Dearborn Heights — Ch. 7 Art. IX Div. 10 Registration and Inspection of All Rental Dwellings § 7-624
Penalties; municipal civil infraction
Operative Text
Failure to timely register a rental dwelling, or any other violation of this article shall be a municipal civil infraction. The requirements of this article are in addition to, and not in lieu of all other city ordinances, rules and regulations. The first offense or any subsequent offense shall be subject to a five hundred dollar ($500.00) fine and any other costs authorized by the court pursuant to MCL 600.8727, MCL 600.8335, or state law. As authorized by MCL 600.8731, in the event such fine and costs are not timely paid, they may become a lien on the property and be placed on the tax roll or result in a suit for collection of judgement.
Under Dearborn Heights Ch. 7 Art. IX Div. 10 § 7-624, failing to register a rental dwelling on time—or committing any other violation of the article—constitutes a municipal civil infraction. Every offense, whether a first or repeat violation, carries a $500 fine plus any additional court-authorized costs. If those fines and costs go unpaid, the law allows them to become a lien on the property or be placed on the tax roll, and a court judgment may be pursued for collection.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties in Dearborn Heights should be aware that § 7-624 treats every registration failure or article violation as a municipal civil infraction, with a $500 fine assessed for each offense regardless of whether it is a first or subsequent occurrence. Compliant operators typically ensure timely registration and maintain ongoing adherence to all requirements of the article, since these obligations exist alongside—not instead of—other applicable city ordinances. Unpaid fines can become a lien on the property or appear on the tax roll under the authority of Michigan statutes, so prompt attention to any citation issued under this section is a standard part of property management practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Dearborn Heights rental units may find § 7-624 relevant if their landlord has failed to register the property as required under Ch. 7 Art. IX Div. 10, since that failure is itself a civil infraction subject to a $500 fine per offense. Knowing whether a rental unit is properly registered can be a useful piece of information when evaluating a landlord's overall compliance with local housing rules. Tenants who believe a violation has occurred may consider contacting the appropriate Dearborn Heights municipal enforcement office or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand what options may be available.
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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