Detroit's Fair Housing Ordinance bans landlords from refusing applicants based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, SSI, veteran benefits, or child support payments. Violations carry civil penalties up to $25,000.
Detroit Title 27 (Human Rights and Fair Housing) prohibits source-of-income discrimination in residential rentals citywide. Landlords cannot refuse to rent, set different terms, or refuse to participate in voucher inspections solely because the prospective tenant uses Section 8, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), General Assistance, Social Security, or any other lawful payment source. The Detroit Department of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity investigates complaints and the Law Department litigates. Penalties scale from $5,000 first offense up to $25,000 for repeat offenders, and HUD parallel enforcement may suspend the landlord from participating in any federally subsidized program for up to two years.
First offense: up to $5,000 + restitution. Repeat: up to $25,000, possible HUD program disqualification, and Detroit business license suspension.
Detroit, MI
Detroit Housing Commission administers Housing Choice Vouchers. Once a tenant submits a Request for Tenancy Approval, the landlord must complete habitability...
Detroit, MI
Detroit does not have a just-cause eviction ordinance. Michigan law allows landlords to terminate month-to-month tenancies without providing a reason, with p...
See how Detroit's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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