Mich. Comp. Laws § § 600.5706
Venue.
Operative Text
Sec. 5706. (1) This section governs venue in all courts having jurisdiction over summary proceedings and is not jurisdictional. (2) In districts where the district court is operative, the following are the proper places in which to commence and try summary proceedings: (a) The county in which the premises or any part of the premises are situated, in districts of the first class. (b) The district in which the premises or any part of the premises are situated, in districts of the second or third class. (3) In districts where the district court is not operative, the municipal court of the city in which the premises or any part of the premises are situated is a proper court in which to commence and try summary proceedings. A municipal court having jurisdiction pursuant to section 9928 over a township in which the premises or any part of the premises are situated is a proper court in which to commence and try summary proceedings. (4) Summary proceedings brought in a county, district, or court not designated as a proper county, district, or court may be tried in that county, district, or court, unless a defendant moves for a change of venue or the court upon its own motion orders a change of venue. The defendant's motion or the court's order shall be made within the time and in the manner provided by court rule and the court shall transfer such a proceeding to a proper county, district, or court on the condition that the plaintiff pay to the court to which the action is transferred an additional filing fee and on such other conditions relative to expense and costs as may be provided by court rule. (5) On such grounds and conditions as may be provided by court rule, the venue of summary proceedings commenced in a proper county, district, or court may be changed to any other county, district, or court and the proceeding tried in that county, district, or court. The court to which any transfer is made pursuant to this subsection or subsection (4) has full jurisdiction of the proceeding as though the proceeding were originally commenced in that court.
Michigan Compiled Laws § 600.5706 establishes where summary proceedings — such as eviction cases — must be filed and heard across the state's court system. The rule ties the proper venue to the physical location of the rental property, whether that falls within a first-class district county, a second- or third-class district, or a municipality served by a municipal court. Importantly, the provision clarifies that venue is not jurisdictional, meaning a case filed in the wrong location is not automatically void — it may still proceed unless a party or the court acts to move it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under MCL § 600.5706, landlords initiating summary proceedings — including eviction actions — are generally expected to file in the court that corresponds to where the rental property is physically located, whether that is the appropriate county or district court. Filing in the correct venue from the outset avoids procedural complications, such as a defendant's motion for a change of venue or a court-ordered transfer, either of which can require the plaintiff to pay an additional filing fee to the receiving court. Operators managing properties across multiple districts or counties should confirm which class of district applies to each property before commencing any summary proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
MCL § 600.5706 governs where an eviction or other summary proceeding against a tenant may properly be brought, anchoring venue to the location of the rental property. Because the provision is explicitly not jurisdictional, a case filed in the wrong venue does not automatically fail — but a tenant does have the right to move for a change of venue within the time and manner set by court rule, which can result in the case being transferred and the landlord bearing additional costs. Tenants who believe a proceeding has been filed in an improper location may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the procedural options available under this section.
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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