HOTELS, INNS, AND PUBLIC LODGING HOUSES

Act 188 of 1913

AN ACT relating to the conduct of hotels, inns and public lodging houses.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913




The People of the State of Michigan enact:


427.1 Definitions.

Sec. 1.

     For purposes of this act:
    (a) "Hazardous areas" means areas of structures or buildings, or parts of structures or buildings, having a degree of hazard greater than that normal to the general occupancy of the building or structure. Hazardous areas include, but are not limited to, areas for the use or storage of combustibles, flammables, or toxic, noxious, or corrosive materials or areas where heat-producing appliances are used.
    (b) "Hotel" means a building or structure kept, used, maintained as, or held out to the public to be an inn, hotel, or public lodging house. Hotel does not include a bed and breakfast as defined in section 4b of the state construction code act of 1972, Act No. 230 of the Public Acts of 1972, being section 125.1504b of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
    (c) "Smoke detector" means a device, either battery operated or electrical, that detects visible or invisible particles of combustion.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6932 ;-- CL 1929, 8806 ;-- CL 1948, 427.1 ;-- Am. 1987, Act 113, Imd. Eff. July 13, 1987 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 344, Eff. Oct. 26, 1989





427.2 Hotels; fire escape equipment, ways of egress and notices in buildings over two stories in height.

Sec. 2.

     Every hotel that is more than 2 stories high shall be equipped with an iron fire escape on the outside of the building connecting on each floor, above the first with at least 2 openings, which shall be well fastened and secured with landings not less than 6 feet in length and 3 feet in width, guarded by an iron railing not less than 3 feet in height. Such landings shall be connected by iron stairs not less than 2 feet wide and with steps of not less than 6 inch tread and not more than 8 inch rise, placed at an angle of not more than 45 degrees and protected by a well secured hand rail on both sides and reaching to within 12 feet of the ground, with a drop ladder 18 inches wide reaching from the lower platform to the ground. Such fire escapes shall be sufficient if a perpendicular ladder shall be used instead of the stairs provided such iron ladder is placed at the extreme outside of the platform and at least 3 feet away from the wall of the building, and provided said ladder is equipped with round iron rounds not more than 15 inches apart, except that fireproof buildings may have inside fire escapes placed in a well, shaft, or opening which shall be built of fire-proof material and shut off from the remainder of the building by fire-proof, tight doors. The way of egress to such fire escape shall at all times be kept free and clear of all obstruction of any and every nature. Storm windows and storm doors shall be considered an obstruction for the purpose of this act, and such way of egress shall at all times be kept unlocked. There shall be posted and maintained in a conspicuous place in each hall and each guest room, except the halls and rooms on the ground floor, of such hotel, a printed notice in characters not less than 2 inches high calling attention to and directing the way to such fire escape.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6933 ;-- CL 1929, 8807 ;-- CL 1948, 427.2





427.3 Hotels; portable fire extinguishers; smoke detectors; exemptions.

Sec. 3.

     Each hotel shall have all of the following:
    (a) Portable fire extinguishers in hazardous areas to be installed and maintained in accordance with the national fire protection association pamphlet number 10, published in 1984, entitled "standard for portable fire extinguishers".
    (b) Not less than 1 smoke detector placed in each sleeping room. A battery operated smoke detector shall be a model that emits an audio signal when the battery needs replacement.
    (c) Beginning upon the expiration of 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory act, not less than 1 smoke detector within the means of egress of each inside corridor, to be installed in accordance with the national fire protection association pamphlet number 72e, published in 1984, entitled "standard for automatic fire detectors". A hotel built in accordance with 1 or more of the following as they exist on the effective date of this amendatory act, in which corridor smoke detection is exempted due to the installation of a total automatic sprinkler system, shall be exempt from the requirements of this subdivision:
    (i) The uniform building code, published in 1985 by the international conference of building officials.
    (ii) The State construction code act of 1972, Act No. 230 of the Public Acts of 1972, being sections 125.1501 to 125.1531 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
    (iii) The building officials-code administrators national building code, published in 1987 by the building officials-code administrators, inc.
    (d) If the hotel has an elevator, not less than 1 clearly visible sign placed outside each elevator. The sign shall state the following in letters not less than 1 inch in height: "In case of fire do not take elevator—use stairway".
    (e) Not less than 1 clearly written fire safety evacuation plan posted on the wall or door of each sleeping room at a minimum instructing the occupants as to the location of exit doors and all fire extinguishing devices and appliances.
    (f) A fire safety operation plan in which each employee is instructed and drilled, upon being hired and not less than once every 12 months during the term of employment, in the duties each employee is to perform in the event of a fire, panic, or other emergency.
    (g) Numbers on the stairwell side of the exit door at the landing of each stairwell indicating the level of the floor. The ground level floor shall be identified as "ground level".
    (h) Beginning upon the expiration of 24 months after the effective date of this amendatory act, a fire alarm system in accordance with chapter 17 of the national fire protection association pamphlet number 101, published in 1985, entitled "the life safety code", initiated by all of the following:
    (i) A manual fire alarm system in accordance with chapter 7 of the national fire protection association pamphlet number 101, published in 1985, entitled the "life safety code".
    (ii) A manual fire alarm station located at a hotel desk or other central control site.
    (iii) A smoke detection system required under law on the effective date of this amendatory act, except that a smoke detector in a sleeping room shall not be required to initiate an alarm system.
    (i) Beginning upon the expiration of 24 months after the effective date of this amendatory act, a system of occupant notification to be provided automatically, without delay, by an internal audible alarm system in compliance with chapter 7 of the national fire protection association pamphlet number 101, published in 1985, entitled "life safety code".


