Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.478
Receptacles for ashes, garbage and rubbish; chutes prohibited.
Operative Text
Sec. 78. Receptacles for ashes, garbage and rubbish. The owner of every multiple dwelling, and in the case of private and 2 family dwellings, the occupant or occupants thereof, shall provide for said dwelling, keep clean and in place, proper covered receptacles of non-absorbent material for holding garbage, refuse, ashes, rubbish and other waste matter. Garbage chutes are prohibited.
Under MCL § 125.478, owners of multi-unit residential buildings—and occupants of single-family or two-family homes—are required to supply and maintain covered, non-absorbent waste receptacles for garbage, refuse, ashes, rubbish, and other waste. These containers must be kept clean and properly positioned. The provision also flatly prohibits the installation or use of garbage chutes in any covered dwelling.
Plain English — not legal advice.
For operators of multiple dwellings, MCL § 125.478 places the responsibility for providing compliant waste receptacles squarely on the owner. A compliant property manager generally ensures that all receptacles are made of non-absorbent material, fitted with covers, kept clean, and maintained in their designated locations. Because garbage chutes are prohibited under this section, operators of buildings that might otherwise consider such a feature should be aware that no such installation is permissible.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.478 establishes that in multi-unit buildings, the owner—not the tenant—bears the duty to supply proper covered, non-absorbent waste receptacles. Tenants who find that their building lacks compliant receptacles, or that garbage chutes have been installed, may have grounds to raise a housing code violation with local code enforcement authorities. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what local complaint processes 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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation