Detroit — Ch. 8 Art. XV Div. 3 Requirements for Rental Property (Registration + Lead) § 8-15-96
Occupant protection during abatement or interim controls
Operative Text
In order to minimize the harm to persons occupying rental property where there are interim controls or lead abatement, which may disturb lead paint and potentially cause further harm or hazards to persons occupying the premises, the following shall be required: (1) Occupants of rental property shall not be permitted to enter the dwelling until after abatement or interim controls have been completed and clearance has been achieved; (2) Occupants of rental property shall be temporarily relocated by the owner for the safety of occupants during interim controls or abatement until certification by a certified clearance technician, for interim controls only, or certified lead inspector/risk assessor, for abatement or interim controls, is received, provided, that occupants who are relocated to a dwelling unit not owned by the landlord shall not be liable to the landlord for rent accruing during this time period, provided further, that relocation of occupants shall not be necessary where: a. Abatement or interim controls will not disturb lead-based paint; b. Only the exterior of the dwelling unit is treated, and windows, doors, ventilation intakes and other openings in or near the area being treated are sealed during abatement or interim controls and cleaned afterward, and an entry that is free of lead-based paint hazards and debris is provided; and c. Abatement or interim controls of the interior will be completed within one period of eight daytime hours, the area treated is contained so as to prevent the release of leaded dust and debris into other areas, and treatment does not create other safety, health or environmental hazards; (3) The dwelling unit and the area treated shall be secured against unauthorized entry, and the occupants' belongings protected from contamination by lead dust and debris during or interim controls or abatement; (4) Occupants' belongings in the containment area shall be relocated to a safe and secure area outside the containment area, or covered with an impermeable covering with all seams and edges taped or otherwise sealed; (5) The area treated shall be prepared, including the placement of containment barriers, to prevent the release of leaded dust, and shall contain lead-based paint chips and other debris from hazard reduction activities within the area treated until they can be safely removed; (6) Practices that minimize the spread of leaded dust, paint chips, and debris shall be used; and (7) A warning sign shall be posted at each entry to a room where abatement or interim controls are conducted when occupants are present, or at each main and secondary entryway to a building from which occupants have been relocated. Each warning sign shall be provided in the occupant's primary language.
Detroit § 8-15-96 establishes a set of occupant-protection requirements that apply whenever lead abatement or interim controls are carried out at a rental property. Occupants must be kept out of treated areas until work is complete and clearance is certified, and they generally must be temporarily relocated at the owner's expense unless specific narrow exceptions apply. During the work, belongings must be protected, containment barriers must be in place, and warning signs in the occupants' primary language must be posted at all relevant entry points.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Detroit § 8-15-96, compliant rental property owners arrange temporary relocation for occupants before lead abatement or interim controls begin, unless the work qualifies for one of the provision's narrow exceptions, and they cover relocation costs when the substitute unit is not landlord-owned. Owners also secure the treated dwelling against unauthorized entry, protect occupants' belongings with impermeable coverings or by moving them outside the containment area, and post multilingual warning signs at every relevant entryway. Clearance certification from a qualified technician or inspector/risk assessor must be obtained before occupants are allowed to return.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Detroit § 8-15-96 gives occupants the right to be relocated at the landlord's expense during most lead abatement or interim-control work, and explicitly states that tenants moved to a unit not owned by the landlord owe no rent to the landlord for that period. Occupants also have the right to have their belongings protected from lead contamination and to see warning signs posted in their primary language at all entry points to treated areas. Tenants who believe these protections are not being followed may contact the City of Detroit's building or housing enforcement offices, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to learn about available options.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.