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Rental Inspections

Rental Fire Safety Code - (Chapter 26 of the City Code)

On August 9th, 2004 the Rental Fire Safety Code Ordinance was adopted by the City of Marquette and was updated June 8, 2018. This ordinance is designed to promote the continuing maintenance of quality and safe rental properties, as well as enhance and maintain property values. This code is governed by the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code #101, 2015, as well as the International Property Maintenance Code 2015. The Marquette City Fire Department has a full-time Rental Inspector on staff that enforces this ordinance.

You may purchase a copy of these codes at:
nfpa.org or call 1-800-344-3555 / iccsafe.org or call 1-800-344-3555

Registration/General Questions: Administrative Assistant, Jennifer Jakubowski, jjakubowski@marquettemi.gov - 906-225-8596

 

Inspections:  Rental Inspector Ben Gardner, bgardner@marquettemi.gov - 906-225-8999

 

Fire Marshal Jeff Fossitt, jfossitt@marquettemi.gov - 906-225-8941

The rental registration application packet contains information about rental registration requirements,  the rental registration application and parking diagram, parking requirements for rental properties, inspection compliance tips and a copy of the Rental Fire Safety Code. 

The rental registration application and packet can be obtained by clicking the link below.

The maxiumum number of short-term rental registrations allowed by Marquette City Code Chapter 26, Article III (Rental Fire Safety Code), Section 26-51 has been reached.  Future available spots will be filled from a waiting list.  Click the link below to obtain a waiting list request form.  Waiting list forms will be processed in the order they are received by the Marquette City Fire Department.

View the "Tenant and Landlords-A Practical Guide" by clicking the link below.

Non-Compliance Notice of Violation Appeal:  Any owner or operator affected by a notice of violation which has been issued under the Rental Fire Safety Code, may request a hearing on the matter before the City Board of Zoning Appeals, acting as the City Rental Code Appeal Board.  The affected person shall submit an appeal request and fee to the Marquette City Fire Department within 21 days after the notice of violation is served.  Failure to file the written notice of appeal within the 21-day period shall be deemed a waiver of the person's right to a hearing or to otherwise contest the notice of the violation.  

Rental Inspection FAQ

Yes- City Code/Ordinance requires that all rental dwelling units be registered, inspected and certified with the City of Marquette. Any structure or dwelling unit that is occupied by persons other than the property owner, pursuant to any oral or written rental or lease agreement or other valuable compensation, is considered a rental dwelling unit.
Failure to register within the required timeframes or failure to comply with fire, life safety, or property maintenance codes make the property owner or local operator subject to Civil Infraction Citations and may result in the eviction of tenants.
Yes- The previous owner’s rental certificate is no longer valid once the property is transacted to a different owner. Long-term rentals that have existing tenants must be registered by the new owner within 30 days of purchase. New long-term rentals must be registered prior to tenants residing at the property. Short-term rentals registration is subject to availability and properties may not be advertised or rented until registered, approved through all departments, inspected and certified. Short-term rental certification does not transfer when ownership changes.
A long-term rental means a residential dwelling unit which is rented for periods of 30 days or more. A short-term rental means a residential dwelling unit rented for less than 30 days. The two types of allowed short-term rentals in the City of Marquette are: Short-term vacation rental and Short-term homestay rental. A short-term rental homestay is an owner-occupied single-family home, dwelling unit in a duplex or multifamily dwelling structure, or any other dwelling unit, in which as many as three single bedrooms with bathroom access for overnight accommodations may be rented for periods as short as one overnight stay. Meals are not provided with rental, but kitchen and/or dining facilities may be available for guests to prepare their own meals. Only properties that have received approval of a rental registration application are recognized as a Homestay for purposes of complying with City of Marquette ordinances. A short-term vacation home rental is a single-family home, or a dwelling unit in a duplex or multi-family dwelling structure, or any other dwelling unit, in which up to four bedrooms are rented by a single lessee or renter for overnight accommodations, for periods as short as one overnight stay. Meals are not provided with rental, but kitchen and/or dining facilities are available for guests to prepare their own meals. The property owner may or may not live in the dwelling unit for part of the year. Only properties that have received approval of a rental registration application are recognized as a Vacation Home Rental for purposes of complying with City of Marquette ordinances.
Yes- If the owner wishes to change the rental category to short-term rental from long-term rental, a new registration application and fee is required. Short-term registration is subject to availability.
a. Complete a rental registration application and parking diagram and submit it to the Marquette City Fire Department with a copy of the owner or local operator’s driver’s license and applicable registration payment. b. The application must meet all finance department and zoning department requirements to be approved. c. Once the application has been approved, a mandatory compliance inspection will be scheduled. Fees for compliance inspections will be billed out at an hourly rate after the inspection is completed. Passing of the compliance inspection will result in the issuance of a compliance certificate in the name of the owner. The certificates must be posted in either the common area of multi-family dwellings or in the private entrances to dwelling units. (No short-term advertising or use is allowed until the short-term application is received and approved and the property meets inspection compliance and is certified. Short-term registration is subject to availability and eligibility requirements.)
Renewal inspections will be completed on a three-year cyclical period. A mandatory compliance inspection must be performed and the property must pass the compliance inspection before a rental compliance certificate will be issued. The certificate must be posted in either the common area of multi-family dwellings or in the private entrances to dwelling units.
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Commercial Inspection

The Marquette City Fire Department enforces the NFPA Life Safety Code 101, 2015 and references the NFPA standards. The code and standards apply to new construction, remodeling and existing buildings. They provide life safety requirements for the design, operation and maintenance of buildings.
Inspections are made on an annual basis for businesses that require a City license to operate. These include hotels, rooming houses, theaters and second hand dealers. Inspections are also made when a State Liquor License is applied for or modified. Life safety inspections are also conducted upon receipt of a complaint. Plan reviews are made when a permit for new construction or remodeling is applied for and/or there is a change in use of the building.

The Fire Marshal is a member of the Site-Plan Review Committee and approves all architectural plans and drawings.

Fire Marshal Jeff Fossitt may be reached at 906-225-8941 or jfossitt@marquettemi.gov

Contact

Office

906-228-0410

Fire Marshal

906-225-8941

Address

418 S. Third St
Marquette, MI 49855

E-mail

jfossitt@marquettemi.gov