What Is a Michigan Eviction Notice?
A Michigan eviction notice lets you, as the landlord, initiate the eviction process. This document states that the tenant breached the lease, whether by failing to pay rent or committing another violation. Tenants refer to it to learn how to correct it or see how many days they have to move out. By issuing this initial notice, you can legally proceed with the eviction if the tenant doesn’t comply.
Types of Eviction Notices in Michigan
The amount of notice that you’re required to issue will depend on your reason for eviction. View the types of eviction notices in Michigan below to choose the right one.
7-Day Eviction Notice in Michigan (For Nonpayment of Rent)
If a tenant does not pay rent on the day it’s due, you can issue a 7-day notice to pay rent or quit (MI Comp L § 554.134(2)). While there is no legally mandated grace period in Michigan, you must respect any grace period stated in the lease. For example, if the lease includes a three-day grace period, you must give the tenant three days from the rent due date to pay before you can issue a 7-day eviction notice for nonpayment of rent.
7-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Payment
Use this notice for unpaid rent that gives tenants seven days to pay or vacate, with eviction possible if unpaid and occupancy continues.
7-Day Eviction Notice in Michigan (For Health Hazard or Damages)
If a tenant causes a serious and continuing health hazard to exist on the property or causes severe property damage, you can issue a 7-day eviction notice in Michigan (MI Comp L § 600.5714(1)(d)).
Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
Use this notice when tenants violate the lease agreement.
If the tenant engages in illegal drug activity on your property, you may be able to issue a 24-hour eviction notice in Michigan (MCL § 600.5714(1)(b)). You can only use this 24-hour notice if the following two conditions are true:
- Your lease contains a specific termination clause for drug activity.
- You have already filed a formal police report alleging the manufacture, delivery, or possession of controlled substances.
How to Evict a Tenant in Michigan
In Michigan, evicting a tenant begins with issuing an eviction notice. Once you give the tenant time to correct, you can proceed with the process, which includes filing a lawsuit, attending a hearing, and formally requesting the tenant’s removal. Follow the steps below to ensure you stay within the legal eviction process.
Step 1 – Issue an Eviction Notice
Use one of Legal Templates’s Michigan eviction notice forms to start the process:
- 7-day eviction notice template in Michigan (for nonpayment of rent)
- 7-day eviction notice template in Michigan (for health hazards/property damage)
- 24-hour eviction notice template in Michigan (for illegal drug activity)
Allow the notice period to expire before you formally file an eviction lawsuit, which is formally called a summary proceedings to recover possession of the premises.
Terminating a Lease in Michigan
If the tenant didn’t commit a lease violation or didn’t fail to pay rent, you may still need to end the lease. You must issue 30 days’ written notice, per MI Comp Law § 554.134, to end a month-to-month tenancy without cause. This allows for the lawful termination of a rental agreement, even if the tenant didn’t do anything wrong. Use Legal Templates’s 30-day eviction notice in Michigan for lease termination.
Step 2 – File a Lawsuit
If the tenant does not comply with the notice you deliver, you can file a lawsuit in the District Court for the jurisdiction where the property is located (MI Comp L § 600.5735). File the complaint that aligns with the reason for eviction:
- Form DC 102a (Complaint, Nonpayment of Rent)
- Form DC 102c (Complaint to Recover Possession of Property (General Violations))
- Form DC 102b (Complaint, Damage/Health Hazard to Property)
Form DC 104 (Summons) must be filed alongside whichever complaint form you submit. The court uses it to inform the tenant when the hearing will be held.
Per Michigan Court Rule (MCR) 2.105, a process server must serve the tenant at least 3 days before the hearing date.
Step 3 – Attend the Hearing
You and the tenant will attend the scheduled hearing to present your evidence. The judge will hear both sides and issue a Judgment (Form DC 105), either allowing the tenant to stay or giving the landlord permission to recover possession of the property. If the tenant doesn’t show up to the hearing, the court will enter a default judgment in your favor (MCR 4.201(G)(4)).
Under MI Comp L § 600.5744(5), a tenant has a 10-day grace period from the date of the judgment to either pay the rent (if it was a nonpayment case) or move out before you can take further action.
Step 4 – Request Eviction
If the judge issues a judgment in your favor and 10 days have passed with the tenant still in the unit, you can file Form DC 107 (Order of Eviction), which is a writ of restitution. Under this order, a court officer or sheriff may perform the eviction following the rules outlined in MI Comp L § 600.5744. You are not allowed to forcibly remove the tenant yourself, as MI Comp L § 600.2918 protects against self-help evictions.
A judge must issue a writ of restitution within 56 days of the judgment (MCR 4.201(M)(4)).
Sample Michigan Eviction Notice Form
View an example of our Michigan 7-day eviction notice template for nonpayment of rent. When you’re ready, use Legal Templates’s guided form to draft your own, ensuring it states the relevant reason and provides adequate notice. Download the final copy in PDF or Word format to print and deliver to your tenant.
