Lenawee County is a mid-size south Michigan county of approximately 99,400 residents, uniquely positioned at a crossroads of four major regional markets: within 10–30 miles of Metro Detroit, Toledo (Ohio), Ann Arbor, and Jackson. The county seat is Adrian (~20,645), home to Adrian College and Siena Heights University, with the county’s second city of Tecumseh to the northeast. Lenawee has a significant Hispanic population (8.5%), a manufacturing and agricultural economic base, and a median household income of approximately $70,518. The county borders Ohio (Lucas, Fulton, and Williams counties) to the south, making it Michigan’s southernmost county in its corridor and a genuine multi-state labor market. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Michigan state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.; MCL 600.5714 et seq.). Evictions file with the District Court at the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, 425 N. Main Street, Room 101, Adrian, MI 49221.
Lenawee County has 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 Adrian maintains local property maintenance and housing standards. Michigan state law is the governing framework throughout the county.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Lenawee County may impose rent caps or stabilization measures.
Security Deposit
Capped at 1.5× monthly rent (MCL 554.602). At county median rents of ~$789–$959, maximum deposits run approximately $1,184–$1,439. Return within 30 days of move-out with itemized list or face double-damages liability (MCL 554.613).
Source-of-Income Law
MCL 554.601c (eff. Apr 2, 2025) applies to landlords with 5+ units statewide. Lenawee’s 8.5% Hispanic population and agricultural workforce include workers who may use housing assistance programs. Landlords with 5+ units should review screening criteria for source-of-income compliance. Violations carry actual damages or 3× monthly rent plus attorney fees (MCL 554.601d).
Rex B. Martin Judicial Building
The District Court is located in the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building at 425 N. Main Street, Room 101, Adrian, MI 49221. Court hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Forms cost $1.00 each (as of Jan 1, 2024). Pretrial hearings are typically scheduled about 3 weeks from filing. Money judgments from eviction cases remain enforceable for 10 years unless renewed.
Four-Market Labor Area
Lenawee County workers commute to and from Detroit metro, Toledo (OH), Ann Arbor, and Jackson. This multi-directional commuter pattern means applicants may have employment in any of four major labor markets. Landlords should verify employer location, job stability, and commute logistics as part of screening, since income instability in any of those markets directly affects rent payment.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Lenawee County Courthouse
Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, Adrian
🏛️ 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 Lenawee 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 Lenawee County
Cities, villages, and townships
Adrian Tecumseh Blissfield Hudson Morenci
Lenawee County
Screen Before You Sign
Manufacturing, automotive supply chain, and agricultural workers are the primary tenant pool. Multi-market commuters are common — verify employer stability. Adrian College and Siena Heights students need co-signers. Source-of-income law active for 5+ unit owners.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Lenawee County, Michigan
Lenawee County is one of Michigan’s most geographically strategic counties, positioned at the exact intersection of four major regional labor markets. Residents are within 10 to 30 miles of downtown Toledo, the Ann Arbor metro, central Jackson, and the outermost suburbs of the Detroit metropolitan area. US-127 runs north-south through the county’s western edge, connecting Adrian to Jackson and Lansing. M-52 and US-223 link Adrian east toward Monroe and the Detroit corridor. This multi-directional accessibility gives Lenawee County’s roughly 99,400 residents genuine labor market optionality — and gives landlords access to a tenant pool whose employment spans four states’ worth of employers, including Ohio.
Adrian: The County Hub
Adrian (~20,645) is Lenawee County’s dominant population center and economic hub, home to the county courthouse complex, the region’s major employers, and two private colleges: Adrian College (approximately 1,500 students, NAIA athletics, liberal arts focus) and Siena Heights University (Dominican-founded, approximately 2,500 students, strong nursing and education programs). The presence of both institutions creates a student rental market in Adrian, primarily for off-campus upperclassmen and graduate students, that tends to be cyclical but predictable. Students typically need co-signers unless they have independent employment income. Lease terms aligned to academic years work best in the near-campus market. Tecumseh, the county’s second city (~8,500), has a stronger manufacturing character and draws stable working-class tenants from the automotive supply chain.
Underground Railroad History and Community Character
Lenawee County has significant Underground Railroad history, particularly in the Adrian and Raisin River Valley communities. The Adrian-Tecumseh Underground Railroad network was established in the 1830s and included figures like Laura Smith Haviland, one of Michigan’s most prominent abolitionists, and Elizabeth Margaret Chandler, who founded one of the nation’s earliest female anti-slavery societies in Adrian. This history is part of the county’s civic identity and informs its community character. The county’s 8.5% Hispanic population is centered in Adrian and the agricultural township areas, reflecting agricultural labor migration patterns common across southern Michigan.
The District Court and Filing Process
All Lenawee County landlord-tenant cases file at the District Court in the Rex B. Martin Judicial Building, 425 N. Main Street, Room 101, Adrian, MI 49221. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. As of January 1, 2024, forms cost $1.00 each and copies are $1.00 per page. The court’s standard scheduling timeframe for a pretrial hearing is approximately three weeks from filing, though this may vary. Landlords should provide a reliable phone number at filing so the court can schedule promptly. Money judgments from landlord-tenant cases remain enforceable for 10 years unless renewed. Standard Michigan security deposit rules apply: 1.5× maximum, 30-day return with itemized list, double damages for noncompliance.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in Lenawee County, Michigan and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the Lenawee County District Court or a licensed Michigan attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
