Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances Ch. 20 Art. V Landlord-Tenant Code §§ 20-88 – 20-164 § 20-89
Purposes
Operative Text
(a) This article shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies as set forth in section 20-88. (b) The underlying purposes and policies of this article are: (1) To simplify and clarify the law governing the rental of dwelling units; (2) To encourage landlords and tenants to maintain and improve the quality of housing in the city; and (3) To revise and modernize the law of landlord and tenant to serve more realistically the needs of an urban society. (Ord. of 6-9-77, § 1.02)
Section 20-89 of the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code sets out the foundational purposes behind the entire Article V framework. The article is designed to be read broadly, with courts and administrators directed to interpret its provisions in ways that advance three core goals: simplifying rental law, encouraging housing quality improvements, and modernizing landlord-tenant rules to reflect urban realities. These stated purposes serve as a guiding lens for how all other provisions in the code are understood and applied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-89, the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code is explicitly oriented toward encouraging landlords to maintain and improve housing quality throughout the city. Because the article is to be 'liberally construed,' operators should understand that ambiguous provisions are likely to be interpreted in ways that advance housing quality and tenant protections. Familiarity with this purpose clause can help property managers better anticipate how the broader Article V requirements will be applied in practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-89 establishes that the Benton Harbor Landlord-Tenant Code is meant to be interpreted broadly in favor of its protective purposes, which include improving housing quality and modernizing tenant rights. This means that when disputes arise under Article V, the code's provisions are generally read in a manner that advances those underlying goals rather than narrowly limiting them. Tenants who believe a landlord has not met the code's standards may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or the appropriate city office to understand how this interpretive framework applies to their situation.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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