Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.490
Multiple dwellings; public halls and stairs, lighting and ventilation.
Operative Text
Sec. 90. Public halls and stairs, lighting and ventilation of. In all multiple-dwellings erected prior to the passage of this act the public halls and stairs shall be provided with as much light and ventilation to the outer air as may be deemed practicable by the health officer or by such other appropriate public official as the mayor may designate, who may order the cutting in of windows and skylights and such other improvements and alterations in said dwellings as in his judgment may be necessary and appropriate to accomplish this result. All new skylights hereafter placed in such dwellings shall be in accordance with section 27 of this act and shall be of such size as may be determined to be practicable by said health officer, or by such other appropriate public official as the mayor may designate.
Michigan law under MCL § 125.490 addresses lighting and ventilation standards for public halls and stairways in multi-unit residential buildings constructed before the act's passage. A designated health officer or other appropriate public official appointed by the mayor holds authority to evaluate these spaces and order improvements — such as the installation of windows or skylights — when deemed necessary to bring adequate light and air to common areas. Any new skylights installed in such buildings after the act must conform to the standards set out in Section 27 of the same act and must meet size requirements as determined by the authorized official.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of older multi-unit residential buildings in Michigan should be aware that MCL § 125.490 gives local health officers or mayor-designated officials the authority to inspect public halls and stairways and issue orders requiring physical alterations, including cutting in windows or skylights, to improve light and ventilation. A compliant building owner generally responds to any such official order in a timely manner and ensures that any new skylights installed in the building conform to the specifications required under Section 27 of the act and are sized as approved by the designated official. Keeping records of inspections, correspondence with officials, and completed improvements is a practice commonly associated with maintaining compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in older Michigan multi-unit buildings may have an interest in MCL § 125.490, which establishes that public halls and stairways must receive adequate light and ventilation as determined by a local health officer or other official designated by the mayor. If common areas such as hallways or stairwells appear to lack sufficient lighting or airflow, this provision provides a basis for raising concerns with the local health department or appropriate municipal authority, who hold enforcement power under the statute. Tenants may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to better understand what options are generally available when conditions in shared building spaces appear to fall short of what this provision contemplates.
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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