Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.531
Certificate; application; temporary certificates; fee.
Operative Text
Sec. 131. (1) An owner shall apply for a certificate of compliance. Inspection and issuance of certificates shall be in accordance with the requirements of this act and with procedures established by the enforcing agency. The enforcing agency may authorize the issuance of temporary certificates without inspection for those premises in which there are no violations of record as of the effective date of this article, and shall issue such temporary certificates upon application in cases where inspections are not conducted within a reasonable time. Temporary certificates shall also be issued for premises with violations of record, whether existing before or after the effective date of this article, when the owner can show proof of having undertaken to correct such conditions, or when the municipality has been authorized to make repairs, or when a receiver has been appointed, or when an owner rehabilitation plan has been accepted by the court. (2) An application for a certificate shall be made when the owners, or any of them, enroll in the registry of owners and premises. If the owner fails to register, any occupant of unregistered or uncertified premises may make application. (3) A fee of $10.00 shall be paid by the applicant at the time the certificate is issued.
Under MCL § 125.531, property owners are required to obtain a certificate of compliance for residential premises, with inspections and issuance governed by the enforcing agency's established procedures. Temporary certificates may be issued without inspection when no violations are on record, or when violations exist but the owner has begun corrective action, a municipality is authorized to make repairs, a receiver has been appointed, or a court has accepted a rehabilitation plan. If an owner fails to register, any occupant of the unregistered or uncertified premises may step in and apply for the certificate themselves, and a $10.00 fee is due at the time the certificate is issued.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 125.531, compliant property operators enroll in the registry of owners and premises and submit a certificate of compliance application at that time, paying the $10.00 fee when the certificate is issued. Where violations exist, operators generally document their corrective efforts—such as an accepted rehabilitation plan or authorized municipal repairs—to support issuance of a temporary certificate while work is ongoing. Maintaining current registration and promptly addressing any violations of record are the hallmarks of an operator in good standing under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.531 gives occupants of unregistered or uncertified premises the right to apply for a certificate of compliance themselves if the owner has failed to register, which can be a meaningful tool for residents in buildings that lack proper certification. Tenants may also raise an owner's failure to obtain or maintain a certificate as a relevant fact in housing-related proceedings or complaints filed with the local enforcing agency. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Michigan's State Housing Law can help residents understand how this provision interacts with other protections available to them.
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
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