Wayne County, MI Rental Property Rules: Rent Control (2026)

Rent control is prohibited statewide in Michigan under Public Act 226 of 1988, codified at MCL 123.411. The law expressly preempts local governments from enacting any ordinance or measure controlling the rent charged for a private residential or commercial property. This means Wayne County, Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, and every other Michigan jurisdiction cannot adopt rent stabilization, rent freezes, or price caps regardless of local political pressure. Landlords may raise rent by any amount at lease renewal or, for month-to-month tenancies, with proper written notice, typically 30 days under MCL 554.134. Tenant protections exist in other areas such as security deposits under MCL 554.602, anti-retaliation under MCL 600.5720, and fair housing under both state and federal law, but rent levels themselves are not regulated. Detroit tenants facing steep rent increases have organized politically to repeal PA 226, though no such repeal has occurred. Affordable housing is addressed through subsidies, tax credits, and inclusionary zoning rather than rent control.