Detroit — Ch. 22 Art. VIII Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing § 22-8-6
Exceptions to prohibition
Operative Text
(a) This article does not limit the right of a housing provider to take any of the following actions: (1) Conduct conviction history or obtain background check reports on applicants where there is a statutory duty to do so; or (2) Notify applicants that applicable laws, including those set forth in Subsection (b) of this section will disqualify an individual with a particular conviction history from eligibility for tenancy. (b) Regarding applicants and their household members, a housing provider may base an adverse action in whole or in part on directly-related convictions that includes one or more of the following: (1) Any conviction where state or federal law prohibits the applicant from being eligible for public housing; or (2) Any conviction that leads to the applicant becoming a lifetime registered sex offender; or (3) Any conviction for violent or drug-related felonies; or (4) Conviction for felonies committed within the last ten years or imprisonment for felonies within the last five years; or (5) Any conviction for crimes against landlords, management agents, their employees or agents, or other tenants or real property; or (6) Any conviction or plea to any crime involving arson; or (7) Any conviction or plea to any crime involving metal theft, vandalizing, or otherwise damaging real property.
Detroit — Ch. 22 Art. VIII Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing § 22-8-6 carves out specific exceptions to the ordinance's general restrictions on using criminal history in rental decisions. Housing providers are permitted to screen for conviction history when a law requires it, and they may deny housing based on certain categories of convictions — such as those that trigger lifetime sex offender registration, violent or drug-related felonies, crimes involving arson or property damage, or felonies occurring within defined time windows. The provision also allows providers to inform applicants upfront that particular conviction types will disqualify them under applicable law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Detroit — Ch. 22 Art. VIII Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing § 22-8-6, compliant housing providers document when a statutory duty requires them to conduct conviction history screening and communicate that requirement to applicants clearly. When relying on one of the enumerated exception categories — such as a conviction for a violent or drug-related felony, a crime involving arson, or a felony within the relevant lookback period — operators typically ensure the conviction is directly related to the tenancy and maintain records supporting that determination. Providers also generally inform applicants in writing which legal disqualifiers apply, consistent with the notice permission granted by this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Detroit — Ch. 22 Art. VIII Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing § 22-8-6 defines the limited circumstances under which a housing provider may lawfully deny an application based on criminal history, meaning denials that fall outside these enumerated categories may not be permitted under the broader ordinance. Tenants or applicants who believe a denial was based on conviction history that does not fit any of the listed exceptions may have grounds to raise that as a violation of the Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing article. Consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Detroit housing law or contacting the relevant city enforcement office can help applicants understand what options may be available to them.
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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