Michigan House Bill 6303 amends the state's construction code act to prohibit local enforcing agencies from requiring air tightness testing for commercial buildings. The bill specifically prevents the director of the construction code from creating rules that mandate this type of test to verify the continuity of a building's envelope. It directly affects commercial property owners and builders by removing a potential regulatory requirement for verifying how well a structure seals against air leakage. This legislation is tied to House Bill 6304 and will not take effect unless that companion bill is also enacted into law.
Michigan House Bill 6269 amends the state's use tax act to exempt qualified building materials from taxation when purchased for the construction of new single-family residences or small multi-family homes with up to four units. This exemption applies to both home owners and developers, as well as contractors building for others, provided a valid building permit is in place at the time of purchase. The bill includes safeguards that require taxpayers to pay back any exempted taxes if the materials are not used for the intended residence, if the project is abandoned within 15 months, or if the building permit expires before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Additionally, the state Department of Treasury must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing how this tax break affects housing construction, job creation, and state revenue.
Michigan House Bill 6271 creates a new individual income tax credit for taxpayers who pay local building permit fees to construct a new single-family home. Starting with the 2027 tax year, eligible individuals can claim a credit equal to their actual permit costs, up to a maximum of $2,500 per year. The bill requires taxpayers to provide reasonable proof of these expenses to the state department if requested. If the total credit amount is greater than the taxpayer's annual income tax liability, the excess portion must be refunded to the taxpayer rather than being lost.
This bill allows cities in Michigan to deny building permits, certificates of use and occupancy, or variances to individuals who owe unpaid fines or assessments related to local construction code enforcement. However, the law explicitly exempts certain entities from these penalties, including government-sponsored housing groups, financial institutions, credit union service organizations, and licensed mortgage servicers. Additionally, the bill ensures that permits cannot be denied if the proposed construction work is intended to fix the specific code violation that caused the original fine. The legislation will only take effect if a companion bill, HB 6177, is also passed into law.
This bill requires owners converting existing buildings into accessory dwelling units to ensure their foundations meet current frost protection standards. To qualify for an exemption from this rule, applicants must provide a document showing the building is at least 10 years old and include a professional engineer's statement confirming there is no evidence of significant frost heaving that could threaten the structure's safety. The legislation directly impacts homeowners and developers seeking to add secondary living spaces to older properties without rebuilding their foundations.
HB 5571 allows single interior exit stairways in multi-family apartment buildings with 4-6 levels (or 3-5 levels with an occupiable roof), directly affecting developers and builders of such structures. The bill requires buildings to have no more than 4 units per level, limit floor area to 4,000 sq ft per level, and ensure exit access travel is ≤125 feet from any point. Key safety provisions include mandatory smoke detectors in common areas (like hallways and laundry rooms), manual fire alarms, automatic smoke detection systems, and sprinklers meeting NFPA standards. It also mandates that the building’s fire department must be accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and hold a Class 1-2 public protection rating. The bill is contingent on HB 5570 passing into law.
HB 5570 would allow single exit stairways in small multi-family buildings (up to 4 floors above ground or 3 floors with an occupiable roof) under strict safety conditions. It applies to buildings with no more than 4 units per floor and 4,000 square feet per floor. Required safety features include fire alarms, smoke detectors in common areas (like hallways and laundry rooms), and sprinklers meeting NFPA standards. This change would affect housing developers building qualifying new or renovated apartment buildings.
SB 84 prevents local governments (like cities or counties) from banning gas-burning appliances in residential buildings. It specifically stops ordinances that would prohibit the use of certain gas appliances - such as furnaces, dryers, and stoves - that rely on a continuously burning pilot light (small constant flame) for operation. The bill includes exceptions for mobile homes, propane-only appliances, and models meeting federal energy efficiency standards. This law requires local governments to allow these gas appliances in new or existing homes, overriding any conflicting local rules.
HB 5057 requires Michigan's housing director to convene a meeting with a commission within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The commission must develop recommendations for modifying housing codes to allow triplexes, quadplexes, 5-plexes, or 6-plexes in residential areas, specifically considering water supply, fire department response times, and public safety. These recommendations would guide the director in updating rules or codes by January 1, 2027, if needed. The bill does not immediately permit multi-unit housing but establishes a process for future rule changes to potentially expand housing options in residential zones.
