Dearborn, MI Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Bathroom
- Toilet, tub/shower, sink, vent required
- Kitchen
- Sink, range, refrigerator required
- Hot water
- 120°F minimum
- Heat season
- 60–68°F, Oct 1–May 1
- Enforcement
- Dept. of Economic Development
Summary
Every Dearborn rental unit must have a private bathroom with a toilet, tub or shower, sink, and ventilation, plus a kitchen with a sink, working refrigerator, and cooking range, under the city's minimum housing standards.
Every dwelling unit shall contain a room which affords privacy to a person within such room and which is equipped with a flush water closet, a stall shower or bathtub, a lavatory basin and either a mechanical exhaust fan in good working condition or an operable window meeting the requirements of section 11-98.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Dearborn's Minimum Housing Standards (Chapter 11, Division 4) set the baseline every dwelling unit must meet before anyone may occupy or rent it. Sec. 11-78 requires a private bathroom with a flush toilet, tub or shower, sink, and mechanical exhaust or window ventilation. Sec. 11-77 requires a kitchen sink, working refrigerator, and cooking range. Sec. 11-80 requires hot and cold running water on every fixture, and Sec. 11-83 requires water heated to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Sec. 11-84 requires safe, unobstructed egress. The Department of Economic Development enforces these standards and may issue notices of violation or appearance tickets against noncompliant owners.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant units draw a notice of violation or appearance ticket from the Department of Economic Development, which can require the owner to appear in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a rental bathroom have in Dearborn?
What heat is my landlord required to provide?
Sources & Official References
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle repairs & habitability.