Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:510
Abandoned/vacant dwellings or buildings
Operative Text
(1) The owner of any abandoned dwelling or his authorized agent shall: (a) Cause all services and utilities to be disconnected from, or discontinued to, said dwelling; (b) Remove all personal property from the interior of said dwelling and from its grounds; (c) Lock and/or secure all exterior doors and windows of said dwelling or building, and when requested, provide the Planning and Development Services Unit with a key to each such lock; (d) Maintain such dwelling so that its foundation, floors, windows, walls, ceilings, roof, porches, and stairs shall be reasonably weathertight, waterproof, rodent proof, and in good repair. (2) All vacant dwellings or buildings shall be secured at all times.
Under Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:510, when a dwelling is abandoned or left vacant, the owner is required to disconnect utilities, clear out personal property, secure all exterior openings, and keep the structure in a condition that resists weather, water, and rodents. Vacant buildings must remain secured at all times. The rule applies regardless of whether the owner intends to sell, renovate, or simply leave the property idle.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:510 sets out specific obligations for owners of abandoned or vacant properties. A compliant operator generally arranges for utility disconnection, removes all personal property from the interior and grounds, locks or boards all exterior doors and windows, and provides the Planning and Development Services Unit with keys upon request. Ongoing structural maintenance — keeping the foundation, roof, walls, and other components weathertight and rodent-proof — is also part of what compliance looks like under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:510 establishes that abandoned and vacant dwellings must be secured and maintained to a basic structural standard. If a neighboring or formerly occupied property appears unsecured, structurally deteriorating, or otherwise out of compliance, residents can report concerns to Ann Arbor's Planning and Development Services Unit, which is named in the provision as a point of contact. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Ann Arbor's housing code can help explain how this provision may intersect with other local protections.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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