Roscommon County is a north-central Michigan county of approximately 23,459 residents in Michigan’s lake-and-forest heartland. The county seat is Roscommon, a small community at the I-75/M-18 corridor junction. Roscommon County is home to Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan, and Higgins Lake, one of Michigan’s most celebrated clear-water lakes. The county also encompasses portions of the Au Sable State Forest and sits near the Grayling outwash plain ecosystem. With a median age of 56.6 years and over 33% of residents aged 65 or older, Roscommon County is one of Northern Michigan’s most distinctly retirement-oriented communities. The majority of the county’s permanent residents are retirees who settled around Houghton Lake, Lake St. Helen, and other inland lakes, drawn by low housing costs, abundant recreation, and slower-paced living. The county median household income is approximately $54,106, with a poverty rate of approximately 15.4%. 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 500 Lake Street, Roscommon, MI 48653, phone (989) 275-5312.
Houghton Lake (MI’s largest inland lake); Higgins Lake; heavy retirement/seasonal market
Landlord Rating
7/10 — Retirement & Lake Recreation Market
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
7-Day Demand for Possession
Lease Violation Notice
30-Day Notice to Quit
Court
82nd DC — 500 Lake St., Roscommon
Court Phone
(989) 275-5312
Court Hours
Mon–Fri 8:30am (verify with court)
Note
82nd DC also serves Ogemaw County (West Branch)
Roscommon County Local Regulations
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Michigan state law governs all residential rental matters. Note: weapons prohibited in the Roscommon County Courthouse.
Category
Details
Local Ordinances
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Roscommon, Prudenville, and individual townships maintain local property standards. Michigan state law governs all landlord-tenant matters countywide.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in Roscommon 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 Two Counties
The 82nd District Court serves both Roscommon County (500 Lake Street, Roscommon) and Ogemaw County (806 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch). Roscommon County evictions file in Roscommon; Ogemaw County cases file in West Branch. Records are not co-mingled.
⚠️ Courthouse Weapons Policy
The 82nd District Court is a weapons-free court. No weapons are permitted in the Roscommon County Courthouse, even with a concealed carry permit. All persons and their belongings are subject to search for weapons.
Seasonal & Vacation Rentals
Roscommon County’s housing stock contains a very high proportion of seasonal and vacation properties, particularly around Houghton Lake and Higgins Lake. Landlords renting seasonal or vacation properties should use explicit fixed-term leases. A tenant who holds over after a seasonal lease expires becomes a month-to-month tenant under Michigan law and requires formal eviction proceedings to remove.
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ Roscommon County Courthouse
82nd District Court — Roscommon, MI
🏛️ 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 Roscommon 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 Roscommon County
Communities and lake areas
Roscommon Houghton Lake Prudenville Lake St. Helen
Roscommon County
Screen Before You Sign
Retirees on fixed income and healthcare/government workers are the most stable year-round applicants. Use fixed-term leases for seasonal lake rentals. File Roscommon County cases in Roscommon — not West Branch. No weapons in the courthouse.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in Roscommon County, Michigan
Roscommon County is defined above all by its lakes. The county is home to Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan at approximately 22 square miles, and Higgins Lake, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and clearest lakes in the state. These two lakes — along with Lake St. Helen, Lake Margrethe, and dozens of smaller inland lakes — shape the county’s economic identity, demographic character, and rental market more than any other factor. Since the early 20th century, Houghton Lake in particular has been a destination for middle-class families from Flint, Saginaw, Detroit, and Bay City seeking affordable lake cottages. Many of those seasonal visitors eventually retired to the county full-time, producing a resident population with a median age of 56.6 years — one of the highest in the Lower Peninsula — and with over 33% of residents aged 65 or older.
The Rental Market: Seasonal Dominance
Roscommon County’s rental market divides sharply between year-round rentals and seasonal or vacation properties. The year-round rental market is concentrated in Roscommon and Prudenville and serves healthcare workers, county employees, retail and service workers, and retirees who rent rather than own. The seasonal market is far larger in property count and includes thousands of cottages and cabins around Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, and Lake St. Helen that are rented by the week or month during summer. Landlords operating seasonal rental properties must use explicit fixed-term leases that clearly define start and end dates. Under Michigan law, a tenant who remains in possession after a fixed-term lease expires without a new agreement transitions to a month-to-month tenancy and requires formal eviction proceedings to remove — this is a significant risk for seasonal lake property owners who assume tenants will simply leave when summer ends.
The 82nd District Court
Roscommon County landlord-tenant evictions file with the 82nd District Court at 500 Lake Street, Roscommon, MI 48653, phone (989) 275-5312. The court opens at 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. The 82nd District Court is a weapons-free court — no weapons are permitted in the courthouse, even with a concealed carry permit. The 82nd District Court also serves Ogemaw County at 806 W. Houghton Avenue, West Branch; Roscommon County cases must be filed in Roscommon. 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 Roscommon 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.
