Muskegon County is a mid-sized Lake Michigan shoreline county of approximately 175,824 residents, part of the Grand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon combined statistical area. The county seat, Muskegon city, is Michigan’s only deepwater Lake Michigan port, with Muskegon Lake — a large inland lake connected to Lake Michigan — providing harbor access for commercial vessels. Muskegon County is the most racially diverse county in West Michigan, with a 13.6% Black or African American population that largely resides in Muskegon city and Muskegon Heights. Manufacturing is the county’s largest employment sector (19,324 workers), followed by healthcare and retail. The county has experienced economic revitalization efforts over the past decade focused on downtown Muskegon, the lakeshore, and advanced manufacturing. The county median household income is approximately $65,024, with a county median rent of approximately $915. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Michigan state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.; MCL 600.5714 et seq.). Evictions file with the 60th District Court at the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace Street, Suite 100, Muskegon, MI 49442, phone (231) 724-6283.
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Michigan state law governs all residential rental matters.
Category
Details
Local Ordinances
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. The City of Muskegon and individual municipalities maintain local property maintenance and rental registration standards. Michigan state law governs all landlord-tenant matters countywide.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Muskegon County may impose rent caps or stabilization measures.
Security Deposit
Capped at 1.5× monthly rent (MCL 554.602). At the county median rent of ~$915, maximum deposits run approximately $1,373. Return within 30 days of move-out with itemized list or face double-damages liability (MCL 554.613).
Source-of-Income Law (2025)
Effective April 2, 2025, Michigan prohibits source-of-income discrimination at properties with 5 or more units statewide (MCL 554.601c). Muskegon County has a significant Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher population in Muskegon city and Muskegon Heights. Landlords with 5+ unit properties may not refuse to rent, require different terms, or otherwise discriminate based on a tenant’s use of a housing voucher. Civil remedy: actual damages or 3× monthly rent plus attorney fees (MCL 554.601d).
Self-Help Eviction Warning
Landlords may not remove tenants through self-help measures (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities). Self-help eviction violates MCL 600.2918 and exposes landlords to treble damages. In a market with significant poverty in Muskegon Heights and parts of Muskegon city, self-help eviction risk is real.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Muskegon County Courthouse
60th District Court — Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Michigan
Loading courthouse data
Coming Soon
Courthouse data for Michigan is being compiled. Check back soon!
State statutes that apply throughout Muskegon County
⚡ Quick Overview
7
Days Notice (Nonpayment)
7-30
Days Notice (Violation)
30-60
Avg Total Days
$45-150
Filing Fee (Approx)
💰 Nonpayment of Rent
Notice Type7-Day Demand for Possession
Notice Period7 days
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay full rent within 7 days to stop eviction. After judgment, tenant has 10 business days to pay judgment amount or vacate.
Days to Hearing10-30 days
Days to Writ10 days
Total Estimated Timeline30-60 days
Total Estimated Cost$200-$600
⚠️ Watch Out
Notice period matches rent payment schedule (7 days for monthly tenants). Use official form DC 100a. After judgment, tenant gets 10 business days to pay judgment amount or move - if paid within 10 days, case over. Consent judgments can be set aside within 3 days if tenant was unrepresented. Corporations/partnerships must have attorney. 24-hour notice for illegal drug activity (with police report).
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the District Court - Summary Proceedings. Pay the filing fee (~$45-150).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Michigan eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Michigan attorney or local legal aid organization.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
Michigan landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in Michigan —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need Michigan's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate Michigan-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to Michigan requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏙️ Communities in Muskegon County
Cities, towns, and townships
Muskegon Muskegon Heights Norton Shores Roosevelt Park Whitehall Montague
Muskegon County
Screen Before You Sign
Manufacturing and healthcare workers are the most stable applicants. Properties with 5+ units must comply with Michigan’s 2025 source-of-income law. Muskegon Heights has higher-risk applicant pools — thorough screening is essential.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Muskegon County, Michigan
Muskegon County occupies a significant stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline at the western edge of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, centered on the city of Muskegon and its distinctive inland deepwater harbor — Muskegon Lake, connected to Lake Michigan through the Muskegon Channel. This makes Muskegon the only city in Michigan with a deepwater Lake Michigan port capable of accommodating large commercial vessels, a geographic fact that shaped the city’s history as a 19th-century lumber processing center and 20th-century manufacturing hub. The county is the most racially diverse in West Michigan, reflecting Muskegon’s working-class history and the Great Migration-era population movements that brought Black workers to its factories. Muskegon Heights, a separate city fully enclosed within Muskegon city boundaries, is one of Michigan’s higher-poverty urban communities and its rental market operates at significantly different income levels than the broader county.
A Diverse Rental Market with Multiple Sub-Markets
Muskegon County’s rental market is not monolithic. The county contains several meaningfully different sub-markets: the revitalized downtown Muskegon waterfront and near-downtown neighborhoods, where a creative-class and young-professional tenant pool has emerged with rising rents; the working-class neighborhoods of central Muskegon and Muskegon Heights, where manufacturing workers, Section 8 voucher holders, and lower-income families form the primary tenant pool; and the more suburban, higher-income communities of Norton Shores, Fruitport, and Spring Lake Township, where the tenant pool includes professionals and families seeking more upscale rental housing. The county’s manufacturing base (Nichols, Heritage Crystal Clean, ADAC Automotive and dozens of mid-size plants) provides stable W-2 employment for a significant portion of the tenant pool. Mercy Health Muskegon Hospital is also a major employer of healthcare workers who form a reliable applicant segment.
The 60th District Court and Source-of-Income Law
All Muskegon County landlord-tenant evictions file with the 60th District Court at the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice, 990 Terrace Street, Suite 100, Muskegon, MI 49442, phone (231) 724-6283. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Michigan’s 2025 source-of-income law (MCL 554.601c, effective April 2, 2025) is particularly relevant in Muskegon County, where a significant population relies on Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for rental assistance. Landlords owning 5 or more units anywhere in the county may not discriminate against voucher holders or other lawful income sources. Security deposit compliance is standard Michigan: 1.5× maximum, 30-day return with itemized list, double damages for noncompliance.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Muskegon County, Michigan and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the 60th District Court or a licensed Michigan attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
