Detroit requires all rentals to be registered with BSEED, pass inspection, and obtain a Certificate of Compliance with lead clearance. Most Wayne County suburbs also require registration.
Rental registration is widespread across Wayne County cities. Detroit's Rental Property Registration and Inspection Ordinance requires every landlord to register rental units with BSEED, obtain a Certificate of Compliance, pass a property inspection, and obtain lead-safe clearance for any pre-1978 property, which covers most Detroit housing stock. Registration fees and inspection fees apply, and Certificates must be renewed on a periodic cycle, typically every 1 to 3 years. Unregistered units cannot legally collect rent, and Detroit's 36th District Court enforces this against landlords pursuing eviction. Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, Taylor, and most suburban Wayne County cities have similar registration and inspection programs though generally less stringent on lead clearance. Failure to register results in fines, eviction case dismissal, and in some jurisdictions an inability to enforce the lease. Owner-occupied and short-term rentals may have different rules. Wayne County itself does not operate a countywide rental registry; each municipality administers its own program.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Wayne County, MI
Wayne County does not regulate residential fence heights. Under Michigan's Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101 et seq.), zoning authority over fences rests wit...
Wayne County, MI
Residential pool safety in Wayne County is governed by the Michigan Residential Code (Appendix G, adopted under Public Act 230 of 1972), which is enforced lo...
Wayne County, MI
Michigan has not adopted IRC Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) statewide, and Wayne County does not set general zoning. Whether a tiny home is legal on a Wayne County...
Wayne County, MI
Wayne County itself does not regulate residential sheds in the dozens of incorporated cities and townships that make up nearly all of the county. Shed setbac...
Wayne County, MI
Michigan does not mandate E-Verify for private employers. Wayne County and Detroit have not adopted E-Verify ordinances. Federal contractors meeting FAR thre...
Wayne County, MI
Michigan is not a sanctuary state, but Detroit operates as a Welcoming City under 2017 Executive Order limiting police cooperation with ICE detainers absent ...
See how Wayne County's rental registration rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.