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Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 19 of 2024
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Act 279 of 1909
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THE HOME RULE CITY ACT

Act 279 of 1909

AN ACT to provide for the incorporation of cities and for revising and amending their charters; to provide for certain powers and duties; to provide for the levy and collection of taxes by cities, borrowing of money, and issuance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness; to validate actions taken, bonds issued, and obligations heretofore incurred; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts on specific dates.


History: 1909, Act 279, Eff. Sept. 1, 1909 ;-- Am. 1911, Act 203, Eff. Aug. 1, 1911 ;-- Am. 1913, Act 5, Imd. Eff. Mar. 11, 1913 ;-- Am. 1973, Act 81, Imd. Eff. July 31, 1973 ;-- Am. 1981, Act 175, Imd. Eff. Dec. 14, 1981 ;-- Am. 1986, Act 64, Imd. Eff. Mar. 31, 1986 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 150, Eff. Mar. 23, 1999




The People of the State of Michigan enact:

DocumentTypeDescription
Section 117.1SectionBody corporate.
Section 117.1aSectionShort title.
Section 117.1bSectionEmergency financial manager; authority and responsibilities.
Section 117.2SectionSaving clause.
Section 117.3SectionMandatory charter provisions.
Section 117.3aSectionAbolishment of at-large city council; election of members from single-member election districts; ballot question; approval; determination of city council president; adoption of apportionment plan by commission; qualifications of candidates; rules and procedures; amendment of charter.
Section 117.3bSectionTerms of office; staggered terms; resolution; initial terms; applicability of subsection (1).
Section 117.4SectionConduct of racing event under MCL 257.1701 et seq.; powers and duties.
Section 117.4aSectionBorrowing money and issuing bonds; net indebtedness; limitation; computation; borrowing in case of fire, flood, or other calamity; incurring obligation for construction, renovation, or modernization of hospital; bonds as obligation of special assessment district and city; validation of bonds issued and obligations incurred before July 31, 1973.
Section 117.4bSectionRefunds; bonds; sewers; waterworks; lighting; permissible charter provisions.
Section 117.4cSectionPermissible charter provisions.
Section 117.4dSectionPermissible charter provisions; assessing costs of public improvement and boulevard lighting system; definitions.
Section 117.4eSectionPublic property; condemnation of private property; permissible charter provisions.
Section 117.4fSectionPermissible city charter provisions.
Section 117.4gSectionRapid transit system; permissible charter provisions.
Section 117.4hSectionPublic ways; permissible charter provisions.
Section 117.4iSectionPermissible charter provisions.
Section 117.4jSectionCity departments; special acts; municipal powers; permissible charter provisions.
Section 117.4kSectionCivic, artistic, and cultural activities; public funds.
Section 117.4lSectionOrdinance; designation as civil infraction or blight violation; civil fine; act or omission constituting crime.
Section 117.4mSectionOrdinance regulating recreational trailway; posting; violation as municipal civil infraction; penalty.
Section 117.4nSectionMedical facility for public purpose; establishment, operation, or maintenance by private nonprofit corporation.
Section 117.4oSectionFormation of nonprofit corporation by city.
Section 117.4pSectionCity with population more than 600,000 or discharge of $1,000,000,000.00 in pension liabilities; defined benefit plan; retirement benefits for employees hired after July 1, 2023; health care insurance benefits; certification of compliance; definitions.
Section 117.4qSectionAdministrative hearings bureau; establishment; administrative hearings; procedures; appeal; effect of nonpayment of civil fine or costs; "person" defined.
Section 117.4rSectionNonpayment of civil fine or costs or installment payment by defendant; lien; recording; enforcement; priority; collection of judgment; duration of lien; default; limitation on commencement of enforcement action.
Section 117.4sSectionPopulation more than 600,000; chief financial officer.
Section 117.4tSectionPopulation more than 600,000; requirements; appropriations.
Section 117.4uSectionRetirement benefits subject to protecting local government retirement and benefits act; "retirement benefit" defined.
Section 117.5SectionProhibited powers.
Section 117.5aSectionMembership in certain societies not to affect employment.
Section 117.5bSectionCode of municipal ordinances; publication.
Section 117.5cSectionLocal officers compensation commission; creation; purpose; appointment, qualifications, and terms of members; vacancies; determination of salaries; expenses; meetings; quorum; concurrence of majority required; election of chairperson; compensation of members; conducting business at public meeting; notice of meeting; availability of certain writings to public; resolution; changing procedure; petition for referendum.
Section 117.5dSectionLocomotives; enforceability of ordinance prescribing maximum speed limit.
Section 117.5eSectionMunicipal water or sewage system; annual audit; public hearing before proposed rate increase.
Section 117.5fSectionEnergy conservation improvements; acquisition or financing; resolution; payment; scope of improvements; acquisition of improvements by contract, lease-purchase agreement, or notes; reports; forms; terms of lease-purchase agreement.
Section 117.5gSectionFlood control project.
Section 117.5hSectionRegulation or prohibition of public nudity; “public nudity” defined.
Section 117.5iSectionSnow removal from streets, mosquito abatement, and security services provided by private contractors; special assessment.
Section 117.5jSectionSewer separation; authorization; ordinance; special assessment.
Section 117.5kSectionPublic-private agreement for public bridge facility; requirements; user fee; scope of section; hearing; definitions.
Section 117.6SectionIncorporation, consolidation, or alteration of boundaries; petition; signatures; deposit; enumeration.
