Warren, MI Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)

Sec. 28-20(a) grants the code official access to a rental dwelling or unit during business hours to conduct a compliance inspection; if the owner or occupant refuses entry, the official may seek a warrant from the 37th District Court. Sec. 28-20(b) requires every proposed rental dwelling to pass an inspection against the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted in Sec. 28-1 before licensing. For multi-family buildings and apartment complexes, Sec. 28-20(c) mandates inspection of at least 20 percent of the units on a license or renewal application, randomly selected, with the sample size increased if significant violations turn up or the inspector has reasonable cause to suspect problems in unsampled units.

Under Sec. 28-13(c)(2), a biennial inspection is a condition of every license, and any violations found must be corrected or formally waived by city council motion. Inspection fees are charged at application and renewal, payable to the City of Warren Rental Inspection Fund and set by council resolution, with all proceeds dedicated to enforcing this article (Sec. 28-19). The rental division, under the mayor's direction, may contract out inspection services (Sec. 28-20(e)), and properties already inspected by HUD or the Michigan State Housing Development Authority remain subject to this program to the extent the law allows (Sec.

28-20(g)). A code official cannot issue a blight violation off a compliance inspection unless the landlord first gets written notice and a reasonable chance to fix the problem, or the violation is an emergency such as a flooded basement or a premises without heat (Sec. 28-20(f)).