Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.465
Public halls in multiple dwellings; lighting; exit lights.
Operative Text
Sec. 65. Public halls, lighting at night. In every multiple dwelling all public halls shall be kept adequately lighted at all times by the owner. In every multiple dwelling of class "b", except those of fireproof construction having more than 15 rooms or sleeping accommodations for more than 30 persons, the location of stairways and means of egress shall be designated on each floor by electrically illuminated exit signs having letters at least 4 inches in height. All exit lights shall be on a separate circuit or circuits and wires shall be installed in approved metal raceway.
Under MCL § 125.465, every multiple dwelling must have its public halls kept adequately lit at all times, with the building owner bearing that responsibility. In Class B multiple dwellings that are not fireproof-constructed buildings exceeding 15 rooms or 30 sleeping accommodations, stairways and egress routes must be marked on each floor with electrically illuminated exit signs featuring letters at least four inches tall. Those exit lights must run on a dedicated circuit or circuits, with wiring installed in approved metal raceway.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to MCL § 125.465 generally maintain continuous adequate lighting throughout all public hallways in their multiple dwellings, regardless of the time of day. For Class B buildings that fall within the provision's scope, compliant operators install and maintain electrically illuminated exit signs—with letters no shorter than four inches—at each floor's stairway and egress locations. Those signs are typically wired on a separate circuit with approved metal raceway, and operators routinely inspect both the lighting and the wiring to confirm ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.465 establishes that tenants in multiple dwellings have a right to adequately lit public halls at all times, and in qualifying Class B buildings, to clearly marked, illuminated exit signs at stairways and egress points on every floor. If public hall lighting is inadequate or required exit signs are missing or non-functional, tenants may document the conditions and report them to the local building or housing code enforcement authority in their municipality. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what remedies may be available, including how a code violation might be raised in other housing-related proceedings.
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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