Southfield — Ch. 103 Registration Requirements for Rental or Leased Dwellings § 8.505
Certificate of rental compliance required
Operative Text
Persons shall not occupy, and owners shall not rent, offer for rent, or allow occupancy of rental dwellings unless a certificate of rental compliance has been applied for and issued by the department as provided in this chapter, except rental dwellings existing on the effective date of the ordinance establishing this chapter may continue to be rented and occupied after such effective date without a certificate of rental compliance provided the owner timely complies with the registration requirements under subsection 8.504 (4), pays all applicable fees under section 8.512 , complies with the requirements of section 8.509 for the scheduling and performance of all inspections necessary for issuance of a certificate of rental compliance, and timely undertakes all actions necessary to meet the requirements for and obtain a certificate of rental compliance under this chapter.
Under Southfield Ch. 103 § 8.505, rental dwellings generally must have a certificate of rental compliance issued by the city department before anyone may occupy them or before an owner may rent or offer them for rent. A limited transitional exception exists for rental dwellings that were already in existence when the ordinance took effect: those properties may continue to be rented and occupied temporarily, but only if the owner meets a specific set of ongoing obligations, including timely registration under § 8.504(4), payment of required fees under § 8.512, and scheduling and completing all necessary inspections under § 8.509. The exception is not a permanent exemption — it is conditioned on the owner actively working toward obtaining the certificate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties in Southfield should be aware that § 8.505 makes the certificate of rental compliance a prerequisite for lawfully renting or allowing occupancy of a dwelling unit. Compliant operators generally ensure the certificate is applied for and issued before a unit is offered or occupied, and they keep registration, fee payments, and inspection scheduling current throughout the process. Owners of properties that existed before the ordinance's effective date should track all transitional deadlines carefully, since the temporary exception under § 8.505 lapses if any of its conditions — registration, fees, or inspections — are not met on time.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Southfield Ch. 103 § 8.505 establishes that tenants have an interest in knowing whether the dwelling they occupy is covered by a valid certificate of rental compliance, since the provision prohibits occupancy without one (subject to the transitional exception for pre-existing rentals). Tenants who have questions about whether their unit holds a current certificate may contact the city department responsible for administering Ch. 103 to inquire about a property's compliance status. Those who believe a violation exists may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand what options — such as raising the lack of a certificate as a defense in a legal proceeding — 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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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