Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.477
Multiple dwellings; wallpaper.
Operative Text
Sec. 77. Wall paper. No wall paper shall be placed upon a wall or ceiling of any multiple-dwelling unless all wall paper shall be first removed therefrom and said wall and ceiling thoroughly cleaned.
Under MCL § 125.477, a rule governing multiple dwellings in Michigan prohibits applying new wallpaper over existing wallpaper in any multiple-dwelling unit. Before new wallpaper may be installed on any wall or ceiling, all existing wallpaper must be fully stripped and the underlying surface must be thoroughly cleaned. This provision establishes a baseline maintenance and habitability standard for multi-unit residential buildings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers overseeing Michigan multiple dwellings subject to MCL § 125.477 generally ensure that any wallpapering project begins with a complete removal of all existing wallpaper from the affected walls and ceilings. A compliant operator documents the stripping and cleaning process before new wallpaper is applied, keeping records that can demonstrate adherence to the standard. Routine inspections of units scheduled for renovation can help confirm that surfaces meet the cleaned-surface requirement before work proceeds.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.477 establishes that walls and ceilings in Michigan multiple dwellings must be stripped of old wallpaper and thoroughly cleaned before any new wallpaper is applied. Tenants who observe that wallpaper has been layered over existing wallpaper in their unit may have grounds to raise this as a housing code concern with local building or housing inspection authorities. Tenant-rights organizations in Michigan can provide general information about how to document conditions and what complaint or enforcement pathways may be 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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