Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.466
Water closets in cellars.
Operative Text
Sec. 66. Water-closets in cellars. No water-closet shall be maintained in the cellar of any dwelling without a permit in writing from the health officer, who shall have power to make rules and regulations governing the maintenance of such closets. Under no circumstances shall the general water-closet accommodations of any multiple dwelling be permitted in the cellar or basement thereof; this provision, however, shall not be construed so as to prohibit a general toilet room containing several water-closets, provided such water-closets are supplementary to those required by law.
Section 125.466 of Michigan's Housing Law (MCL § 125.401 et seq.) restricts where water closets (toilets) may be located in dwellings. A single-family dwelling may have a water closet in its cellar only if the local health officer issues a written permit and the installation complies with any rules the health officer establishes. For multi-unit dwellings, the primary toilet facilities for residents are prohibited from being located in the cellar or basement, though supplementary toilet rooms containing water closets may be permitted there as long as they are in addition to—not a replacement for—the legally required fixtures on other floors.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties subject to MCL § 125.466 generally ensure that the primary, required toilet accommodations for tenants in multi-unit buildings are not located in the cellar or basement. For any cellar water closet in a single-family dwelling, compliant operators obtain and retain a written permit from the local health officer before installation or continued maintenance, and follow any rules that officer establishes. Supplementary basement toilet rooms in multi-unit buildings are generally maintained only when the legally required water closets on other floors are already in place and fully functional.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under MCL § 125.466, tenants in multi-unit dwellings have a right to toilet facilities that are not confined solely to the cellar or basement—the law prohibits that arrangement for general accommodations. If a tenant believes their building's primary toilet facilities are improperly located in a basement or cellar, they may consider raising this as a housing code violation with the local health officer, who holds enforcement authority under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help residents understand what options exist, including how to document conditions and what complaints may be available under Michigan's Housing Law.
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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