Southfield — Ch. 103 Registration Requirements for Rental or Leased Dwellings § 8.510
Inspection and maintenance guidelines
Operative Text
(a) The director shall prepare and maintain a list of inspection guidelines to be used in making inspections relating to the enforcement of this chapter. The inspection guidelines shall be based on this chapter 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 rental compliance. (b) In all events, rental dwellings and the premises upon which they are located shall be maintained in a manner consistent with the criteria set forth in the International Property Maintenance Code, as may be amended from time to time. (c) Regular inspections under this chapter shall be made of the exterior of the rental dwelling and the premises upon which it is located. The interior of the rental dwelling shall only be subject to inspection during the three-year certificate of rental compliance period if one (1) or more of the following conditions have been reported to the city or have been identified by an exterior inspection of the dwelling as possibly existing: (1) The 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 International Property Maintenance Code, as amended from time to time; (2) A violation of any maintenance standard in the International Property Maintenance Code that may allow rain, moisture, surface or roof drainage or animals to enter the exterior walls, structure or living space of the rental dwelling; (3) The rental dwelling is, or is in 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; or (4) Multiple or recurring violations of the inspection and maintenance guidelines under this chapter have occurred with respect to the rental dwelling.
Section 8.510 of Southfield's Ch. 103 establishes how rental dwelling inspections are conducted and what maintenance standards apply. The city director is required to maintain a list of inspection guidelines tied to local code requirements and the International Property Maintenance Code, and all rental properties must be kept in compliance with that code at all times. Routine inspections focus on the exterior of the property, but interior inspections may be triggered during a three-year compliance period if specific conditions are reported or observed — such as structural safety concerns, moisture intrusion, other code violations, or a pattern of repeated violations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8.510, compliant operators generally keep their rental properties maintained to the standards of the International Property Maintenance Code on an ongoing basis, not just at inspection time. Because exterior inspections are the default, operators typically ensure that the outside of the structure and surrounding premises show no signs of unsafe conditions, moisture intrusion, or recurring violations that could trigger an interior inspection. Staying current with the city's published inspection guidelines — maintained by the director under this section — helps operators understand exactly what conditions must be addressed to obtain or renew a certificate of rental compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8.510 gives tenants an indirect but meaningful protection: if unsafe conditions, moisture or drainage problems, structural hazards, or repeated violations are reported to the city, an interior inspection of the rental dwelling can be required during the three-year certificate period. Tenants who observe conditions that may fall under these categories — such as signs of structural unsafety or water intrusion — generally have the option of reporting those concerns to the city, which can prompt further inspection under this chapter. Tenant-rights organizations in the Southfield area can help residents understand what conditions qualify and what reporting paths are 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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