Ann Arbor — Ch. 122 Fair Chance Access to Housing § 9:603
Restrictions on use of criminal history in housing decisions
Operative Text
Except as provided in section 9:605 of this Code, a housing provider shall not, at any time or by any means, whether direct or indirect, inquire about an applicant's criminal history, require an applicant to disclose criminal history, require an applicant to authorize the release of criminal history or, if such information is received, base an adverse action in whole or in part on an applicant's criminal history.
Under Ann Arbor — Ch. 122 Fair Chance Access to Housing § 9:603, housing providers are broadly prohibited from seeking out or using an applicant's criminal history in rental decisions, unless a specific exception under § 9:605 applies. This rule covers all methods of inquiry — direct questions, background check authorizations, or any indirect means — and bars providers from taking adverse action based on criminal history even if that information is received unsolicited. The provision is designed to limit the role criminal records play in determining housing eligibility.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Ann Arbor — Ch. 122 Fair Chance Access to Housing § 9:603 requires housing providers to remove criminal history questions from rental applications and to refrain from ordering or reviewing criminal background reports as part of the standard screening process. Compliant operators generally audit their application forms, screening criteria, and third-party screening vendor instructions to ensure no criminal history data is solicited or used in housing decisions, except where § 9:605 expressly permits it. Maintaining documentation of screening procedures that align with this provision is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ann Arbor — Ch. 122 Fair Chance Access to Housing § 9:603 gives rental applicants a right to be evaluated without their criminal history being solicited or used against them, subject only to the narrow exceptions in § 9:605. If a housing provider asks about criminal history on an application, runs a criminal background check, or denies housing based on a criminal record in a way that appears to violate this provision, applicants may have grounds to raise that conduct as a violation. Tenant-rights organizations in Ann Arbor and the city's relevant enforcement channels are potential resources for understanding how to document and report a possible violation of § 9:603.
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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