Detroit — Ch. 22 Art. VIII Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing § 22-8-1
Purpose
Operative Text
The purpose of this article is to enhance the health, safety and general welfare of the public by ensuring citizens with arrest and conviction records have a fair opportunity to secure housing by regulating the use of criminal background checks as part of the tenant screening process, thereby facilitating re-integration into society, reducing recidivism and its associated criminal justice and societal costs. Barriers to opportunities for people with arrest or conviction records increase recidivism and jeopardize the safety of the public, disrupt the financial and overall stability of affected families and communities, and impede the City from achieving its maximum potential of economic growth.
Detroit's Ch. 22 Art. VIII, § 22-8-1 establishes the overarching purpose of the city's Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing article: to promote public health, safety, and welfare by giving people with arrest or conviction records a meaningful opportunity to obtain housing. The article recognizes that restricting housing access based on criminal history can increase recidivism, destabilize families and communities, and hinder the city's economic growth. By regulating how criminal background checks may be used in tenant screening, the article aims to support reintegration into society and reduce the broader costs associated with the criminal justice system.
Plain English — not legal advice.
As the foundational purpose provision of Detroit's Fair Chance Access to Rental Housing article (§ 22-8-1), this section signals that the city has made a policy determination that blanket reliance on criminal history in tenant screening is inconsistent with public welfare goals. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with the full article to understand how this purpose shapes the specific screening rules that follow. Staying informed about the article's intent helps property managers apply subsequent provisions in a manner consistent with the city's stated objectives.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 22-8-1 of Detroit's Ch. 22 Art. VIII articulates that people with arrest or conviction records have a recognized interest in fair access to rental housing, and that the city has acted to protect that interest through regulation. If you believe a landlord's use of your criminal history during screening has been handled improperly, the broader article built on this purpose provision may provide avenues for recourse. Tenant-rights organizations in Detroit can help you understand how this purpose section connects to the specific enforceable rules elsewhere in the article.
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.
Effective Timeline
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