Mich. Comp. Laws § § 37.2603
Complaint; petition for temporary relief or restraining order; notice of pendency of action.
Operative Text
Sec. 603. At any time after a complaint is filed, the department may file a petition in the circuit court for the county in which the subject of the complaint occurs, or for the county in which a respondent resides or transacts business, seeking appropriate temporary relief against the respondent, pending final determination of proceedings under this section, including an order or decree restraining the respondent from doing or procuring an act tending to render ineffectual an order the commission may enter with respect to the complaint. If the complaint alleges a violation of article 5, upon the filing of the petition the department shall file for the record a notice of pendency of the action. The court may grant temporary relief or a restraining order as it deems just and proper, but the relief or order shall not extend beyond 5 days except by consent of the respondent, or after hearing upon notice to the respondent and a finding by the court that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent has engaged in a discriminatory practice.
Michigan Civil Rights Act Section 37.2603 establishes a mechanism by which the state civil rights department can seek emergency court intervention after a discrimination complaint has been filed. Specifically, the department may petition a circuit court for temporary relief or a restraining order to prevent a respondent from taking actions that would undermine any eventual order issued by the civil rights commission. When the complaint involves a housing-related violation under Article 5, the department must also file a notice of pendency with the court record. Any temporary relief granted is limited to five days unless the respondent consents to an extension or the court holds a hearing and finds reasonable cause to believe discriminatory conduct occurred.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 37.2603, once a housing discrimination complaint is filed against a property owner or manager, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights has the authority to seek a court-issued restraining order without waiting for the full administrative process to conclude. Operators who are named as respondents in such complaints should be aware that a circuit court in the county where the property is located, or where they reside or do business, may issue temporary relief orders on short notice. Compliant operators generally maintain clear, documented non-discriminatory policies and practices so that, if a petition is filed under this section, the record reflects consistent lawful conduct.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 37.2603 provides a meaningful procedural protection for tenants who have filed housing discrimination complaints under Article 5 of the Michigan Civil Rights Act: the state department can ask a court to immediately restrain a landlord from taking steps that would make any future civil rights order meaningless. This means that after a complaint is filed, there is a legal pathway to seek emergency court intervention before the full administrative process runs its course. Tenants who believe a landlord may be acting to undermine a pending complaint can explore this avenue by contacting the Michigan Department of Civil Rights or a local tenant-rights organization familiar with proceedings under this section.
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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