Livonia, MI Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration deadline (existing rentals)
- 90 days after adoption
- New rentals
- must register before occupancy
- License term
- 1 year
- Out-of-area owners
- must name a local agent
- Enforcing office
- City of Livonia Inspection Dept
Summary
Every non-owner-occupied rental dwelling in Livonia must be on the city's rental registry and hold a current license before anyone can lease, rent or occupy it. Owners register the property's address, parcel number, unit count and a local contact agent, and new registrations trigger a compliance inspection by the building official.
(a)A registry of owners and premises shall be maintained by the city of Livonia. Owners shall provide to the city in writing the information described in this section for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a rental registry. The city shall maintain a registry of all rental dwellings and rental units, upon such form as may be prescribed by the building official containing, at a minimum, the following information:(1)Rental dwelling and rental unit address;(2)Rental dwelling parcel number;(3)Number and type of rental units in the rental dwelling;(4)Name and address of the owner...(5)Name and address of the agent designated by the owner;(6)Address and telephone number of the owner and/or agent responsible to accept notices and calls from the city. A local agent for every rental unit is required if an owner does not reside in Wayne County or any adjoining county.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 | Zoning: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
007. 015 requires the city to maintain a rental registry listing, at minimum, the rental address and parcel number, the number and type of units, the owner's name and address (including the responsible officer if the owner is a corporation, LLC or partnership), and a designated agent's contact information; an owner who lives outside Wayne County or an adjoining county must name a local agent. Existing unregistered rentals had 90 days from the ordinance's adoption to register, newly built rentals must register and receive a certificate of compliance before any occupancy, and a non-rental structure converted to a rental must do the same before it can be leased.
Any change to the registered information must be reported to the inspection department within 30 days. Once a property is registered, the building official schedules an initial compliance inspection. 170 and bars issuance to any property with outstanding city bills. 050.
Violations & Fines
Providing inaccurate rental-registry information, or failing to register, license or update ownership and agent details as Chapter 5.42 requires, is a violation of the chapter and, like other Code of Ordinances offenses, is punishable under the citywide misdemeanor penalty in Section 1.12.010: up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail. A license can also be refused, suspended or revoked under Section 5.42.080, with an appeal available under Section 5.42.090.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do landlords have to register rental property with the city of Livonia?
How long did existing Livonia rental owners have to register?
What happens after I register a rental property in Livonia?
Do out-of-town landlords need a local property manager in Livonia?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Livonia
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Rental Registration in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle rental registration.