Ogemaw County is a north-central Michigan county of approximately 20,770 residents situated on the I-75 corridor between Flint and Gaylord. The county seat is West Branch, a small commercial community well-known among Northern Michigan travelers as a convenient rest and shopping stop along I-75. Ogemaw County is characterized by its retirement and recreation orientation: the county has a median age of 50.6 years — one of the highest in the Lower Peninsula — and over 26% of residents are 65 or older. Tourism, seasonal recreation (hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, ATV riding), and a substantial retiree population drive the county’s economic character. The county has historically been a lumber region, and its forests and lakes make it a popular destination for seasonal cabin and vacation rental properties. The county median household income is approximately $51,983. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Michigan state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.; MCL 600.5714 et seq.). Evictions file with the 82nd District Court at 806 W. Houghton Avenue, West Branch, MI 48661, phone (989) 345-5040.
I-75 corridor; 26%+ age 65+; hunting/fishing/snowmobile
Landlord Rating
7/10 — Affordable Retirement/Recreation Market
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
7-Day Demand for Possession
Lease Violation Notice
30-Day Notice to Quit
Court
82nd DC — 806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch
Court Phone
(989) 345-5040
Note
82nd DC also serves Roscommon County
Avg Timeline
21–57 days start to finish
Ogemaw County Local Regulations
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Michigan state law governs all residential rental matters.
Category
Details
Local Ordinances
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. West Branch and individual townships maintain local property standards. Michigan state law governs all landlord-tenant matters countywide.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Ogemaw County may impose rent caps or stabilization measures.
Security Deposit
Capped at 1.5× monthly rent (MCL 554.602). Return within 30 days of move-out with itemized list or face double-damages liability (MCL 554.613).
82nd DC Serves Ogemaw & Roscommon
The 82nd District Court serves both Ogemaw and Roscommon counties. The Ogemaw County location at 806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch (989-345-5040) is the correct filing address for Ogemaw County evictions. Roscommon County cases file at the Roscommon location. Records are not co-mingled.
Seasonal & Vacation Rentals
Ogemaw County has a significant seasonal rental market tied to hunting season (firearm deer season, November 15), snowmobiling, and summer recreation. Landlords renting cabins or seasonal properties should use explicit fixed-term leases. A tenant holding over after a seasonal lease expires is a month-to-month tenant under Michigan law and requires formal eviction proceedings to remove.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Ogemaw County Courthouse
82nd District Court — West Branch, MI
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Michigan
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State statutes that apply throughout Ogemaw 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 Ogemaw County
City, villages, and townships
West Branch Rose City Prescott
Ogemaw County
Screen Before You Sign
Retirees, healthcare workers, and government employees are the most stable year-round applicants. Use explicit fixed-term leases for seasonal and hunting cabin rentals. File Ogemaw County cases in West Branch — not Roscommon.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Ogemaw County, Michigan
Ogemaw County occupies the stretch of northern Michigan just south of Gaylord along the I-75 corridor, making West Branch — the county seat — one of the most familiar rest stops for Michiganders driving north to Traverse City, Gaylord, Petoskey, and the Upper Peninsula. The county’s position astride I-75 gives West Branch disproportionate commercial visibility: its outlet malls, restaurants, and gas stations serve a constant flow of northbound and southbound travelers year-round. But Ogemaw County’s residential character is defined less by tourism than by retirement. With a median age of 50.6 years — among the highest in the Lower Peninsula — and over 26% of residents aged 65 or older, Ogemaw County is one of Northern Michigan’s most distinctly retirement-oriented communities. Many residents relocated from metropolitan Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw, drawn by low housing costs, abundant outdoor recreation, and a slower pace of life.
The Rental Market: Year-Round and Seasonal
Ogemaw County’s rental market divides roughly into two segments. The year-round rental market in West Branch and Rose City is anchored by healthcare workers at McLaren Bay Region Ogemaw, county and state government employees, school district staff, and retail and service workers. The seasonal market consists of hunting cabins and recreational properties tied primarily to the November firearm deer season — one of northern Michigan’s most anticipated annual events — and to snowmobiling, ATV riding, and summer fishing and boating. Landlords offering seasonal hunting cabins should use explicit fixed-term leases to avoid tenants acquiring month-to-month rights after the season ends.
The 82nd District Court
Ogemaw County landlord-tenant evictions file with the 82nd District Court at 806 W. Houghton Avenue, West Branch, MI 48661, phone (989) 345-5040, fax (989) 345-5910. The 82nd District Court also serves Roscommon County — Ogemaw County cases must be filed at the West Branch location; records are not co-mingled. Security deposit compliance is standard Michigan: 1.5× maximum, 30-day return with itemized list, double damages for noncompliance under MCL 554.613.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Ogemaw County, Michigan and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the 82nd District Court or a licensed Michigan attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
