Michigan Ordinances (2026)

Converting a Michigan garage to habitable space requires building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits under the statewide Michigan Residential Code regardless of locality.

Michigan applies the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Construction Code Act statewide. Detached accessory sheds 200 square feet or smaller are exempt from state building permits under the residential code.

Michigan tiny homes built on permanent foundations must meet the Michigan Residential Code, including Appendix Q for dwellings 400 square feet or less, applied uniformly statewide.

Michigan's animal cruelty law universally applies to hoarding situations involving inadequate care. Penalties escalate with the number of animals, and the state's anti-cruelty framework applies to all municipalities.

Michigan has no statewide breed ban, and the Dangerous Animals Act focuses on individual animal behavior rather than breed. Municipalities retain authority to adopt breed-specific ordinances, though many have repealed them.

Michigan's Right to Farm Act preempts local ordinances regulating commercial farms following Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices, but a 2014 amendment removed protection for farms in primarily residential areas, allowing local ordinances to control backyard chickens.

Michigan's Dog Law of 1919 requires dogs to be licensed and under control. State law mandates leashing or close confinement when off the owner's premises, and municipalities may add stricter local leash ordinances.

Michigan's Large Carnivore Act prohibits private ownership of big cats and bears statewide. The Wolf-Dog Cross Act bans new wolf-dog hybrids. Municipalities cannot authorize what state law prohibits.

Michigan DNR prohibits baiting and feeding of free-ranging deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula due to chronic wasting disease. State wildlife law preempts local rules permitting such feeding.

Michigan's Aeronautics Code universally restricts structure heights near public-use airports through the Tall Structure Act, applying statewide regardless of local zoning decisions.

Michigan's MRTMA allows adults 21+ to grow up to 12 plants at home, preempting local bans on personal cultivation.

Commercial drone operators in Michigan follow FAA Part 107 plus state UAS Act rules, with local commercial-drone ordinances preempted.

Michigan Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (PA 436 of 2016, MCL §259.301–259.327) creates a comprehensive state framework for drones and preempts local ordinances regulating UAS ownership or operation. FAA preempts navigable airspace, leaving local governments only authority over takeoff/landing on public property they control.

Michigan minimum wage is set by the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (PA 337 of 2018). The Local Labor Regulatory Limitation Act (PA 105 of 2015, MCL §123.1381+) preempts local wage and scheduling ordinances. The 2024 Mothering Justice ruling restored 2018 ballot initiatives, scheduling step-ups toward $12.48 by 2028.

Michigan preempts local paid leave ordinances; statewide paid sick leave is governed by the Earned Sick Time Act under MCL 408.961.

Michigan's Local Government Labor Regulatory Limitation Act preempts local predictive scheduling and fair workweek ordinances under MCL 123.1387.

Michigan's Part 323 NREPA preempts local coastal rules in designated high-risk erosion, flood-risk, and environmental areas along the Great Lakes.

Michigan's Part 91 of NREPA imposes uniform statewide soil erosion permits for earth changes near water or disturbing one acre or more.

Michigan requires EGLE permits for occupation, filling, or construction within the 100-year floodplain of any river or stream statewide.

Michigan administers federal stormwater rules under Part 31 of NREPA, requiring statewide MS4 and construction permits that local rules cannot weaken.

Michigan enforces uniform pool barrier rules through the state Residential Code adopted under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, preempting conflicting local amendments.

Michigan Fireworks Safety Act (PA 256 of 2011), amended by PA 65 of 2018 (MCL §28.451 et seq.), legalized consumer-grade 1.4G fireworks statewide for adults 18+. Cities may restrict use OUTSIDE protected days — day before, day of, day after specified federal holidays (max ~30 days).

Michigan requires DNR burn permits for outdoor burning of yard debris in most of the state. Permits are issued daily based on fire weather and are mandatory north of a specified line.

Michigan issues Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPLs) under MCL 28.425 series, with statewide rules that local governments cannot override or supplement.

Michigan firearms preemption (MCL §123.1101–123.1104) prohibits local units of government from imposing any ordinance, regulation, or policy on the purchase, registration, ownership, possession, transportation, transfer, or licensing of firearms, ammunition, or their components. The legislature occupies the field. Limited carriage of firearms inside government buildings is the principal local-authority carveout.

Michigan generally permits open carry of legally owned firearms in public, with state law preempting local restrictions per MCL 123.1102.

Michigan law under MCL 750.227 makes it a felony to carry a concealed pistol in a vehicle without a valid Concealed Pistol License or other statutory exemption.

