How to Evict a Tenant in Michigan (2026)
The legal steps for landlords in Michigan — the notice, the court case, costs, timeline and the mistakes that get cases thrown out — with the statute or official page behind each step.
Short answer: In Michigan a landlord must give the required written notice, file an eviction case in court if the tenant doesn't pay or leave, win a judgment, and have a sheriff or other officer carry out the removal. Changing the locks or removing belongings yourself is not allowed.
Step 1: Have a legal reason and give the right notice
| Unpaid rent | 7 days: written demand for possession (or written notice to quit) for nonpayment of rent before filing |
|---|---|
| Lease violation | No single statutory period. If the lease allows termination for the violation, the lease's notice term controls; for a month-to-month or no-written-lease tenancy, a notice to quit of one rental period (generally 1 month) is used. Shorter statutory periods apply to certain conduct: 24 hours (drug activity with lease clause and police report), 7 days (serious continuing health hazard or extensive continuing physical damage; violence/threats with police notified). |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no fault) | Either party: one month's notice, or if rent is payable at intervals shorter than 3 months, notice equal to the rent-payment interval (e.g., 1 week for week-to-week). Termination date need not coincide with a rent period. Year-to-year tenancy: notice ends tenancy 1 year after service. Source: MCL 554.134(1),(3) |
Local rent-control or just-cause rules can limit evictions: Statewide preemption: local governments may not adopt, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling rent on private residential property. No statewide rent cap.
Step 2: Write and deliver the notice correctly
| What the notice must say | A written 7-day demand for possession for nonpayment (MCL 600.5714(1)(a); see also the 7-day notice to quit in MCL 554.134(2)). It must be addressed to the person in possession and give the address or a brief description of the premises. It must clearly state the reason, the time allowed to fix the problem, and the amount due when the demand is made. It must be dated and signed by the landlord, attorney or agent. Service: personal delivery; delivery on the premises to a household member or employee of suitable age; first-class mail (service counts on the next regular mail-delivery day); or electronic service if the tenant consented in writing and confirmed electronically. A landlord may not refuse to rent to someone who declines electronic service. Rent due does not include accelerated rent. |
|---|---|
| How it must be delivered | A demand for possession or notice to quit can be served by: (a) personal delivery to the tenant; (b) delivery at the premises to a household member or employee of suitable age, asking them to pass it on; (c) first-class mail (served on the next regular mail-delivery day); or (d) electronic service, only if the tenant specifically consented in writing and the consent was confirmed by an electronic reply. A landlord cannot refuse to rent because a tenant declines e-service. Source: MCL 600.5718(1)-(2) |
Notice forms:
- Michigan notice to pay rent or quit — requirements and free draft
- Michigan notice to end a month-to-month tenancy — requirements and free draft
Step 3: File the eviction case and go to the hearing
Eviction cases in Michigan are heard in: District court (summary proceedings, called 'Summary Proceedings to Recover Possession of Premises').
- Written notice: demand for possession (7 days nonpayment, health hazard/damage; 24 hours drug activity) or notice to quit (e.g., one rental period / 1 month for month-to-month)
- Landlord files a complaint in district court, attaching the notice and written lease (MCR 4.201(B))
- Summons and complaint served (mailed AND served personally, by certified restricted mail, on a household member, or by posting after diligent attempts) at least 3 days before the trial/appearance date
- First hearing (often a pretrial): tenant answers orally or in writing, raises defenses/counterclaims, may demand a jury; if triable issues exist trial is usually set within about 7-14 days; possible 14-28 day stay for pending rental assistance; tenant who fails to appear may be defaulted
- Judgment for possession (and any money judgment); in nonpayment cases, paying the judgment amount plus costs within the time allowed prevents the order of eviction
- Order of Eviction (writ of restitution) may not issue until 10 days after judgment, except immediate issuance in listed cases (e.g., forcible entry, trespass, serious continuing health hazard, drug-activity cases); landlord must request it within 56 days of judgment
- Removal of the tenant and belongings by a court officer, bailiff, or sheriff/deputy executing the order
Court timing: Summons sets the appearance/trial within 10 days of issuance and must be served at least 3 days before trial (or, under a local court rule, appearance within 5 days after service). Hearing must occur within 7 days after the appearance/trial date unless a court rule provides otherwise or parties stipulate (MCL 600.5735). Writ may not issue until 10 days after entry of the judgment for possession (MCL 600.5744(5)).
