Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5711
Entry.
Operative Text
Sec. 5711. (1) A person shall not make any entry into or upon premises unless the entry is permitted by law. (2) Subject to subsection (3), if entry is permitted by law, the person shall not enter with force but only in a peaceable manner. (3) If the occupant took possession of the premises by means of a forcible entry, holds possession of the premises by force, or came into possession of the premises by trespass without color of title or other possessory interest, the owner, lessor, or licensor or an agent thereof may enter the premises and subsection (2) does not apply to the entry. However, any forcible entry shall not include conduct proscribed by chapter XI of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.81 to 750.90g.
Michigan law under MCL § 600.5711 establishes the conditions under which a person may lawfully enter property occupied by another. As a general rule, any entry must be authorized by law and carried out peacefully, without force. A narrow exception exists when the occupant originally obtained possession through a forcible entry, holds it by force, or entered without any legal claim to the property — in those circumstances, the owner or their agent may enter without being bound by the peaceable-entry requirement, though any such entry still cannot involve conduct that violates Michigan's criminal assault and battery statutes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under MCL § 600.5711 are generally expected to ensure that any entry onto occupied premises is both legally authorized and conducted without force or confrontation. Compliant operators typically rely on formal legal processes — such as court orders or statutory notice procedures — rather than self-help measures when seeking to regain possession of a property. The limited exception for forcible or trespassory occupants does not remove the constraint against criminal conduct, so operators in those situations still work within the boundaries set by Michigan's penal code.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 600.5711 provides occupants with a legal basis to challenge entries that were not authorized by law or that were carried out with force in violation of the peaceable-entry requirement. Tenants who believe an unlawful or forcible entry has occurred may have grounds to raise that violation as a defense in eviction proceedings or to pursue a separate legal claim. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Michigan landlord-tenant law can help occupants understand which enforcement paths may be 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.
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