Eviction in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy), Michigan
Where eviction cases are filed in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)
- Eviction court
- Oakland County district courts: 43rd (Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights), 44th (Royal Oak), 45th (Oak Park), 46th (Southfield), 47th (Farmington Hills), 48th (Bloomfield Hills), 50th (Pontiac), 51st (Waterford), 52nd Div. 1 (Novi), Div. 2 (Clarkston), Div. 3 (Rochester Hills), Div. 4 (Troy) — District courts (landlord-tenant / summary proceedings) Court page
- Filing fee
- 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 52nd District Court Div. 1 - Landlord Tenant
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 7 days: written demand for possession (or written notice to quit) for nonpayment of rent before filing Michigan rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,411/month HUD
- Renter households
- 144,960 (27% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)
Eviction cases in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy) are heard by the Oakland County district courts: 43rd (Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights), 44th (Royal Oak), 45th (Oak Park), 46th (Southfield), 47th (Farmington Hills), 48th (Bloomfield Hills), 50th (Pontiac), 51st (Waterford), 52nd Div. 1 (Novi), Div. 2 (Clarkston), Div. 3 (Rochester Hills), Div. 4 (Troy) (District courts (landlord-tenant / summary proceedings)).
- 52nd District Court - Division 1 (Novi) — 48150 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI · website
- 52nd District Court - Division 4 (Troy) — 520 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI · website
Court eviction page · E-filing · Self-help center
File in the district court where the premises are located. 52nd District Court divisions require e-filing (MiFILE) for civil/landlord-tenant matters. District court money jurisdiction is up to $25,000; above that the circuit court handles the money claim.
How much it costs to file an eviction in 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
These amounts are set by state statute (MCL 600.8371 tiers) and appear identically on Oakland 52-1 and Macomb 42-2 district court pages. If you cannot afford the fee, ask the court clerk about a fee waiver.
Source: 52nd District Court Div. 1 - Landlord Tenant
How eviction cases work locally
| E-filing | 52nd District Court requires parties to e-file civil/landlord-tenant matters via MiFILE. Source: Official source |
|---|
The Michigan eviction process
Michigan state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy):
- 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
Full Michigan eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,009 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,122 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,411 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,724 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,868 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy): $1,376/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
HUD designates this area for Small Area FMRs (ZIP-code level) for Housing Choice Vouchers; figures shown are the metro-wide FY2026 FMRs.
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; city rules (if any) live on city pages.
Eviction help in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)
Free legal help
- Lakeshore Legal Aid — Regional civil legal aid in southeast Michigan; check eligibility.
- Michigan Legal Help — Statewide self-help tools.
Other Michigan counties
- Eviction in Wayne County (Detroit)
- Eviction in Macomb County (Warren, Sterling Heights)
- Eviction in Kent County (Grand Rapids)
- Eviction in Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti)
- Eviction in Genesee County (Flint)
- Eviction in Ingham County (Lansing / East Lansing / Mason)
- Eviction in Kalamazoo County (Kalamazoo / Portage)
Related
- Michigan landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in Michigan
- Michigan eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in Michigan (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)?
What is the fair market rent in Oakland County (Pontiac, Southfield, Troy)?
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.