Farmington Hills — Ch. 7 Art. VIII Single-Family Rental Dwellings § 7-350
Inspection and maintenance guidelines
Operative Text
(a) The director of the department shall prepare and maintain a list of inspection guidelines to be used in making inspections relating to the enforcement of this article. The inspection guidelines shall be based on this article and applicable code and ordinance requirements and shall set forth the requirements and conditions and scope of repairs necessary for obtaining the issuance of a certificate of compliance. (b) In all events, single-family rental dwellings and the premises upon which they are located shall be maintained in a manner consistent with the criteria set forth in the Property Maintenance Code adopted and amended under chapter 7 of this Code. (c) Regular inspections under this article shall be of the exterior of the single-family rental dwelling and the premises upon which it is located. The interior of single-family rental dwellings shall only be subject to inspections under this article if one (1) or more of the following conditions have been reported to the city or been identified by an exterior inspection as possibly existing: (1) The single-family rental dwelling is, or is in or part of, a structure that is unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, unlawful, dangerous or that includes unsafe equipment, as defined and regulated under the Property Maintenance Code administered and enforced under chapter 7 of this Code. (2) The single-family rental dwelling is, or is in or part of, a dangerous or unsafe building as defined in chapter 7 of this Code. (3) A violation of any maintenance standard in the Property Maintenance Code in chapter 7 of this Code that may allow rain, moisture, surface or roof drainage or animals to enter the exterior walls, structure or living space of the single-family rental dwelling it is in or part of. (4) The single-family rental dwelling is, or is in or part of, a structure that includes an unsafe condition pursuant to any other provision of this Code or any other code adopted by reference in this Code. (5) Multiple or recurring violations of the inspection and maintenance guidelines under this article.
Farmington Hills § 7-350 establishes how single-family rental dwellings are inspected and what standards they must meet. The city's department director is required to maintain a written list of inspection guidelines tied to local code requirements, and all such rentals must be kept in line with the city's Property Maintenance Code. Routine inspections focus on the exterior of the property, but interior inspections become permissible when specific conditions—such as structural unsafety, moisture intrusion, or repeated violations—have been reported or identified from the outside.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 7-350, compliant operators of single-family rental properties in Farmington Hills generally keep their properties in continuous conformance with the Property Maintenance Code referenced in Chapter 7, since that is the baseline standard against which inspections are measured. Because routine inspections cover the exterior and surrounding premises, property managers typically ensure that the building envelope, drainage systems, and structural elements visible from outside are well-maintained and free of conditions that could trigger an interior inspection. Familiarity with the director's published inspection guidelines—which spell out the requirements for obtaining a certificate of compliance—helps operators understand exactly what conditions must be addressed before and during any inspection.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 7-350 gives tenants in Farmington Hills single-family rentals a framework for understanding when city inspectors can examine the interior of their home: an interior inspection is authorized only after specific conditions, such as structural danger, moisture intrusion, or repeated violations, have been reported to the city or spotted during an exterior review. Tenants who believe their rental has conditions that meet one of those triggers—like a roof or wall allowing water or animals to enter—have the option of reporting those concerns to the city so that the appropriate inspection process can be initiated. Consulting a local tenant-rights organization can help tenants understand how the inspection and compliance process under § 7-350 may relate to their particular housing 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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