Michigan's Food Law of 2000 requires statewide licensing for mobile food establishments through MDARD or local health departments, with uniform sanitation standards based on the FDA Food Code.

Michigan's Cottage Food Law allows direct sales of qualifying non-hazardous foods from home kitchens without licensing, preempting local health permit demands.

Michigan's Child Care Organizations Act preempts local zoning that would exclude licensed family or group child care homes from residential districts.

Michigan's Right to Farm Act preempts local ordinances regulating commercial farm composting following Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices, under MCL 286.471 et seq.

Michigan's Aeronautics Code preempts local regulation of aircraft operations and noise, leaving control over aircraft noise to state and federal authorities under MCL 259.1 et seq.

Michigan's Vehicle Code establishes uniform statewide procedures for declaring, towing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles, preempting most local rules.

Michigan statutorily defines EV charging station signage and prohibits non-electric vehicles from blocking designated charging spaces statewide.

Michigan's blight law (MCL 117.4q) gives home rule cities authority to designate blight as a municipal civil infraction. The statute provides uniform statewide enforcement framework while specific standards remain local.

Michigan's natural accumulation doctrine generally protects property owners from slip-and-fall liability for snow on adjacent sidewalks, while leaving local snow-clearing ordinances enforceable as municipal civil infractions.

Michigan eviction procedure is governed uniformly by the Summary Proceedings Act. Landlords must follow statutory notice and court process under MCL 600.5701 through 600.5759.

Michigan law preempts all local rent control. No city, township, or village may enact ordinances limiting rent on private residential property under Public Act 226 of 1988.

Michigan's Right to Farm Act (MCL 286.474) preempts local zoning that conflicts with Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices on protected farms.

The Michigan Right to Farm Act (Act 93 of 1981, MCL §286.471 et seq.) provides nuisance protection for qualifying commercial farms following Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs). Section 4(6) preempts local ordinances that conflict with the Act or with GAAMPs, including most attempts to restrict commercial agricultural operations.

Michigan imposes a 6% use tax on short-term rental accommodations under 30 days. Hosts must register with Treasury and remit tax monthly or quarterly, regardless of where they operate.

Michigan election law universally prohibits political signs and electioneering within 100 feet of any polling place entrance on Election Day, applying uniformly across all municipalities statewide.

Michigan PA 389 of 2016 (MCL 445.572b) prohibits local governments from banning, taxing, or regulating plastic bags and other auxiliary containers.

Michigan's auxiliary container preemption law, MCL 445.572b, also prevents local bans on polystyrene foam food containers.

Plastic straws are auxiliary containers under MCL 445.572b, so local bans or fees on straws are preempted statewide in Michigan.

Michigan's Public Act 233 of 2023 transferred siting authority for utility-scale renewable projects to the Michigan Public Service Commission, preempting local zoning for solar arrays of 50 MW or more.

Michigan law gives consumers a three-business-day right to cancel home solicitation sales over $25. Sellers must provide written notice of this right at the time of sale.

Michigan's adopted residential code applies the same barrier rules to above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches. Removable ladders or barrier compliance is required statewide.

Michigan adopts the International Residential Code, which requires four-foot barriers around residential pools deeper than 24 inches. The state-adopted code applies uniformly through municipal building departments.

Michigan adopts the IRC, which exempts hot tubs and spas with locking safety covers meeting ASTM F1346 from the standard pool barrier requirements that apply to other water features.

Michigan's Public Health Code Part 125 sets uniform safety, lifeguard, and water quality standards for public and semi-public pools. State rules apply statewide regardless of local ordinance.

Michigan aligned with federal Tobacco 21 via PA 17 of 2019 and PA 90 of 2020, amending MCL §722.641 (Youth Tobacco Act) to set the minimum age for purchase, possession, or use of tobacco and vapor products at 21. Local governments cannot lower the age but may add retail licensing.

Michigan currently has no statewide ban on flavored tobacco or vape products; an attempted 2019 emergency ban was struck down in court.

Michigan regulates retail sale of vapor products and alternative nicotine products under the Youth Tobacco Act, MCL 722.641 and MCL 333.12601.

Michigan's 10-cent bottle deposit applies statewide to most carbonated beverage containers. Retailers must accept returns and refund deposits, preempting any local conflicting rules.

Michigan prohibits disposal of yard clippings in landfills statewide. Generators must compost, use curbside collection, or take material to permitted facilities.