Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.408
Minimum requirements; law not to be modified.
Operative Text
Sec. 8. Minimum requirements; law not to be modified. The provisions of the act shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the protection of health, welfare and safety of the community. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to invalidate existing ordinances or regulations of any city or organized village or the board of health of any such city or village imposing requirements higher than the minimum requirements laid down in this act relative to light, ventilation, sanitation, fire prevention, egress, occupancy, maintenance and uses for dwellings; nor be deemed to prevent any city or organized village or the board of health of any such city or village from enacting and putting in force from time to time ordinances and regulations imposing requirements higher than the minimum requirements laid down in this act; nor shall anything herein contained be deemed to prevent such cities and organized villages or the board of health of any such city or village from prescribing for the enforcement of such ordinances and regulations, remedies and penalties similar to those prescribed herein. And every such city and organized village or the board of health of any such city or village is empowered to enact such ordinances and regulations and to prescribe for their enforcement. No ordinance, regulation, ruling or decision of any municipal body, officer of authority of the board of health of any such city or village shall repeal, amend, modify or dispense with any of the said minimum requirements laid down in this act; except that, in order that the provisions of this act may be reasonably applied, public health and safety secured, and substantial justice done in instances where practical difficulties are encountered or unnecessary and unreasonable hardship result from the application of the strict letter of the law, the decision of a board of appeals, as hereinafter provided and regulated shall be considered as the reasonable application of the intent of this act.
MCL § 125.408 establishes the Michigan State Housing Law's requirements as a floor, not a ceiling, for dwelling standards covering areas such as light, ventilation, sanitation, fire prevention, egress, occupancy, maintenance, and use. Local governments and boards of health may adopt and enforce ordinances that go beyond these minimums, but they cannot enact rules that fall below them or that repeal, modify, or waive any of the state's baseline requirements. A limited exception exists through a board of appeals process, which may allow flexible application of the law's intent in cases where strict enforcement would create genuine practical difficulties or unreasonable hardship.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 125.408, property owners and managers must meet at least the state's minimum housing standards, and they should also be aware that the city or village where a property is located may have adopted stricter local ordinances on matters like ventilation, sanitation, or fire egress. Compliance with state minimums alone may not satisfy local requirements, so operators generally review applicable municipal codes alongside the state act. Where a strict application of the law creates a genuine practical difficulty, a board of appeals process exists that may provide a pathway for reasonable accommodation of the act's intent.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.408 guarantees that the housing standards set by Michigan's State Housing Law represent the least a landlord must provide — local governments are free to require more, but no local rule can reduce those baseline protections. Tenants living in cities or organized villages may benefit from additional local ordinances on issues like sanitation, lighting, or fire safety that go beyond state minimums. Tenants who believe a dwelling falls short of these standards can explore options such as filing a complaint with their local board of health or municipality, raising a violation as a defense in relevant proceedings, or contacting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available remedies.
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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