Mich. Comp. Laws § § 37.1501
Definitions.
Operative Text
Sec. 501. As used in this article: (a) "Housing accommodation" includes improved or unimproved real property, or a part thereof, which is used or occupied, or is intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied, as the home or residence of 1 or more persons. (b) "Immediate family" means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. (c) "Real estate broker or salesman" means a person, whether licensed or not, who, for or with the expectation of receiving a consideration, lists, sells, purchases, exchanges, rents, or leases real property, or who negotiates or attempts to negotiate any of these activities, or who holds himself out as engaged in these activities, or who negotiates or attempts to negotiate a loan secured or to be secured by a mortgage or other encumbrance upon real property, or who is engaged in the business of listing real property in a publication; or a person employed by or acting on behalf of any of these persons. (d) "Real estate transaction" means the sale, exchange, rental, or lease of real property, or an interest therein. (e) "Real property" includes a building, structure, mobile home, real estate, land, mobile home park, trailer park, tenement, leasehold, or an interest in a real estate cooperative or condominium.
Section 501 of MCL § 37.1501 establishes the foundational definitions that govern the housing-related provisions of Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. It sets out what counts as a 'housing accommodation,' 'real property,' and a 'real estate transaction,' casting a broad net that covers everything from raw land and mobile home parks to condominiums and leaseholds. These definitions determine the scope of which properties, transactions, and actors fall under the anti-discrimination protections in this article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under MCL § 37.1501 should be aware that the definitions in Section 501 are intentionally broad — 'real property' includes not just traditional buildings but also mobile homes, trailer parks, and cooperative interests. This means that the civil rights obligations attached to 'real estate transactions' (sales, exchanges, rentals, and leases) apply across a wide range of property types. Operators who list, rent, or lease any of these property types — or who employ someone who does — are likely covered by the definitions of 'real estate broker or salesman' under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 501 of MCL § 37.1501 is significant for renters because it defines 'housing accommodation' and 'real property' broadly enough to include apartments, mobile homes, trailer parks, and leasehold interests — meaning the civil rights protections built on these definitions extend to a wide variety of living situations. If a tenant believes they have experienced discriminatory treatment in connection with a rental or lease, the broad scope of these definitions may be relevant to whether their situation falls within the article's protections. Tenants seeking to understand whether their housing type is covered can consult a tenant-rights organization or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights 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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