Missaukee County is a small Northern Michigan county of approximately 15,052 residents, situated in the north-central Lower Peninsula between the Cadillac and Traverse City markets. The county seat is Lake City, a small community on Lake Missaukee (1,800 acres), one of 33 natural freshwater lakes within county boundaries. Missaukee County is nationally notable as one of the most consistently Republican counties in the United States — Donald Trump carried it in 2016, 2020, and 2024 as his strongest Michigan county all three times. The county’s cultural identity is shaped by a strong Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) presence (approximately 50% of the population), an Amish community founded in 2000 with two church districts, and a heavily agricultural and rural character. Healthcare, manufacturing, and retail are the primary employment sectors. With a median household income of approximately $61,868 and among the lowest rents in Michigan, Missaukee County is a very affordable 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 84th District Court at 111 South Canal, Lake City, MI 49651, phone (231) 839-4967.
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 Lake City maintains local property standards. Michigan state law governs all landlord-tenant matters throughout Missaukee County.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Missaukee 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). Missaukee’s very low rent levels make this a relatively low-dollar-value requirement.
84th DC Serves Two Counties
The 84th District Court serves both Missaukee and Wexford counties. Judges Melissa Ransom and Corey Wiggins preside. The Missaukee County location at 111 S. Canal St., Lake City (231-839-4967) is the correct filing address for all Missaukee County landlord-tenant evictions. Wexford County cases file at the Cadillac location (437 E. Division St., Cadillac). Do not confuse the two.
Cultural Context
Approximately 50% of Missaukee County residents adhere to the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). An Amish community founded in 2000, with two church districts, is also present in the county. Landlords should be aware that some tenants may have cultural or religious practices that affect communication preferences, lease timing (e.g., avoidance of certain activities on Sunday), or lifestyle expectations. Michigan law does not permit religious discrimination against tenants.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Missaukee County Courthouse
84th District Court — Lake City
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State statutes that apply throughout Missaukee 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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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?
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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.
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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 Missaukee County
City and villages
Lake City McBain Jennings
Missaukee County
Screen Before You Sign
Healthcare, manufacturing, and government workers are the most stable applicants. The 84th DC also serves Wexford County — file Missaukee cases in Lake City only. Very low rents mean very low deposit maximums at 1.5×.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Missaukee County, Michigan
Missaukee County occupies a compact 567-square-mile area in the northern Lower Peninsula, situated between the Cadillac market to the south and the Grand Traverse region to the northwest. The county has the distinction of being the most consistently Republican county in Michigan’s modern political history — Donald Trump carried it as his strongest Michigan county in three consecutive elections (2016, 2020, 2024), and no Democratic presidential candidate has ever won the county since its founding. This deep-red political character is rooted in the county’s religious and cultural composition: approximately 50% of the population is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA), one of the highest concentrations of any county in the United States. An Amish community, founded in 2000 with two church districts as of 2013, adds a second distinctive cultural presence. The county seat, Lake City, sits on the shore of Lake Missaukee, a 1,800-acre natural lake that is the county’s recreational centerpiece among 33 total freshwater lakes within county boundaries.
A Very Small, Very Affordable Market
Missaukee County’s rental market is about as small as a Michigan county rental market can be. The county’s total population of approximately 15,052 makes it one of the smaller Lower Peninsula counties, and only a fraction of the housing stock is rental — consistent with a rural, owner-occupied, agricultural character. The tenant pool consists primarily of healthcare workers (Munson Healthcare and District Health Department No. 10), manufacturing and construction workers, agricultural workers, and county government and school district employees. Rents are among the lowest in Michigan, making Missaukee a genuinely affordable rural market for tenants who work locally. The commuting distance to Cadillac (in neighboring Wexford County, approximately 20 minutes away) means some Cadillac-area workers rent in Missaukee County.
The 84th District Court
Missaukee County landlord-tenant evictions file with the 84th District Court at 111 South Canal, Lake City, MI 49651, phone (231) 839-4967. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Judges Melissa Ransom and Corey Wiggins preside. The 84th District Court also serves Wexford County at a separate location in Cadillac — Missaukee County cases must be filed at the Lake City location. 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 Missaukee County, Michigan and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with the 84th District Court or a licensed Michigan attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
