Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances Ch. 20 Art. VI Annual Registration of Habitable Rental Properties §§ 20-165 – 20-204 § 20-177
Severability
Operative Text
The Sections and portions of this Article are declared to be severable and if any Section or party is declared to be illegal, unenforceable, or void for any reason, such illegality or un-enforceability shall not affect the remaining Sections 3 or parts of this Article.
Section 20-177 of Benton Harbor's rental property registration ordinance contains a standard severability clause, meaning that if any individual section or portion of Article VI is found to be legally invalid, unenforceable, or void, that finding applies only to that specific part. The rest of the article continues in full force as though the invalidated portion never existed. This type of provision is common in municipal ordinances and is designed to preserve the overall regulatory framework even when one component is successfully challenged.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-177 of Benton Harbor's Ch. 20 Art. VI, the annual rental property registration requirements remain in effect even if a court or other authority strikes down a particular section of the ordinance. Compliant operators generally continue to meet all other registration and habitability obligations regardless of any legal challenge to an isolated provision. Staying current with the full set of requirements under Article VI helps ensure ongoing compliance with the portions of the ordinance that remain valid.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-177 means that tenant protections and landlord obligations established elsewhere in Benton Harbor's Ch. 20 Art. VI are not automatically eliminated if one part of the ordinance is found unenforceable. Tenants can generally still raise violations of other sections of Article VI as relevant to their situation, even if a specific provision has been legally challenged or invalidated. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Benton Harbor's local code can help clarify which portions of Article VI remain in effect and what options may be available.
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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