Clinton Township, MI Rental Inspections: Tenant Complaint Process (2026)
Key Facts
- Extra inspection trigger
- Tenant complaint + consent, § 1498.11(c)(1)
- Top priority
- Complaints involving a minor under 18, § 1498.22(a)
- Consent bypass
- Owner must admit inspector after tenant complaint, § 1498.12(a)(1)B
- Repeat problem trigger
- 2+ violations in 2 years, § 1498.23
- Anti-retaliation
- No discrimination over consent/refusal, § 1498.21
- Source ordinance
- Ord. 471, passed 4-26-2021
Summary
Clinton Township's rental chapter lets a lessee's complaint push a unit ahead of the normal two-year inspection cycle. Section 1498.22 sets inspection priority for tenant-originated complaints, complaints involving a resident under 18, and complaints signaling an immediate safety threat, while Section 1498.11(c)(1) authorizes the extra inspection itself.
1498.22 INSPECTION PRIORITY. (a) Individuals under 18. If a complaint identifies a multi-dwelling or other dwelling unit regulated under this chapter in which an individual under 18 years of age resides, or is reasonably believed to reside, the dwelling shall be inspected prior to any inspection in response to a nonemergency complaint. (b) Immediate threats. Inspection frequency may be prioritized for lessee/tenant complaints where the Building Official determines that the nature of the complaint may represent a more immediate threat to the safety and wellbeing of any occupant. (c) Lessee/tenant complaints. Inspection priority may occur where the origination of the complaint is from the lessee/tenant.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Local legislation current through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
12(a)(1)B removes that hurdle when "the lessee/tenant has made a complaint to the enforcing agency" - the property owner must then provide access during reasonable hours even without separately arranging tenant consent. 22 (Inspection Priority) ranks it: complaints involving a dwelling where someone under 18 lives or is reasonably believed to live jump ahead of nonemergency complaints outright (subsection (a)); complaints the Building Official judges an immediate threat to occupant safety get prioritized scheduling (subsection (b)); and complaints originating from the lessee/tenant themselves receive priority generally (subsection (c)).
The Building Official can also set priority by geographic area or by building size under subsection (e). 23 authorizes more frequent inspections of that unit going forward. 21 bars both the Township and the property owner from discriminating against a tenant based on whether the tenant consents to or refuses an inspection, and separately protects owners who make a good-faith effort to obtain that consent. Both the priority and recurrent-inspection provisions were added by Ordinance 471, passed April 26, 2021.
Violations & Fines
Section 1498.20(b) declares any violation of the rental chapter a nuisance per se, letting the Township seek a court injunction to stop it in addition to other remedies. Section 1498.20(a) preserves the Township's ability to pursue fire, housing, building, zoning, health, safety, or blight-code enforcement and criminal prosecution separately. The chapter's penalty section, 1498.99, incorporates the Township's general code penalty set out at Section 202.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a tenant complaint get an inspection started in Clinton Township?
Will my complaint be inspected quickly?
Can my landlord punish me or block the inspection after I complain?
What happens if the same rental keeps generating complaints?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clinton Township
Compare Clinton Township to another location·View the Michigan rental inspections overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Tenant Complaint Process in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle tenant complaint process.