Landlord laws
Michigan landlord-tenant law
Michigan Compiled Laws: Security Deposit Act (1972 PA 348), Truth in Renting Act (1978 PA 454), MCL 554.134, MCL 600.5714, MCL 123.411, Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (official text, legislature.mi.gov)
Last verified Oct 2026
General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.
| Topic | Rule (plain English) | Statute | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit cap | Up to 1.5 months' rent. | MCL 554.602 | Verified |
| Deposit return deadline | Within 30 days after the tenant moves out, mail an itemized notice of damages (with estimated repair costs) along with the balance of the deposit. Electronic transfer is allowed under a Sept 2026 amendment. If the tenant disputes it, you must sue within 45 days to keep any disputed amount, unless an exception applies (for example, no forwarding address, no tenant response, or unpaid rent only). | MCL 554.609, 554.613 | Verified |
| Deposit holding and interest | Keep the deposit in a regulated financial institution, unless you file a cash or surety bond with the Secretary of State. The deposit is the tenant's property until you establish a right to it. No statute requires paying interest. We checked the full Security Deposit Act. | MCL 554.604, 554.605 | Verified |
| Late fee cap and grace period | Not specified in state statute. Michigan statutes set no late-fee cap and require no grace period. We checked the Security Deposit Act, the Truth in Renting Act and the tenancy-termination and eviction statutes. Put the fee in the lease and keep it reasonable. Note: Late-fee reasonableness is governed by case law and contract law, not statute. | MCL 554.601–.616, Truth in Renting Act (incl. 554.633) | Not in statute |
| Landlord entry notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a notice period for landlord entry. We checked the same acts. Set entry terms in the lease. Note: Entry rights rest on the lease and contract/case law, not statute. | MCL 554.601–.616, Truth in Renting Act (incl. 554.633) | Not in statute |
| Rent increase notice | Not specified in state statute. No statute sets a rent-increase notice period. A tenancy at will (such as month-to-month) ends on 1 month's notice, or one rent period if rent is paid more often than every 3 months. Give at least that much before changing rent. You can't raise rent mid-lease unless the lease allows it. | MCL 554.134(1) | Not in statute |
| Rent control status | Rent control is preempted statewide. Local governments may not enact or enforce rent control on private residential property. The law has exceptions for property they own and for voluntary incentive programs. | MCL 123.411 | Verified |
| Eviction notice: nonpayment | Serve a written 7-day demand for possession (or 7-day notice to quit) for unpaid rent before filing summary proceedings. | MCL 600.5714(1)(a), 554.134(2) | Verified |
| Eviction notice: lease violation | No general cure period is set by statute. You may recover possession after the lease ends under a termination clause in the lease. For a serious, continuing health hazard or extensive damage, serve a 7-day demand. For controlled-substance cases with a police report, serve a 24-hour demand. Note: Notice length for ending a lease on a breach is generally set by the lease; courts apply contract law. | MCL 600.5714(1)(b)–(d), 554.134(4) | Verified |
| Required disclosures | Within 14 days after move-in, give written notice of your name and address, where the deposit is held, and the tenant's duty to give a forwarding address within 4 days, including the required bold statement (554.603). Give 2 blank move-in inventory checklists with the required notice (554.608). The lease must state your notice address and include the Truth in Renting notice in 12-point type (554.634). For pre-1978 housing, give the federal lead-paint disclosure (40 CFR 745.113). | MCL 554.603, 554.608, 554.634; 40 CFR 745.113 | Verified |
| Fair housing beyond federal law | Michigan adds age, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. It also bars discrimination by source of income, including use of emergency rental assistance (effective Apr 2, 2025). Disability is covered under a separate state act. | MCL 37.2502; MCL 554.601c | Verified |
Last verified Oct 2026 · Sources are official state legislature sites. Federal rules also apply.
Tools for Michigan landlords
Late fee calculator
Model grace periods and fees.
Open →Prorated rent calculator
Mid-month move-ins.
Open →Rent increase calculator
New rent and annual impact.
Open →General information only. Not legal advice. RentToolkit is not a law firm. Laws and local ordinances change, so check the statute and consult a licensed attorney in your state before acting.