Michigan Residential Lease Agreement
What Michigan law requires in a residential lease — the deposit cap, the return deadline, the notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the disclosures you have to give the tenant. Every figure is cited to the statute it comes from and dated. The free Michigan lease template is one click away.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Other Michigan rules your lease has to live with
Beyond the deposit, Michigan law sets rules on entry, late fees, and repairs that apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
- Rent increases. No specific rent-increase statute; a month-to-month (at-will) tenancy is terminated by 1 month's notice (notice equal to the rent interval if rent payable at periods under 3 months) — MCL 554.134(1) (am. 2012, Act 140) ↗
- Habitability. Michigan law implies a warranty of habitability into every residential lease; a clause waiving it is unenforceable. — MCL 554.139 (added 1968, Act 295) ↗
Each point links to the Michigan source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
What Michigan law requires · as of 2026
- Max security deposit
- 1.5 months' rent
- Deposit return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Notice to end month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: Mich. Comp. Laws §554.602 · verify ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
Deposit still not back 30 days after move-out? Ask for it in writing with a Michigan security deposit demand letter; if that doesn’t work, the usual next step is Michigan small claims court.
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Required disclosures in Michigan
What Michigan law says a residential landlord has to tell the tenant, each with the statute it comes from. Federal rules and some city ordinances can add more.
Landlord name and address for notices
Rental agreement must state the name and address at which notices under the Truth in Renting Act are to be given to the lessor
Source: MCL 554.634(1)
Truth in Renting Act notice
Lease must display, in 12-point type, the statutory 'NOTICE: Michigan law establishes rights and obligations for parties to rental agreements...' paragraph
Source: MCL 554.634(2)
Inventory checklist
When a security deposit is required, landlord must furnish 2 blank commencement inventory checklists with the 12-point bold 7-day notice; tenant returns one within 7 days
Source: MCL 554.608
Domestic violence release statement
Lease may contain the MCL 554.601b statutory statement; if not, landlord must post it in the management office or deliver written notice at lease signing
Frequently asked questions
How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Michigan?
In Michigan, the security deposit is limited to 1.5 months' rent, and it must be returned within 30 days after move-out (as of 2026). Source: Mich. Comp. Laws §554.602. Confirm the current rule before you sign.
Is this lease valid in Michigan?
A written lease that identifies the parties, the property, the term, and the rent is generally enforceable in Michigan once both sides sign. What it cannot do is contract around Michigan law: the deposit rules, entry notice, and habitability duties below apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
What does a landlord have to disclose in Michigan?
Under Michigan law: Landlord name and address for notices (MCL 554.634(1)); Truth in Renting Act notice (MCL 554.634(2)); Inventory checklist (MCL 554.608); Domestic violence release statement (MCL 554.601b(1) (added 2010, Act 199)). Federal and local rules can add more; each item on this page links to the law it comes from.
How does Michigan compare? See the security deposit limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Michigan compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Michigan: Mich. Comp. Laws §554.602 ↗.
- Michigan is one of 29 of 51 jurisdictions that cap the deposit by statute (22 set no statutory cap on the security deposit).
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Indiana (45 days), Ohio (30 days), Wisconsin (21 days).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 39 other states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Indiana (30 days), Ohio (30 days), Wisconsin (28 days).
The rest of what Michigan requires
The figures below are Michigan's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Michigan page for that document.
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 7 days to pay or quit MCL 554.134 ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 30 days MCL 554.134 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $7,000 MCL 600.8401 (limit); MCL 600.8408 (no attorneys); MCL 600.8420 (fees) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Division of the District Court · filing fee Statutory tiers under MCL 600.8420: $25 (claims to $600), $45 ($600.01-$1,750), $65 (over $1,750); court fee schedules commonly show $30/$50/$70 with the statewide $5 electronic filing fee added. MCL 600.8401 (limit); MCL 600.8408 (no attorneys); MCL 600.8420 (fees) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Michigan Legislature ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Michigan SoS / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Mich. Comp. Laws §556.205 (form §556.401) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules MCL 450.4102(2)(r) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Register of Deeds · no witnesses MCL 565.8 ↗
Lease agreement in other states
More Michigan legal forms
Different state? See lease agreements by state →