Ann Arbor, MI Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Ann Arbor City Code §§ 8:381-8:382
- Enforcement
- Planning & Development Services
- Hearing body
- Building Board of Appeals
- Vacancy trigger
- 180+ consecutive days unoccupied
- Remedy
- Repair, demolish, or lien property
Summary
Ann Arbor declares any building meeting its dangerous-building criteria a public nuisance that the owner must repair, rehabilitate, or demolish under Chapter 101's abatement procedure.
It is unlawful and deemed a public nuisance for any owner or agent thereof to keep or maintain any dangerous building or part thereof as defined in section 8:382. All such dangerous buildings shall be abated by alteration, repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal in accordance with the procedures specified in this chapter. In addition to the procedures specified in this chapter, the City Attorney may prosecute violations of this chapter and may file suit in the appropriate court or pursue any other legal remedies to abate any nuisance resulting from a violation of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 41-05, § 2, 10-17-05)
8:382. - "Dangerous buildings" defined. A dangerous building is any building or structure that has 1 or more of the following defects or is in 1 or more of the following conditions:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Ann Arbor's Dangerous Buildings chapter makes it unlawful and a public nuisance for an owner or agent to keep or maintain a dangerous building, defined under § 8:382 to include structures damaged by fire, wind, flood, or decay to the point of collapse risk, unsafe exits, structures that become an attractive nuisance to children or vagrants, or buildings left vacant and open for 180 or more consecutive days without notifying the city. Planning and Development Services investigates reports and issues a notice and order, and the Building Board of Appeals can order repair or demolition after a hearing; the city may demolish and lien the property if the owner fails to comply.
Violations & Fines
Maintaining a dangerous building is a public nuisance; after notice and a Building Board of Appeals hearing, the city can demolish or repair the structure and assess the cost as a lien against the property, per § 8:387.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building 'dangerous' under Ann Arbor's code?
Who pays for city-ordered demolition of a dangerous building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
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