In January 2019, Michigan’s first electric vehicle charging infrastructure program was approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). The Consumers Energy PowerMiDrive initiative includes a $10 million, three-year pilot program to support installations of...
Rules and Regulations
Michigan Court of Appeals Rules That Short-Term Rentals May Violate Single-Family Residential Use Ordinances
Michigan Court of Appeals (unpublished), Docket No. 342831, Decided October 25, 2018 With the advent of Airbnb and similar services, the issue of short-term rentals has increasingly become a problem for condominium and homeowners associations over the last few years....
Recreational Marijuana: What Every Association Should Know
The legalization of marijuana in Michigan concurrently provides a framework for its regulation and control. Association boards will be able to look to the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (“MRTMA”) (MCL 333.27951 et seq.), and the regulatory scheme...
Curbing Parking Issues in Common Interest Communities
Insufficient parking in shared interest communities often leads to the inability to meet the parking requirements of all residents. While the adequacy of parking facilities may not have been a significant concern for community associations established in the 1970s or...
Responding to a Member’s Request To Review and Inspect Your Association’s Books and Records
Member requests to review and inspect an association’s records and books are a fairly typical occurrence and should not be a reason to panic, but such requests should be dealt with in a prompt and orderly fashion for reasons explained in this article. Some members are...
Make Sure Your Enforcement Charges are Collectible
In the course of running a Condominium Association, various charges may be provided by the Condominium Documents to be assessed against or posted to the accounts of co-owners who are either delinquent or in violation of other provisions of the Condominium Documents....
Surveillance, Security and Privacy An Overview Of Practical and Legal Considerations For Community Associations
Every person desires to have a safe and secure place to call home regardless of whether you live in an attached condominium, site condominium or subdivision. Choosing a home in a low crime area helps to ease worries of safety and security; however, crime occurs in all...
Drones: Regulation Under State and Federal Law, and Controlling Via a Community’s Governing Documents
Unmanned aircrafts, commonly known as drones, are becoming increasingly popular both for recreational and business uses. Technological advancements have increased those potential uses and brought the costs down. Given the popularity, constant technological...
To Keep or Not to Keep: Navigating the Legal and Social Challenges of Backyard Chickens in Michigan Condominiums
Keeping backyard chickens has become increasingly popular over the years as more and more people seek to live a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. But is it legal for Michigan community association residents to keep chickens in the backyard of their...
Be Aware of Potential Disparate Impact Discrimination Claims in Your Association
In community association administration, disparate impact claims can arise when a seemingly neutral policy or practice has a disproportionate negative impact on a group protected by fair housing laws. For example, communities occasionally ask us whether they can...
Leasing Restrictions in Michigan Condominiums
Investors have long viewed attached condominium units as ideal rental properties since the condominium form of ownership often allows investors to enter the rental business without taking on many traditional landlord functions. That is, because condominium...
Protections Against Housing Discrimination Extended to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
The new presidential administration is expanding the government's enforcement of the federal Fair Housing Act ("FHA"). Community associations are subject to the anti-discrimination provisions within the FHA. The FHA expressly prohibits discrimination based upon "sex"...











