Detroit imposes no vacancy tax on empty homes or commercial buildings. The Detroit Land Bank Authority instead acquires tax-foreclosed vacant properties and recycles them through auction, side-lot, and rehab programs.
Unlike Vancouver, San Francisco, or recent California ballot proposals, Detroit imposes no vacancy tax on residential or commercial vacancies. Michigan's General Property Tax Act, MCL 211.1 et seq., does not authorize a vacancy surcharge. Instead, Detroit confronts vacancy through the Detroit Land Bank Authority created under PA 258 of 2003 and DLBA agreements with Wayne County. After the 2013 bankruptcy, DLBA acquired tens of thousands of blighted parcels via tax foreclosure. Tools include auctions, the Side Lot Program for adjacent neighbors at $100, rehab incentives, and demolition coordination. Owners of blighted property face nuisance abatement and tax foreclosure rather than vacancy taxes.
Property owners do not face a vacancy tax but may incur Detroit blight tickets up to $10,000 per Code violation, demolition liens, and tax foreclosure leading to DLBA acquisition after three years of unpaid property taxes.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Detroit, MI
Detroit's zoning and property maintenance codes do not restrict the number, size, or style of residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays. Re...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no specific ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays (giant snowmen, pumpkins, Santas). Restrictions, if any, come from priva...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no citywide ordinance restricting the time of year, brightness, or duration of residential holiday lights. Restrictions arise mainly from Local H...
Detroit, MI
A built-in outdoor kitchen in Detroit requires separate trade permits from BSEED for any gas line, electrical, or plumbing work, plus a building permit if it...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no ordinance specifically regulating residential offset smokers or pellet grills. The City's nuisance and air-quality provisions (Detroit Code Ch...
Detroit, MI
Detroit follows the International Fire Code (IFC) as adopted by Michigan. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame and charcoal cooking on combustible balcon...
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