Source: MCL 600.5714; MCL 600.5735; MCL 600.5744; MCR 4.201
How long it takes to evict a tenant in Michigan
For unpaid rent, the notice period is 7 days; after that comes the court process (filing, service, the tenant's answer and a hearing), then the final order and removal by an officer. Uncontested cases move fastest; a contested case, an appeal or a crowded court adds weeks. See how long evictions take in every state.
How much it costs to evict a tenant in Michigan
Court filing and service fees are set locally. Verified fees in the largest Michigan counties:
| County | Filing and service fees |
|---|---|
| Wayne County (Detroit) | 36th District Court (Detroit): possession only $55 ($45 filing fee + $10 e-filing fee). With a money judgment, a supplemental fee is added: $35 (claim up to $600), $55 ($600.01-$1,750), $75 ($1,750.01-$10,000) or $160 ($10,000.01-$25,000), for totals of $90, $110, $130 or $215. First-class mail $13 per defendant; order of eviction $15; motion fee $20. Court officer service fees are paid separately to the officer. |
| Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy) | Possession only $55; possession + money judgment: $90 (claim $600 and under), $110 ($600.01-$1,750), $130 ($1,750.01-$10,000), $215 ($10,000.01-$25,000); $20 motion fee; service/court-officer fees extra |
| Macomb County (Warren, Sterling Heights) | Possession only $55; possession + money judgment: $90 (claim $600 and under), $110 ($600.01-$1,750), $130 ($1,750.01-$10,000), $215 ($10,000.01-$25,000); $20 motion fee; service/court-officer fees extra |
| Kent County (Grand Rapids) | 61st District Court (Grand Rapids): eviction for possession only $55; eviction with a money judgment $90 (claims up to $600), $110 ($600.01-$1,750), $130 ($1,750.01-$10,000) or $215 ($10,000.01-$25,000). Writ of eviction $15; civil motion fee $20. Service fees are extra. |
| Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti) | Possession only $55; possession + money judgment: $90 (claim up to $600), $110 ($600.01-$1,750), $130 ($1,750.01-$10,000), $215 ($10,000.01-$25,000); order of eviction $15; service/court-officer fees extra |
| Genesee County (Flint) | Possession only $55; possession + money judgment: $90 (claim up to $600), $110 ($600.01-$1,750), $130 ($1,750.01-$10,000), $215 ($10,000.01-$25,000); order of eviction $15; motion fee $20; second mailing of summons/complaint $13; service/court-officer fees extra |
| Ingham County (Lansing / East Lansing / Mason) | Possession only $55; possession + money judgment: $90 (claim up to $600), $110 ($600.01-$1,750), $130 ($1,750.01-$10,000), $215 ($10,000.01-$25,000); order of eviction $15; motion fee $20; service/court-officer fees extra |
| Kalamazoo County (Kalamazoo / Portage) | Possession only $55; possession + money judgment: $90 (claim up to $600), $110 ($600.01-$1,750), $130 ($1,750.01-$10,000), $215 ($10,000.01-$25,000); service/court-officer fees extra; $2 per tenant if stamped envelopes are not provided |
Add the cost of a lawyer if you hire one, lost rent during the case, and any writ or officer fee to remove the tenant.
