Mich. Comp. Laws § § 37.1506a
Real estate transaction; prohibited conduct; “covered multifamily dwellings” defined.
Operative Text
Sec. 506a. (1) A person shall not do any of the following in connection with a real estate transaction: (a) Refuse to permit, at the expense of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person with a disability if those modifications may be necessary to afford the person with a disability full enjoyment of the premises. In the case of a rental, the landlord may, if reasonable, make permission for a modification contingent on the renter's agreement to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, reasonable wear and tear excepted. (b) Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when the accommodations may be necessary to afford the person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy residential real property. (c) In connection with the design and construction of covered multifamily dwellings for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, fail to include all of the following features: (i) The dwellings have at least 1 building entrance on an accessible route, unless that is impractical because of the terrain or unusual characteristics of the site. (ii) The public and common use portions of the dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. (iii) All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons with disabilities in wheelchairs. (iv) All premises within covered multifamily dwellings contain an accessible route into and through the dwelling; light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations; reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and kitchens and bathrooms designed so that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space. (2) As used in this section, "covered multifamily dwellings" means buildings consisting of 4 or more units if the buildings have 1 or more elevators, and ground floor units in other buildings consisting of 4 or more units.
Michigan Civil Rights Act § 37.1506a prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in real estate transactions by requiring that reasonable modifications and accommodations be allowed, and that newly constructed multifamily housing meet specific accessibility standards. Landlords and sellers cannot refuse a person with a disability the opportunity to make necessary physical changes to a unit at that person's own expense, though rental agreements may include a restoration requirement for interior changes. Multifamily buildings of four or more units constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 must incorporate accessible entrances, common areas, doorways, and interior features such as reinforced bathroom walls and maneuverable kitchen and bathroom layouts.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 37.1506a, compliant rental operators generally allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable modifications at the tenant's expense, and may include a written agreement requiring restoration of the interior to its prior condition—excluding normal wear and tear—upon move-out. Operators also review their rules, policies, and services to ensure that reasonable accommodations are available to tenants with disabilities so they have equal opportunity to use and enjoy their homes. Owners of covered multifamily dwellings—defined in § 37.1506a(2) as buildings of four or more units with an elevator, or ground-floor units in other four-or-more-unit buildings built after March 13, 1991—are expected to have incorporated the required accessible design features at the time of construction.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 37.1506a gives tenants with disabilities the right to request reasonable physical modifications to their unit at their own expense, as well as reasonable accommodations in a landlord's rules or policies, so they can fully use and enjoy their home. If a landlord refuses such a modification or accommodation, or if a newly constructed covered multifamily dwelling lacks the accessibility features required by § 37.1506a(1)(c), that refusal or omission may constitute a violation of Michigan's Civil Rights Act. Tenants who believe their rights under this provision have been violated can explore options such as filing a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, raising the violation as a defense or claim in a legal proceeding, or contacting a local tenant-rights or disability-rights organization for general information.
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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