No person, owner, or owner's agent shall rent, lease, or allow occupancy of a dwelling unless that owner or owner's agent has first obtained a valid certificate of compliance from the city building department. Fines can be as much as $2500 or greater per month along with possible jail time depending on the city for an occupied property that has not passed a city rental inspection.

Rental Inspections
Almost all rental units are inspected every two years in Metro Detroit for compliance using the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code.