Mich. Comp. Laws § § 123.411
"Local governmental unit" defined; rent control prohibited; management and control of residential property; incentive to increase supply of certain residential property.
Operative Text
Sec. 1. (1) As used in this section, "local governmental unit" means a political subdivision of this state including, but not limited to, a county, city, village, or township, if the political subdivision provides local government services for residents in a geographically limited area of this state as its primary purpose and has the power to act primarily on behalf of that area. (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a local governmental unit shall not enact, maintain, or enforce an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential property. (3) This section does not impair the right of any local governmental unit to manage and control residential property in which the local governmental unit has a property interest. (4) This section does not limit the power of a local governmental unit to adopt an ordinance or resolution to implement a plan to use voluntary incentives and agreements to increase the supply of moderate- or low-cost private residential property available for lease.
MCL § 123.411 establishes a statewide prohibition on local rent control in Michigan. Under this provision, counties, cities, villages, townships, and similar local governmental units are barred from passing or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that caps or otherwise controls the rent a private landlord may charge. Two exceptions exist: local governments retain authority over residential property in which they hold a property interest, and they may still adopt voluntary incentive programs aimed at expanding the supply of moderate- or low-cost rental housing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
MCL § 123.411 means that no Michigan city, county, village, or township has the legal authority to impose rent caps on privately owned residential property. Compliant operators generally set rents according to market conditions and the terms of their lease agreements, without concern that a local ordinance will override those amounts. Landlords who own property in jurisdictions that have attempted to enact rent control measures may find that such measures are unenforceable under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 123.411 reflects a state policy decision that local governments in Michigan cannot limit how much a private landlord charges for rent. Tenants should be aware that, unlike in some other states, there is no local rent board or municipal rent stabilization program that can cap rent increases on private residential units in Michigan under this provision. Tenants seeking information about their rights in other areas—such as habitability, security deposits, or lease terms—may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Michigan housing 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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