Royal Oak Township, MI Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Article IV of Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances of the Charter Township of Royal Oak, Michigan, adopted May 25, 2017, sets the rental program. Section 6-73 requires the owner of any residential rental dwelling or rental unit to register each rental dwelling with the Township and designate a responsible local agent. The agent must live in the county or any bordering county, and the owner can serve as agent if he meets that residency test. Official Township notices can go to the agent and count as issued to the owner of record. The agent must keep a current list of occupants for each rental unit.

The Building Division keeps the registry as a public record. A change of address of the owner or agent must be noted within 30 days. A seller, including on land contract, must notify the Building Division within 15 days of a sale with the purchaser's name and address. A buyer who fails to register within 15 days of purchase pays an additional fee set by Township Board resolution, and failure to register notices go to the Township Attorney.

Under § 6-74 the application lists the owner, manager or agent and current tenant, the number of rental units, the signed authorization appointing the agent, and other Township rental properties under the same owner. No post office boxes are accepted as an address, and the fee is set by Township Board resolution. Registration lasts two years or until a change in tenant, and a transfer of ownership expires the registration and any certificate of compliance (§ 6-75).

The definition in § 6-72 covers single-family and two-family rentals that are not owner-occupied, along with multiple-family dwellings, boardinghouses, rooming houses, hotels, motels and rented mobile home units. Housing cooperatives, public housing facilities and any rental dwelling currently licensed and inspected by the state are excluded.

Inspections follow registration. Building Division employees inspect within 30 days of registration, then every two years or on change of tenant, on seven days' notice, with a per-unit fee (§ 6-77). A certificate of compliance is valid for two years or until a tenant change (§ 6-80).