Manistee County is a small Lake Michigan shoreline county of approximately 25,032 residents, named for the Manistee River and located in Northern Michigan’s northwest Lower Peninsula. The county seat is the city of Manistee, a well-preserved Victorian-era port city known for its remarkable concentration of 19th-century commercial and residential architecture, earning the nickname “Victorian Port City on Lake Michigan.” The county’s economy draws from multiple sources: forestry and the Manistee National Forest, the Consumers Energy Ludington Pumped Storage Plant (one of the largest in the world), year-round recreation, and seasonal tourism along the M-22 scenic byway. The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians has reservation land within the county. With a median household income of approximately $60,879 and a median age of 50.4, Manistee County is a modest-income rural 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 85th District Court at 415 Third Street, Second Floor, Manistee, MI 49660, phone (231) 723-5010.
Victorian Port City; M-22; Manistee National Forest; Little River Band
Landlord Rating
8/10 — Stable Small Market
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
7-Day Demand for Possession
Lease Violation Notice
30-Day Notice to Quit
Court
85th DC — 415 Third St., 2nd Fl., Manistee
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm
Entry
South entrance off 4th Street parking lot
Avg Timeline
21–57 days start to finish
Manistee 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. The City of Manistee maintains local housing and property standards. Michigan state law is the governing framework for all residential rental matters.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Manistee 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).
Tribal Land Note
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians has reservation trust land in Manistee County, primarily in the Manistee Township and Kasson Township area. Residential landlord-tenant matters on tribal trust land may fall outside Michigan state court jurisdiction. Landlords with properties in those township areas should verify their parcel’s land status before assuming 85th DC jurisdiction applies.
Court Location Note
The 85th District Court is located on the second floor of the Manistee County Courthouse at 415 Third Street. The entrance used for filing is the south entrance, adjacent to the parking lot off 4th Street. The 85th DC also serves Benzie County at 448 Court Place, Beulah. File in the Manistee location for Manistee County properties.
Seasonal Tenancies
Manistee County has significant seasonal tourism activity, particularly around Orchard Beach State Park, Onekama’s Portage Lake, and the M-22 corridor. Seasonal rentals should use explicit fixed-term leases. Seasonal workers who hold over beyond lease end may assert month-to-month rights requiring formal eviction to terminate.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Manistee County Courthouse
85th District Court — 2nd Floor, South Entrance
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Michigan
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State statutes that apply throughout Manistee 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.
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⚠️ 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 Manistee County
City, villages, and townships
Manistee Onekama Bear Lake Kaleva Arcadia
Manistee County
Screen Before You Sign
Healthcare, energy sector (Consumers Energy), and forest-industry workers are the most stable year-round applicants. Use fixed-term leases for seasonal rentals along M-22. Verify tribal land status for Manistee and Kasson Township properties.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Manistee County, Michigan
Manistee County occupies a narrow Lake Michigan shoreline corridor in Northwest Michigan, stretching from Arcadia in the south to Portage Lake and Onekama in the north, with the Manistee River cutting through the county’s interior and the 543,000-acre Manistee National Forest dominating the eastern and southern portions of the landscape. The county seat, Manistee city, is one of Michigan’s best-preserved Victorian-era port towns, retaining blocks of 19th-century commercial architecture along River Street and a compact downtown that reflects the city’s 1880s peak as a lumber and salt-processing center. Today the county draws on several economic pillars: the Consumers Energy Ludington Pumped Storage Plant (one of the largest hydroelectric storage facilities in the world, located just south of the county line in Mason County), the Manistee National Forest’s timber and recreation economy, seasonal tourism along the M-22 scenic byway, and the county’s healthcare and government employment base.
The Rental Market and Tenant Pool
Manistee County’s rental market is small and straightforward. The city of Manistee contains the bulk of the county’s rental stock — a mix of older single-family rentals and a modest apartment inventory serving the city’s year-round population. The primary stable tenant pool consists of healthcare workers at Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Consumers Energy and related energy-sector employees, Manistee National Forest and Michigan DNR staff, school district employees, and county government workers. These represent reliable W-2 income sources with consistent employment. Seasonal tourism workers supporting the summer M-22 corridor and Orchard Beach State Park represent a smaller, more variable applicant pool with income concentrated in summer and fall months.
Little River Band Tribal Land
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians holds reservation trust land in Manistee County, primarily in the Manistee Township and Kasson Township area south of the city. The Little River Band operates the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, one of the county’s major employers. Residential landlord-tenant matters on tribal trust land may fall outside the jurisdiction of the 85th District Court. Landlords with properties in Manistee Township or Kasson Township should confirm their parcel’s land status before assuming standard Michigan district court jurisdiction applies. Properties on fee land (not trust land) even within reservation boundaries generally remain subject to state court jurisdiction.
The 85th District Court
The 85th District Court handles all Manistee County landlord-tenant evictions. The court is located on the second floor of the Manistee County Courthouse at 415 Third Street, Manistee, MI 49660, phone (231) 723-5010, fax (231) 723-1491. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The entrance used for filing is the south entrance, adjacent to the parking lot off 4th Street. The 85th DC also serves Benzie County at a separate location in Beulah — Manistee County cases must be filed at the Manistee location. Standard Michigan security deposit rules apply: 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 Manistee County, Michigan and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the 85th District Court or a licensed Michigan attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
