MDARD: Obtain Your Migrant Labor Housing License

Housing providers must obtain an annual license from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) for housing with five or more workers. Occupancy of migrant labor housing without a license is a cause for issuing an administrative civil fine as allowed under Act 368 of the Public Health Code.

With the increase in H-2A housing requests and the lengthy process it is taking to process H-2A documents at the Federal level, the migrant labor housing (MLH) program encourages providers to plan and complete their inspections and submit their licensing application, fees, and all necessary documentation as early as possible. Providers must talk with their housing inspector if they plan on adding or building new housing units. New housing can take a substantial amount of time to plan, build, and obtain all necessary permits and approvals from the local government unit. Approvals might include zoning, well, septic, driveway, and other permits. Providers should consult with their MLH inspector and their local government unit for required permits and plan accordingly.

Follow the steps below to obtain your license:

• Fill out the licensing application. The migrant labor housing licensing application is mailed out to all housing providers of record by December. For new housing, you may download the application form New Housing Licensing Application (https://bit.ly/3EeJlld). Applications are required by law to be submitted, at minimum, 30 days before a license can be issued. This will allow time for processing, scheduling inspections, and obtaining safe water samples.
• Licensing Inspection. Schedule a licensing inspection a couple of months before your anticipated occupancy and review the housing checklist (https://bit.ly/3O4OmkN).
• Submit Required Water Samples. Each year, safe total coliform and nitrate water samples are required (see "Water Testing" below for approved labs). It is the licensee's responsibility to collect samples and submit testing results to their designated MLH inspector. A license can't be released until MDARD receives safe water testing results. Testing results for coliform bacteria should be negative and for nitrates less than 10 milligrams per liter.