Grand Rapids — Ch. 174 Residential Rental Application Fees § 9.927
Return of Fees
Operative Text
(1) In addition to any fines imposed as the result of a municipal civil infraction incurred under this ordinance, the rental property owner must refund the entire application fee to the applicant if the rental property owner fails to comply with the requirements of this ordinance in any way, including but not limited to situations in which the screening process has not occurred or has not been documented sufficiently prior to denial. (2) The return of any application fee to the applicant by the rental property owner as required by this ordinance shall be made using the same method in which the payment was made by applicant whenever possible. In all other cases, the return of the application fee shall be in the form of a check made out to the applicant. (3) A rental property owner may collect and hold an application fee for an available rental unit for up to thirty (30) calendar days so long as the rental property owner provides a written receipt to the applicant. If a rental unit becomes no longer available after applications and application fees are received but before some applications have undergone the screening process, all application fees associated with the unscreened applications shall be returned to the respective applicants within not more than fourteen (14) calendar days from the date that the rental unit is no longer available in accordance with the meaning set forth in Section 9.925 (2). Rental property owners shall date and time stamp each rental application in the order in which it is received. (4) In all cases where an applicant is not offered the rental unit applied for, the rental property owner shall provide the applicant with a written notification statement explaining the reason or reasons that the rental unit was not offered to applicant. An explanation shall be given that provides the applicant with a clear statement of the reason or reasons that the rental unit was not offered along with the documentation substantiating the reason or reasons. The explanation shall also provide a list of resources that the applicant may use to assist him or her with future application processes. This provision shall be in addition to notification requirements within State and Federal law. For purposes of this ordinance, a denial means any circumstances in which the applicant is not offered the rental unit.
Grand Rapids Code § 9.927 establishes rules governing when and how rental application fees must be returned to applicants. A property owner who fails to follow the ordinance's requirements in any way — including failing to conduct or document the screening process before denying an applicant — must refund the full application fee, on top of any civil infraction fines. Refunds must be issued by the same payment method used originally when feasible, or by check otherwise, and unscreened applicants must receive their fees back within 14 calendar days if a unit becomes unavailable. Additionally, any applicant who is not offered a unit must receive a written explanation of the reason(s) for denial, supporting documentation, and a list of resources to assist with future applications.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9.927, compliant rental property owners in Grand Rapids maintain thorough, timestamped records of every application in the order received and issue written receipts whenever an application fee is collected and held. Operators ensure that any applicant whose application was not screened before a unit became unavailable receives a full refund within 14 calendar days, and that refunds are returned via the applicant's original payment method whenever possible. When a unit is not offered to an applicant for any reason, owners provide a written denial notice that includes a clear explanation, substantiating documentation, and a list of applicant resources — keeping in mind that noncompliance with any part of this ordinance triggers a mandatory full refund of the application fee in addition to potential civil infraction penalties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 9.927 gives rental applicants in Grand Rapids the right to a full refund of their application fee if the property owner fails to comply with the ordinance in any respect, such as not completing or properly documenting the screening process before issuing a denial. Applicants whose unit became unavailable before their application was screened are entitled to their fee back within 14 calendar days, and the refund should arrive via the same method they originally used to pay. Applicants who are not offered a unit are also entitled to a written explanation with supporting documentation and a resource list; those who believe their rights under § 9.927 were violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or the City of Grand Rapids for guidance on available remedies.
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.
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