Michigan · Evictions · Updated Oct 2026

Michigan eviction rules for tenants

The notices a landlord in Michigan must give, how long you have to respond in court, why a lockout is illegal and where to get free legal help fast.

Short answer

A written 7-day demand for possession (notice to quit) for unpaid rent (MCL 554.134(2); 600.5714(1)(a)).

Notice for unpaid rent
7 days
Time to respond in court
The summons gives a court hearing date; go to the hearing and bring your defenses.
Lockouts
Banned

If you get an eviction notice

  1. Read it closely: the kind of notice, the amount, the dates and how it was delivered. Use the timeline below.
  2. Don't move out or stop paying because of a notice alone. Only a court can order an eviction; the notice is the first step.
  3. Get free legal help now. Legal aid and the court's self-help center can check whether the notice is valid.
  4. If you are served with court papers, respond by the deadline and go to every hearing. Missing one can mean losing by default.
  5. Keep copies of the notice, your lease, rent receipts, texts and photos.

Eviction in Michigan

Notice for unpaid rent
A written 7-day demand for possession (notice to quit) for unpaid rent (MCL 554.134(2); 600.5714(1)(a)).
Notice for a lease violation
For a lease that allows termination for a violation, the lease terms apply; for a tenancy at will, one rental period's notice. Special shorter notices: 24 hours for illegal drugs with a police report; 7 days for causing or threatening physical injury, or for serious health hazards or property damage (MCL 600.5714).
Ending a month-to-month tenancy
One rental period's written notice (one month for month-to-month), from either side (MCL 554.134(1)).
Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
The summons gives a court hearing date; go to the hearing and bring your defenses. A judgment cannot be entered against you if the eviction is retaliatory (MCL 600.5720).
Lockouts and utility shutoffs
Yes. Lockouts, changing locks without giving you keys, removing doors or windows, removing or keeping your belongings, boarding up, cutting heat, water, electricity or gas, or using force are unlawful. You can recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; if forced out by force, 3 times damages or $200 (MCL 600.2918).
Court self-help
The court's eviction self-help page
Law
MCL 554.134; 600.5714; 600.2918

Eviction notice timeline for Michigan

Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.

This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.

Enter the date you got the noticeThe timeline appears when you pick a date.

Dates are estimates from the rule in our data. We skip weekends only where the rule counts business or court days, and we don't skip holidays.

Where to get free help in Michigan

Retaliation in Michigan

A court may not evict you if the eviction is mainly a penalty for enforcing your rights, complaining to a government agency about code violations, or joining a tenant organization, or if the landlord raised your obligations as a penalty. If you took official action (court or agency complaint) within 90 days before the eviction case and it was not dismissed, retaliation is presumed (MCL 600.5720).

Rent increases and rent control in Michigan

Notice of a rent increase
no statute; a landlord can change rent for a month-to-month tenancy by ending it with one month's notice, and during a lease only as the lease allows.
Rent control
No. Local governments may not control rents on private housing (MCL 123.411).

Questions about eviction in Michigan

How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Michigan?

A written 7-day demand for possession (notice to quit) for unpaid rent (MCL 554.134(2); 600.5714(1)(a)).

How much notice for a lease violation in Michigan?

For a lease that allows termination for a violation, the lease terms apply; for a tenancy at will, one rental period's notice. Special shorter notices: 24 hours for illegal drugs with a police report; 7 days for causing or threatening physical injury, or for serious health hazards or property damage (MCL 600.5714).

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Michigan?

One rental period's written notice (one month for month-to-month), from either side (MCL 554.134(1)).

How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Michigan?

The summons gives a court hearing date; go to the hearing and bring your defenses. A judgment cannot be entered against you if the eviction is retaliatory (MCL 600.5720).

Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Michigan?

Yes. Lockouts, changing locks without giving you keys, removing doors or windows, removing or keeping your belongings, boarding up, cutting heat, water, electricity or gas, or using force are unlawful. You can recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; if forced out by force, 3 times damages or $200 (MCL 600.2918).

More for Michigan renters

Eviction in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.