Evicting someone without a lease (family member, roommate, guest or squatter)
| Someone with no written lease who pays rent (month-to-month / at will) | Either party: one month's notice, or if rent is payable at intervals shorter than 3 months, notice equal to the rent-payment interval (e.g., 1 week for week-to-week). Termination date need not coincide with a rent period. Year-to-year tenancy: notice ends tenancy 1 year after service. Source: MCL 554.134(1),(3) |
|---|---|
| Someone who was never a tenant (squatter / unauthorized occupant) | Two routes. (1) Court: summary proceedings are available against a person who entered by force, holds possession by force after a peaceable entry, or 'comes into possession of premises by trespass without color of title or other possessory interest.' After a judgment for possession, the court may issue the writ of restitution immediately if trespass without color of title is pleaded and proved with notice; normally there is a 10-day wait. (2) Self-help: if the occupant came in by forcible entry, holds by force, or is a trespasser without color of title, the owner or agent may enter the premises. The peaceable-entry requirement does not apply, but assault and battery (MCL 750.81-750.90g) remain prohibited. |
Mistakes that get eviction cases dismissed — or get landlords sued
| Changing locks / shutting off utilities | Self-help eviction is prohibited. Landlord may not use force or threats, remove/retain/destroy the tenant's property, change locks without immediately providing keys, board up, remove doors/windows/locks, interrupt essential services (heat, running water, hot water, electric, gas) amounting to constructive eviction, or introduce noise/odor/nuisance. Tenant may recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; unlawful forcible ejection allows 3 times actual damages or $200, whichever is greater. Source: MCL 600.2918(1)-(2) |
|---|---|
| Retaliation | Defense to eviction: no judgment for possession if termination was intended primarily as a penalty for the tenant's attempt to enforce lease or legal rights, complaint to a government authority about a health/safety code violation, or other lawful tenancy-related act (including joining a tenant organization), or if the landlord added lease obligations as such a penalty. Presumption of retaliation if the tenant's protected action through a court or government agency occurred within 90 days before the eviction case began and was not dismissed/denied. |
| Accepting rent after the notice | No statute addresses whether accepting rent after a notice waives the eviction; that is left to case law and the lease. By statute, after a nonpayment judgment for possession, no eviction order (writ of restitution) can issue if the tenant pays the judgment amount plus taxed costs within the time allowed (generally 10 days after judgment). |
Federal rules that can change the process
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: eviction protection: A landlord may not evict a covered servicemember or their family during military service without a court order. When the servicemember's ability to pay is materially affected by service, the court must on request stay the case for 90 days or adjust the lease. Knowingly evicting without a court order is a federal misdemeanor. More
- VAWA housing protections: An applicant or tenant cannot be denied, evicted or cut off from assistance because they are or were a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. The abuse cannot be treated as a serious lease violation by the victim. The landlord may 'bifurcate' (split) the lease to evict the abuser and keep the victim housed. Covered programs must also have an emergency transfer plan. A transfer is available on request if the tenant reasonably fears imminent harm, or if a sexual assault happened on the premises within the prior 90 days. More
- CARES Act 30-day notice to vacate (covered dwellings): The landlord of a covered dwelling may not require the tenant to leave until 30 days after giving a notice to vacate. The 120-day filing moratorium in the same section expired in July 2020, but the 30-day notice subsection has no expiration date in its text. More
- HUD 30-day nonpayment notice (public housing and project-based Section 8): Before filing an eviction for nonpayment, the landlord must give written notice at least 30 days in advance. The notice must itemize the rent owed by month, explain how to pay it off and by what date, and explain how to recertify income or request a hardship exemption. The notice cannot be served before the day after rent is due. If the tenant pays the amount owed within the 30 days, the landlord may not file the eviction. More
Michigan eviction FAQ for landlords
How much notice does a landlord have to give to evict for unpaid rent in Michigan?
7 days: written demand for possession (or written notice to quit) for nonpayment of rent before filing.
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Michigan?
Court fees are set locally — for example, Wayne County (Detroit): 36th District Court (Detroit): possession only $55 ($45 filing fee + $10 e-filing fee). With a money judgment, a supplemental fee is added: $35 (claim up to $600), $55 ($600.01-$1,750), $75 ($1,750.01-$10,000) or $160 ($10,000.01-$25,000), for totals of $90, $110, $130 or $215. First-class mail $13 per defendant; order of eviction $15; motion fee $20. Court officer service fees are paid separately to the officer.
Can a landlord change the locks to evict a tenant in Michigan?
Self-help eviction is prohibited. Landlord may not use force or threats, remove/retain/destroy the tenant's property, change locks without immediately providing keys, board up, remove doors/windows/locks, interrupt essential services (heat, running water, hot water, electric, gas) amounting to constructive eviction, or introduce noise/odor/nuisance. Tenant may recover actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, for each occurrence, plus possession; unlawful forcible ejection allows 3 times actual damages or $200, whichever is greater.
How do you evict a tenant without a lease in Michigan?
Either party: one month's notice, or if rent is payable at intervals shorter than 3 months, notice equal to the rent-payment interval (e.g., 1 week for week-to-week). Termination date need not coincide with a rent period. Year-to-year tenancy: notice ends tenancy 1 year after service.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.