Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.480
Storage of combustible materials.
Operative Text
Sec. 80. Combustible materials and storage spaces. No dwelling, nor any part thereof, nor of the lot upon which it is situated, shall be used as a place of storage, keeping or handling of any article dangerous or detrimental to life or health; nor of any combustible article, except under such conditions as may be prescribed by the fire commissioner, or the proper official, under authority of a written permit issued by him. No multiple dwelling nor any part thereof, nor of the lot upon which it is situated, shall be used as a place of storage, keeping or handling of feed, hay, straw, cotton, paper stock, feathers or rags. All of the provisions of section 49, except the window requirement, prescribing the protection and construction of spaces used for storage purposes in buildings hereafter erected shall apply to all spaces used for such storage purposes in all existing buildings housing more than 8 apartments if of class "a" or 40 sleeping rooms if of class "b". Where a required window cannot be provided, there shall be a siamese fire department connection.
Michigan housing law under MCL § 125.480 restricts how dwellings and their lots may be used for storage. Specifically, no part of a dwelling or its lot may be used to store, keep, or handle materials that are dangerous or detrimental to life or health, or any combustible article, unless a written permit has been issued by the fire commissioner or appropriate official. Multiple dwellings face an additional, stricter prohibition: feed, hay, straw, cotton, paper stock, feathers, and rags may not be stored there under any circumstances. Larger existing buildings—those with more than 8 apartments (Class A) or 40 sleeping rooms (Class B)—must also meet construction and fire-protection standards for storage spaces, including a Siamese fire department connection where a required window cannot be provided.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under MCL § 125.480 generally ensure that no storage area in a dwelling or on its lot contains hazardous, health-threatening, or combustible materials without first obtaining a written permit from the fire commissioner or designated official. Operators of multiple dwellings take care to keep prohibited bulk materials—such as hay, straw, rags, cotton, and paper stock—entirely off the premises and lot, as no permit exception applies to these items. Those managing larger buildings (more than 8 apartments in Class A or 40 sleeping rooms in Class B) also verify that existing storage spaces meet the structural and fire-protection construction standards referenced in MCL § 125.480, including installation of a Siamese fire department connection where a window cannot be provided.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under MCL § 125.480, tenants have a right to live in a dwelling where storage areas are not used in ways that create fire hazards or health risks without proper official authorization. If a tenant observes that a landlord is storing prohibited materials—such as hay, straw, rags, or other listed items in a multiple dwelling—or maintaining storage spaces that appear to lack required fire-protection features, they may report these conditions to the local fire commissioner or relevant municipal housing authority. Tenants can also consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand how a violation of MCL § 125.480 might be raised in the context of habitability concerns or other enforcement avenues available under Michigan 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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