St. Clair Shores — Ch. 8 Art. VII Inspection of Residential Rental Properties § 8-312
Enforcement; search warrant
Operative Text
If the Building Division has reason to believe that any premises are being occupied in violation of this article or any term, condition or order of the Building Official or his designee, including the failure to register for an inspection by the dates specified in this article or established by the Building Division or council, the following steps may be taken: (1) The owner or occupancy will be contacted and notified of the requirements of this ordinance; and an inspection will be requested. (2) If permission is refused, a search warrant shall be requested from the District Court. (3) If the warrant request is granted, the premises will be inspected, and the owner or occupant will be given written notice of any violations. The owner or other responsible party will be billed for the regular inspection fee, any court costs and attorney fees incurred in securing the search warrant. If not paid, these amounts will become a lien on the property. (4) If the violations are not corrected within the time limits set by the Building Division, charges may be brought under section 8-314 .
St. Clair Shores § 8-312 establishes a stepped enforcement process that the Building Division may follow when it has reason to believe a rental property is occupied in violation of the residential rental inspection article. The process begins with a notification and inspection request, escalates to a District Court search warrant if access is denied, and can result in written violation notices, billed inspection and legal fees, and potential liens on the property if fees go unpaid. If identified violations are not corrected within the Building Division's set timeframe, the matter may be referred for charges under § 8-314.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-312, compliant rental property operators in St. Clair Shores generally register for inspections on time, respond promptly to Building Division contact, and grant access for inspections when requested. Operators who refuse access risk triggering a District Court search warrant process, after which they may be billed for the standard inspection fee plus any court costs and attorney fees the city incurs to obtain the warrant. Unpaid fees can become a lien on the property, so operators typically address billing and any cited violations within the timeframes the Building Division establishes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
St. Clair Shores § 8-312 gives occupants a right to receive written notice of any violations found during an inspection conducted under this provision. If an inspection occurs following a court-issued search warrant, the owner or responsible party — not the tenant — is billed for associated fees, though tenants should be aware that unresolved violations can affect habitability. Tenants who have concerns about how this enforcement process is being applied may consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the complaint and hearing procedures available through the city's Building Division.
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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