The City of Detroit’s Rental Ordinance was amended in October 2024 (Detroit City Code, Chapter 8, Building Construction and Property Maintenance, Article XV, Property Maintenance Code). The amendment streamlines the process for housing rental property owners to obtain a Certificate of Compliance, with a focus on Detroit’s rental standards, core health, safety issues, and enhances enforcement options against non-compliant properties. The ordinance amendment required the City of Detroit to establish a tenant escrow program administered by the Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) or its designee.

The new Rental Escrow Program will help resolve rental housing issues, such as lack of essential repairs, unsafe living conditions, or lack of a Certificate of Compliance. The structured program will provide both landlords and tenants a reliable means of resolving disputes, ensuring timely payment, and providing financial transparency, all while reducing evictions and improving rental housing in the City of Detroit.

The City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department has scheduled a public meeting for Monday, November 17, 2025 at 1:00PM to be held in Courtroom 3, 10th Floor, Suite 1004, of the Coleman A Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48226, at which time all interested persons are invited to be present and be heard as to their views on the proposed administrative rule for the Rental Escrow Program.