Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Wayne County are administered primarily by the Detroit Housing Commission and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, with landlords required to pass HQS inspections before tenants can use the voucher to rent the unit.
Wayne County does not run its own voucher program, so tenants outside Detroit typically apply through MSHDA, which manages vouchers in suburbs like Westland, Taylor, and Romulus. Landlords must register with the relevant housing authority, sign a HAP contract, and pass Housing Quality Standards inspections covering heat, plumbing, lead paint, and structural safety. Detroit landlords must additionally hold a city rental license. Source-of-income protections in Detroit and Hamtramck restrict outright voucher refusals, but landlords statewide retain the right to screen for credit, prior eviction history, and other neutral criteria.
Operating a Section 8 unit without HQS compliance, falsifying inspections, or charging side payments above the contract rent can trigger HAP termination, federal recapture, and disqualification from the program.
See how Dearborn's section 8 voucher acceptance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.