman Bingo…

Michigan's penal code makes no exception for private, social, or "friendly" gambling. MCL 750.301 criminalizes accepting money contingent on an uncertain event's outcome: full stop…

Michigan legalized internet sports betting under the Lawful Sports Betting Act, but the Michigan Gaming Control Board can license only two kinds of operators: existing commercial…

Michigan condominium associations get an automatic statutory lien for unpaid assessments under MCL 559.208, foreclosable like a real-estate mortgage. Michigan has no general non-condo…

Michigan's Condominium Act gives co-owners a records right and almost nothing else on meeting mechanics. MCL 559.157(1) makes the books, records, contracts and financial statements…

Michigan condo associations enforce the master deed, bylaws, and rules through MCL 559.165, which makes compliance mandatory, backed by fines, injunctions, and liens. Non-condo HOAs…

Michigan's Homeowners' Energy Policy Act, 2024 PA 68, took effect April 2, 2025 and made any homeowners' association provision that bans an "energy-saving improvement or modification"…

Michigan protects home EV charging through the Homeowners' Energy Policy Act, 2024 PA 68, which took effect April 2, 2025. MCL 559.303(c)(ix) counts "electric vehicle supply equipment"…

Michigan's flag protection is one sentence long and narrower than most. MCL 559.156a bars a developer or association of co-owners from prohibiting a co-owner from displaying a single…

The Michigan Condominium Act lets associations levy fines, but only after due process. Under MCL 559.206 a condo association may impose late charges and, after notice and a hearing…

A Michigan condominium association can foreclose its assessment lien by advertisement, meaning it never has to file a lawsuit, but MCL 559.208(3) bars it from starting until it records…

Michigan runs the opposite way from states that shield owners who rent. MCL 559.212(1) of the Condominium Act says that after the transitional control date the association of co-owners…

Michigan does not run sobriety checkpoints, and the reason is unusual. Michigan's own checkpoint programme was the one the United States Supreme Court upheld under the Fourth Amendment…

Michigan has no statute granting an express right to film police, and no statute forbidding it either. What governs is the 1966 eavesdropping chapter of the Michigan Penal Code, and…

Michigan has never enacted a general stop-and-identify statute. Nothing in the Michigan Compiled Laws makes it an offence to stand on a sidewalk and decline to give a police officer…

Michigan is one of the few states where the answer to a roadside search question is written into a statute rather than left to case law. Section 5 of the Michigan Regulation and…

Michigan PA 389 of 2016 (MCL 445.572b) prohibits local governments from banning, taxing, or regulating plastic bags and other auxiliary containers.

Michigan set the minimum age to buy, possess, or use tobacco and vapor products at 21 through PA 167 of 2022, which amended the Youth Tobacco Act (MCL 722.641), aligning with federal…

Michigan currently has no statewide ban on flavored tobacco or vape products; an attempted 2019 emergency ban was struck down in court.

Michigan runs a closed list rather than a list of banned colors. MCL 257.698(4) provides that unless a lamp is both covered and unlit, a vehicle on Michigan highways must not carry a…

Michigan sets no measured windshield zone for a camera and no sticker size limit. What it regulates is the screen. MCL 257.708b(1) prohibits operating a motor vehicle with a television…

Michigan bans lane splitting in plain words. MCL 257.660(5) says a person operating a motorcycle, moped, low-speed vehicle, electric personal assistive mobility device or electric…

Michigan does not regulate license plate covers by naming them. It regulates the result. MCL 257.225(2) requires that the plate be maintained free from foreign materials that obscure…

Radar detectors are legal in a private vehicle in Michigan, and the state says so in the statute rather than by silence. MCL 750.508 restricts carrying a police-frequency radio…

Michigan does not run a studded tire season the way its neighbours do. MCL 257.710(b) forbids operating on a highway any tire carrying a block, stud, flange, cleat, spike or other…

Michigan does not set a visible light transmission percentage for any window. MCL 257.709(1)(a) instead bans film outright on the front windshield and on the side windows and sidewings…