Section 117.7SectionIncorporation, consolidation or alteration of boundaries; fifth class cities; population requisites; representation on board of supervisors.
Section 117.8SectionIncorporation, consolidation, or alteration of boundaries; petition; filing; resolution; adoption.
Section 117.8aSectionIncorporation, consolidation or alteration of boundaries; filing substitute petition; action by supervisors.
Section 117.9SectionIncorporation, consolidation, or change of boundaries; governing law; affected district; petition or resolution for annexation; voting; duties of commission.
Section 117.9aSectionAnnexation of township remnant territory to home rule city; procedure.
Section 117.9bSectionDetachment of territory from city; conditions; intergovernmental agreement imposing conditions on detachment; reannexation to detaching city; detached territory not subject to annexation.
Section 117.9cSectionRepealed. 1986, Act 64, Eff. July 1, 1986.
Section 117.10SectionCertified copies of petition and resolution; transmittal; election notices.
Section 117.11SectionPetition for incorporation, consolidation, or change of boundaries; affidavit; filing with secretary of state; certification; notice; election.
Section 117.12SectionElection returns; canvass; village clerk, duties.
Section 117.13SectionEffective date of incorporation, consolidation, attachment or detachment; certificate of board of county canvassers; representation, transfer of property, governmental function.
Section 117.14SectionIncorporation or annexation.
Section 117.14aSectionPetition for vacating incorporation; initiation; election; certification; assets, disbursement; debts and obligations.
Section 117.14bSectionRelocation of common boundaries.
Section 117.15SectionElection on question of intent to incorporate or consolidate; electors as members of charter commission; notice; preparation, form, and contents of ballot; expenses; procedure; canvass; certification of election; oath; vacancies; quorum; convening of charter commission; framing charter; conducting business at public meeting; notice of meeting; officers; rules; journal; roll call; nomination of candidates; holding election; publication of proposed charter; publishing and posting notice of election; polling places; canvassing results.
Section 117.15aSectionIncorporation; expenses of charter commission; payment.
Section 117.16SectionIncorporation; rejection of charter; de facto mayor; duties; resubmission of charter, procedure; effect of nonadoption within 3 years of election to incorporate.
Section 117.17SectionIncorporation; new charter commission, petition, procedure, eligibility, duties, expenses; control of territory pending adoption; date of incorporation; voting franchise.
Section 117.18SectionIncorporation; revision of charter, procedure, commission, advisory vote; incorporation of provision in original charter granted by legislature.
Section 117.19SectionCharter; duty of legislative body.
Section 117.20SectionCharter commission; first meeting; duties of city clerk; powers and duties of commission; roll call; vacancy; compensation; quorum; public sessions.
Section 117.21SectionCharter amendment; procedure.
Section 117.22SectionCharter amendment; submission to governor, approval; re-consideration.
Section 117.23SectionPublication of proposed charter and amendments; submission of charter and separate propositions to electors; adoption; ballot.
Section 117.24SectionCharters or amendments; filing; effective date.
Section 117.25SectionInitiatory petition; filing with city clerk; contents; verification; signatures and inscriptions; perjury and other felonies; punishment; canvass; certifying sufficiency or insufficiency of petition; causing proposed amendment to be submitted to electors; calling special election; submitting proposal at primary, regular, or special election called for other purposes; initiative proposal receiving majority of votes; proposal contemplating increased expenditure of funds; proposal increasing ad valorem property tax limitation; effective date; tax levy; action against city clerk.
Section 117.25aSectionViolation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.
Section 117.26SectionElections; general provisions; applicability of MCL 168.641.
Section 117.27SectionRepealed. 1966, Act 261, Eff. Mar. 10, 1967.
Section 117.27aSectionApportionment of wards; definitions.
Section 117.27bSectionBoard of review; appointment of members, functions.
Section 117.28SectionCharter change; laws in force; justice and police courts, justices, charter provisions, ordinances.
Section 117.28aSectionMunicipal courts in cities in certain counties; civil jurisdiction.
Section 117.28bSectionMunicipal courts in cities in certain counties; attorney fees based on amount of judgment.
Section 117.29SectionRecovery and enforcement of fines, penalties, and forfeitures; violations; administrative hearings.
Section 117.30SectionAppeal to circuit court; recognizance or bond.
Section 117.31SectionDisposition of fines.
Section 117.32SectionConstables; election or appointment; powers and duties; salary; fees; provisions inapplicable to certain cities; compliance with minimum employment standards.
Section 117.33SectionConstables; election, qualification, and compensation.
Section 117.34SectionPolice officers; powers.
Section 117.34aSectionPolice officer or constable; authority to execute bench warrant.
Section 117.35SectionAcquisition of property; condemnation or purchase proceedings.
Section 117.35aSectionGeneral obligation bonds; issuance; conditions.
Section 117.36SectionCharter provisions; conflict.
Section 117.36aSectionFinancial recovery bonds; amounts; terms and conditions; net indebtedness of city; limitations; city with population less than 10,000; "third-party tax collector" defined; refund; deposit of revenues into separate account for paying principal and interest; creation of lien and trust; ability of state treasurer to withhold distributable aid from city; city with population more than 600,000; bonds not subject to MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821.
Section 117.37SectionSaving clause.
Section 117.38SectionConstruction of act.
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