Mich. Comp. Laws § § 125.481
Storage of combustible materials; openings between storage room and public hall.
Operative Text
Sec. 81. Certain dangerous businesses. There shall be no transom, window or door opening into a public hall from any part of a multiple dwelling where paint, oil, or inflammable liquids are stored or kept for the purpose of sale or otherwise.
Michigan housing law under MCL § 125.481 prohibits any transom, window, or door that opens from a storage area containing paint, oil, or flammable liquids directly into a public hallway of a multiple dwelling. The rule applies regardless of whether those materials are stored for commercial sale or for any other purpose. Its effect is to create a physical barrier between flammable-material storage spaces and the common corridors that residents use.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 125.481, operators of multiple dwellings are generally expected to ensure that no storage room or area holding paint, oil, or flammable liquids has any opening — including transoms, windows, or doors — that connects directly to a public hall. Compliant property managers typically audit building layouts to confirm that such storage spaces are fully enclosed and separated from common corridors. Renovations or repurposing of rooms that involve flammable materials should account for this separation requirement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 125.481 establishes a structural safety standard that protects residents of multiple dwellings from fire hazards associated with flammable-material storage near shared hallways. If a tenant observes a transom, window, or door connecting a paint or flammable-liquid storage area to a public corridor, that condition may constitute a code violation reportable to local building or housing code enforcement authorities. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what local agencies handle complaints under Michigan's housing code.
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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