Landlord-Tenant Law in St. Joseph County, Michigan
St. Joseph County is a southwestern Michigan county of approximately 60,939 residents along Michigan’s southern border with Indiana. The county seat is Centreville, a small community of approximately 1,400 where the courthouse, board of commissioners, and county offices are located; the county’s commercial hub is Three Rivers, a city of approximately 7,100. St. Joseph County is home to Michigan’s oldest and largest Amish community, concentrated especially in the area around Centreville, Colon, and Constantine — a significant cultural presence that shapes the county’s agricultural character. The St. Joseph River, for which the county is named, flows through Three Rivers. The county is part of the Sturgis Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the broader Kalamazoo-Battle Creek-Portage Combined Statistical Area, providing connections to the regional economy. The county median household income is approximately $55,000–$58,000. All landlord-tenant matters are governed by Michigan state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.; MCL 600.5714 et seq.). Evictions file with the 3-B District Court at 125 W. Main Street, Centreville, MI 49032, phone (269) 467-5500. Note: The 3-B District Court is a weapons-free court.
Michigan’s oldest & largest Amish community; borders Indiana; St. Joseph River; Sturgis Micropolitan area
Court
3-B DC (weapons-free)
Landlord Rating
7/10 — Affordable Agricultural/Small-City Market
⚖️ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
7-Day Demand for Possession
Lease Violation Notice
30-Day Notice to Quit
Court
3-B DC — 125 W. Main St., Centreville
Court Phone
(269) 467-5500
⚠️ Weapons-Free
No weapons permitted, even with CCW permit
Avg Timeline
21–57 days start to finish
St. Joseph County Local Regulations
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Michigan state law governs all residential rental matters. 3-B DC is weapons-free.
Category
Details
Local Ordinances
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinances. Three Rivers, Sturgis, Centreville, and individual townships maintain local property standards. Michigan state law governs all landlord-tenant matters countywide.
Rent Control
Prohibited statewide. No municipality in St. Joseph 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).
⚠️ Weapons-Free Courthouse
The 3-B District Court is a weapons-free court. No weapons are permitted, including for concealed carry (CCW) permit holders. All persons and packages are subject to search.
Amish Community Note
St. Joseph County hosts Michigan’s oldest and largest Amish community. Landlords renting to Amish families should use written leases that do not require electronic signatures or online payment portals. Standard Michigan landlord-tenant law applies equally to all tenants regardless of cultural or religious background.
Source-of-Income (2025)
Effective April 2, 2025, Michigan prohibits source-of-income discrimination at 5+ unit properties statewide (MCL 554.601c). Civil remedy: actual damages or 3× monthly rent plus attorney fees (MCL 554.601d).
Last verified: 2026-04-01
🏛️ St. Joseph County Courthouse
3-B District Court — Centreville, MI (weapons-free)
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for Michigan
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State statutes that apply throughout St. Joseph 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?
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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 St. Joseph County
Cities, villages, and townships
Three Rivers Sturgis Centreville Colon Constantine
St. Joseph County
Screen Before You Sign
Manufacturing, healthcare, and agricultural workers are the most stable applicants. Amish tenants prefer written leases without digital requirements. Courthouse is weapons-free — leave firearms in your vehicle. Source-of-income law applies at 5+ units as of April 2025.
A Landlord’s Guide to Renting in St. Joseph County, Michigan
St. Joseph County is southwestern Michigan’s distinctive blend of Amish heritage, agricultural tradition, and small-city manufacturing. The county was organized in 1829, making it one of Michigan’s older county governments, and its name — the St. Joseph River that flows through Three Rivers before continuing to Indiana and eventually Lake Michigan — connects it to the French colonial era of the 17th century. The county is perhaps best known across Michigan for hosting the state’s oldest and largest Amish community, which is concentrated around Centreville, Colon, and Constantine. The Amish presence shapes the county’s agricultural character, roadways (horse-drawn buggies are a common sight on rural roads), and small-business community. It also has modest practical implications for landlords: Amish tenants generally prefer traditional written lease agreements that do not require digital signatures or online payment portals, though all standard Michigan landlord-tenant law applies equally.
Three Rivers and the Rental Market
Three Rivers is the county’s commercial hub, with the largest population and the most concentrated rental market. The city’s economy mixes manufacturing, healthcare (Three Rivers Health), retail, and agricultural services. Sturgis, in the southwestern corner of the county near the Indiana state line, is a secondary commercial center with its own manufacturing base. The county borders Indiana, and some residents commute between the two states, particularly along the US-131 and Indiana State Road 9 corridor. While the county lacks a direct I-69 or I-94 connection, US-131 provides north-south mobility toward Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.
The 3-B District Court
St. Joseph County landlord-tenant evictions file with the 3-B District Court at the Courts’ Building, Main Floor, 125 W. Main Street, Centreville, MI 49032, phone (269) 467-5500. The court is a weapons-free facility — no weapons are permitted for any person, including those with concealed carry permits, and all persons and packages are subject to search. Security deposit compliance is standard Michigan: 1.5× maximum, 30-day return with itemized list, double damages for noncompliance under MCL 554.613. Michigan’s 2025 source-of-income law (MCL 554.601c, effective April 2, 2025) applies to all 5+ unit properties in St. Joseph County.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about landlord-tenant law in St. Joseph County, Michigan and is not legal advice. The 3-B District Court is a weapons-free facility. Always verify current requirements with the court or a licensed Michigan attorney before taking legal action. Last updated: April 2026.
