Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.496
Egress; other means.
Operative Text
Sec. 96. Additional means of egress. Whenever any multiple dwelling is not provided with means of egress conforming to the provisions of section 95, the enforcing officer shall order the installation of such additional means of egress as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of that section.
Under MCL § 125.496, when a multi-unit residential building lacks the required exit pathways described in section 95 of the same law, the designated enforcement officer is empowered to issue an order requiring the building to be brought into compliance by adding whatever additional egress routes are needed. The provision does not set a fixed number of exits; instead, it ties the remedy directly to whatever section 95 requires for that building type. The rule is essentially a corrective mechanism: non-compliant buildings must be upgraded, not simply flagged.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers of multiple dwellings should ensure that all exit pathways meet the specifications outlined in section 95 of MCL § 125.401 et seq., because MCL § 125.496 gives enforcement officers direct authority to order installation of additional egress without further legislative action. Compliant operators typically conduct periodic internal inspections of stairwells, fire escapes, corridors, and exit doors to confirm that the number and configuration of exits satisfy section 95 standards before an enforcement officer identifies a deficiency. Receiving a formal order under § 125.496 generally triggers an obligation to complete the required installation work within whatever timeframe the enforcing officer specifies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.496 establishes that tenants living in a multiple dwelling have a right to a building with adequate means of egress as defined by section 95, and that enforcement officers can compel landlords to add exits when those standards are not met. Tenants who believe their building lacks sufficient egress may report the condition to the local building or housing enforcement authority, which has the power to issue a corrective order under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help residents understand how to document egress concerns and what options exist, including raising a code-compliance violation in relevant housing proceedings.
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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation