Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances Ch. 20 Art. VI Annual Registration of Habitable Rental Properties §§ 20-165 – 20-204 § 20-168
Application for rental certification of occupancy; inspection; fees
Operative Text
(a) The application shall be made on a structure by structure basis. All units in the same structure must be registered at the same time. Upon written certification from the owner, delivered to the Inspection department a minimum of fifteen (15) days prior to due date of registration fees, dwelling or dwelling units that are vacant and not available for rent shall not have registration fees due until the unit is available for rent, upon which time the owner shall obtain an inspection and Certificate of Rental Compliance prior to occupancy of the structure, dwelling unit, or premises. The owner of any unit that is represented as not available for rent that is subsequently found to be rented without payment of all registration and late fees shall be assessed a minimum fine of Two Hundred Fifty ($250.00) Dollars for each occurrence. (b) The applicant/owner or his designated responsible party by filing an application, shall be deemed to have given consent to the code enforcement officials of the city to enter each rental unit as well as any other portion of the structure at reasonable times and upon a reasonable notice, to inspect the premises at any time after the application is made or a certificate of occupancy is issued. (c) No Certificate of Rental Compliance shall be issued unless the fully completed application form is accompanied by payment of an annual registration fee as determined by resolution. (d) No certificate of occupancy shall be issued to a non-resident applicant unless such applicant designates in writing the name, address, and telephone number of his agent within the State of Michigan for the receipt of service of notice of violation under the provisions of this article. Non-residents shall be interpreted as any owner of rental property residing outside the State of Michigan. (e) Any fee, fine, or penalty unpaid as of October 15 of any year shall be levied against the property and shall be added to the property taxes of said property.
Benton Harbor, MI Code of Ordinances § 20-168 establishes the process by which rental property owners must register and obtain a Certificate of Rental Compliance on a structure-by-structure basis, with all units in a building registered together. Owners may defer registration fees for genuinely vacant, off-market units by providing written notice at least 15 days before the fee due date, but must obtain an inspection and certificate before any such unit is occupied. Owners who falsely claim a unit is unavailable for rent while actually renting it face a minimum fine of $250 per occurrence, and any unpaid fees, fines, or penalties as of October 15 of a given year are added directly to the property's tax bill. Non-resident owners — those living outside Michigan — must designate an in-state agent to receive notices of violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 20-168, compliant operators register all units within a structure at the same time and pay the annual registration fee alongside a fully completed application before a Certificate of Rental Compliance is issued. If a unit is genuinely vacant and off-market, owners submit written certification to the Inspection Department at least 15 days before the registration fee due date to defer fees, and then secure an inspection and certificate before allowing any occupancy. Owners residing outside Michigan designate a Michigan-based agent in writing to receive violation notices, and they monitor unpaid balances carefully since any outstanding fees or fines become a lien added to property taxes after October 15 each year.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 20-168 of the Benton Harbor Code requires that rental units be properly registered and hold a valid Certificate of Rental Compliance before occupancy — a protection that signals the property has been inspected and meets city standards. Tenants who suspect their unit was rented without the required certificate or that registration fees were improperly avoided may file a complaint with the city's Inspection Department, which has authority to inspect registered properties and investigate violations. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Benton Harbor's rental registration program can help residents understand what documentation landlords are required to maintain and what options exist when a unit may not be in compliance with § 20-168.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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