Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:506
Heating facilities
Operative Text
Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed and are maintained in a safe and good working condition. The facilities shall be capable of, upon the tenant's request or control, supplying heat to a temperature of at least 68°F, but not more than 85°F, for all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet compartments, when the outdoor temperature is as low as -10°F. The temperature shall be measured in the center of the room 3 feet above floor level. The heating unit shall be separately enclosed in multiple dwellings. If the apartment or dwelling unit is cited by the department because it will not maintain the required temperature, without portable heaters, 3 times during a heating season, corrective action of a permanent nature shall be implemented (storm windows, additional heating capacity, insulation, etc.). When owners use temporary heating to maintain the required temperature, the owner shall pay a prorated amount of the bill that the tenant pays for the other energy source used for heating.
Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:506 establishes that every dwelling must have heating facilities that are properly installed, safely maintained, and capable of delivering indoor temperatures between 68°F and 85°F in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet compartments, even when outdoor temperatures drop as low as -10°F. Temperature compliance is measured at the center of the room, three feet above the floor. If a unit is cited three times in a single heating season for failing to meet the required temperature without portable heaters, the owner must implement a permanent corrective measure, such as storm windows, added heating capacity, or insulation. When an owner relies on temporary heating to meet the standard, the owner is required to cover a prorated share of the tenant's energy bill for the supplemental heat source.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:506, compliant property operators keep heating systems properly installed and in safe, good working order throughout the heating season. Operators of multiple dwellings ensure that heating units are separately enclosed, and they document any inspections or maintenance performed to demonstrate the system can sustain the required temperature range. When temporary heating is used to bridge a gap, operators generally calculate and pay the prorated portion of the tenant's energy bill attributable to that supplemental source, and after a third citation in a single heating season, operators move promptly to implement a permanent fix rather than continuing to rely on stopgap measures.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ann Arbor — Ch. 105 Housing Code § 8:506 gives tenants the right to adequate heat—between 68°F and 85°F—in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet compartments whenever outdoor temperatures fall as low as -10°F. If a unit is cited three times in one heating season for failing to maintain that range without portable heaters, the owner is obligated to make a permanent improvement to the heating system. Tenants who believe their unit is not meeting this standard may consider filing a complaint with the Ann Arbor city department that enforces the Housing Code, documenting temperature readings at the center of the room three feet above the floor, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.