Livonia — Ch. 5.42 Rental Dwellings (Hotels, Lodginghouses, Roominghouses) § 5.42.010
Definitions
Operative Text
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, as follows: A. "Agent" means any person authorized by the owner who has charge, care or control of a rental dwelling or rental unit which is let or offered for occupancy. The owner must officially notify the city of any agent authorized to act on his behalf. The owner may authorize a tenant to act as agent for a rental dwelling or rental unit. B. "Applicable codes" mean the current fire prevention, building and property maintenance codes adopted by the city, including definitions and applicable terms, and other city ordinances. C. "Dwelling unit" means a single unit providing complete independent living facilities for one (1) or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. This shall include any area within the building that contains mechanical equipment for the rental unit, hallways or other spaces that serve the rental unit, and the premises of the rental dwelling. D. "Family" means any number of persons living together in a single dwelling unit comprising a single housekeeping unit and related by blood, marriage, adoption, or any unrelated person who resides therein as though a member of the family and including the domestic employees thereof, or a group of not more than five (5) unrelated individuals living together as a single housekeeping unit. E. "Hotel": A room or rooms in any building or structure kept, used, maintained advertised, or held out to the public to be an inn, motel, hotel, lodginghouse, motor court, or a place where sleeping, rooming, office, conference, or exhibition accommodations are furnished for lease or rent, whether with or without meals. F. "Multiple-family rental dwelling" means a building containing three (3) or more dwelling units arranged either side by side and/or one (1) above the other, each unit occupied as a single housekeeping unit by a single-family or functional family. G. "One-family rental dwelling" means a building containing one (1) dwelling unit promised and/or leased to a single family not occupied by the owner. H. "Rental unit" means a single housekeeping unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one (1) or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. I. "Roominghouse" means any building occupied as a home or family unit where a certain room or rooms, in excess of those used by members of the immediate family, are leased or rented to one (1) or more persons and occupied by four (4) or more persons not members of the family. The term "roominghouse" also includes tourist homes, bed and breakfast establishments, and tourist accommodations other than motor courts. J. "Two-family rental dwelling" means a building containing two (2) dwelling units promised and/or leased to two (2) separate families, respectively, with at least one (1) unit not occupied by the owner.
Section 5.42.010 of Livonia's Rental Dwellings chapter establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Chapter 5.42, defining key terms such as "agent," "dwelling unit," "rental unit," "hotel," "roominghouse," and the various categories of rental dwellings (one-family, two-family, and multiple-family). These definitions set the boundaries of who and what falls under the chapter's regulatory scope, determining which properties and relationships are subject to its requirements. For example, a "multiple-family rental dwelling" under this section means a building with three or more dwelling units, while a "roominghouse" encompasses tourist homes and bed-and-breakfast establishments meeting certain occupancy criteria.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5.42.010, property owners operating in Livonia should be aware that the category their property falls into — one-family, two-family, or multiple-family rental dwelling, hotel, or roominghouse — determines how the rest of Chapter 5.42 applies to them. Compliant operators formally notify the city of any agent authorized to act on their behalf, as the definition of "agent" in this section explicitly requires official city notification. Owners also ensure that any spaces serving a rental unit, including hallways and areas housing mechanical equipment, are understood to be part of the "dwelling unit" for purposes of code compliance under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5.42.010 defines the types of rental arrangements and properties covered by Livonia's Chapter 5.42, which directly affects what protections and standards apply to a tenant's living situation. Knowing whether one's home qualifies as a "rental unit," a unit within a "multiple-family rental dwelling," or a "roominghouse" under this section can be relevant when determining which city codes and obligations govern the property. Tenants who believe their housing situation is being mischaracterized — or that an owner's agent has not been properly registered with the city as required by § 5.42.010 — may wish to contact the City of Livonia or consult a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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