Battle Creek, MI Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Chapter 1454 of the Battle Creek Codified Ordinances implements Michigan's Housing Law, Act 167 of 1917, locally. Section 1454.01(d) defines a dangerous building by conditions including a part likely to fall or collapse, structural damage from fire, wind or flood, a building manifestly unsafe for its use, and a dwelling the County Health Officer determines is likely to cause sickness or disease. A building that is vacant, dilapidated or open at a door or window is covered, and so is one unoccupied for 180 consecutive days or longer and not listed with a licensed real estate broker. An owner avoids the 180-day trigger by notifying the City Police Department within 30 days that the building will stay unoccupied and by maintaining the exterior and grounds under the Act, the Building Code and the PMC. Section 1454.02 makes it unlawful for an owner or agent to keep a dwelling that is a dangerous building.

The process is formal. The City serves a written notice personally or by certified mail, posts a copy on the building if mailed, and serves it at least ten days before the hearing (Section 1454.03). The Hearing Officer is appointed by the Mayor, has housing expertise and cannot be a City employee. The Hearing Officer decides within five days of the hearing whether to close the matter or order the building demolished, made safe or maintained (Section 1454.04(a)). If the owner fails to comply, the matter goes to the Board of Appeals under Chapter 1464, which sets a hearing not less than 30 days after the first hearing and gives the owner 60 days to comply with an approved or modified order. If the cost of repair exceeds the State-equalized value, the compliance period for demolition is 21 days and a rebuttable presumption of immediate demolition applies.

Costs follow the owner. The City recovers demolition, securing, hearing officer, title search, recording and dumping charges. If the owner does not pay within 30 days after the Assessor mails notice, the City holds a lien collected like property tax liens (Section 1454.04(f) and (g)). Under Section 1454.06 the Building Official placards the building, occupants vacate, and no rent is recoverable for any period of occupancy after an order to vacate.