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6934 ;-- CL 1929, 8808 ;-- CL 1948, 427.3 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 344, Eff. Oct. 26, 1989





427.4 Repealed. 2000, Act 137, Imd. Eff. June 1, 2000.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to rope equipment as fire escape.





427.5 Repealed. 2000, Act 138, Imd. Eff. June 1, 2000.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to requirements regarding hotel water closets or privies.





427.6 Repealed. 2000, Act 101, Imd. Eff. May 19, 2000.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to towels and bedding provided in hotels.





427.8 Repealed. 2000, Act 102, Imd. Eff. May 19, 2000.


Compiler's Notes: The repealed section pertained to membership and powers of commission.





427.7 Violation of act; penalty.

Sec. 7.

     Every owner, manager, agent or person in charge of a hotel, who shall fail to comply with any of the provisions of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than 25 dollars nor more than 50 dollars, or shall be imprisoned in the county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days, or both, and every day that such a hotel is carried on in violation of this act shall constitute a separate offense.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6938 ;-- CL 1929, 8812 ;-- CL 1948, 427.7





427.9 Hotel inspectors; appointment, deputies.

Sec. 9.

     Such commission shall delegate and confer the title of hotel inspector or deputy inspectors upon such men now operating under the supervision of the several departments constituting this commission, and in such number as the lawful enforcement of this act shall justify.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6940 ;-- CL 1929, 8814 ;-- CL 1948, 427.9





427.10 Hotel inspectors; duty.

Sec. 10.

     It shall be the duty of the inspector and his deputies to see that all of the provisions of this act are complied with, and said inspector or the deputy for the district shall personally inspect at least once each year and at such other times as in the best judgment of the commission or the deputy the occasion demands as defined by this act.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6941 ;-- CL 1929, 8815 ;-- CL 1948, 427.10





427.11 Hotel inspectors; power to enter hotels.

Sec. 11.

     Said inspector and his deputies are hereby granted police power to enter any hotel at reasonable hours to determine whether the provisions of this act are being complied with.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6942 ;-- CL 1929, 8816 ;-- CL 1948, 427.11





427.12 Certificate of compliance with law; display.

Sec. 12.

     If the inspector or deputy shall find after examination of any hotel that this law has been fully complied with, he shall issue a certificate to that effect to the person operating the same, and said certificate shall be kept posted up in a conspicuous place in said inspected building. Such certificate shall be prepared in blank by said commission.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6943 ;-- CL 1929, 8817 ;-- CL 1948, 427.12





427.13 Certificate of compliance with law; fraudulent issuance by inspector, penalty.

Sec. 13.

     Any inspector who shall wilfully certify falsely regarding any building inspected by him, and who shall issue a certificate to any person operating in any hotel when such person has not complied with the provisions of this act, shall on conviction thereof be fined not less than 50 dollars nor to exceed 100 dollars, and may be imprisoned not to exceed 90 days in the county jail, or both at the discretion of the court, and upon conviction shall be forever disqualified to hold said office.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6944 ;-- CL 1929, 8818 ;-- CL 1948, 427.13





427.14 Hindrance of inspector; penalty.

Sec. 14.

     Any owner, manager, agent or person in charge of a hotel, who shall obstruct or hinder an inspector in the proper discharge of his duties under this act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than 25 dollars nor more than 50 dollars, or shall be imprisoned in the county jail not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days, or both.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6945 ;-- CL 1929, 8819 ;-- CL 1948, 427.14





427.15 Prosecutions; duties of inspector and prosecutors.

Sec. 15.

     It shall be the duty of the inspector, upon ascertaining by inspection or otherwise, that after 60 days from the time this act takes effect, any hotel is being carried on contrary to its provisions, to make complaint and cause the arrest of the person so violating the same; and it shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorney in such cases to prepare all necessary papers and conduct such prosecutions.


History: 1913, Act 188, Eff. Aug. 14, 1913 ;-- CL 1915, 6946 ;-- CL 1929, 8820 ;-- CL 1948, 427.15



Rendered 8/15/2025 9:30 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov