After several years of development and debate, Ann Arbor’s Green Rental Housing ordinance officially went into effect Jan. 6, introducing new energy efficiency and sustainability requirements for rental properties across the city. The ordinance emphasizes progress toward Ann Arbor’s A2ZERO goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. While city officials frame the policy as a step toward environmentally friendly housing and long-term cost savings, landlords and student renters continue to weigh how the ordinance will play out in practice.
Rental units make up approximately 55% of Ann Arbor’s housing stock. The ordinance — passed in June 2025 by the Ann Arbor City Council — establishes a baseline for energy efficiency and sustainability in rental housing which is enforced through Ann Arbor’s existing rental inspection cycle, requiring landlords to demonstrate compliance during inspections.
In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Joe Lange, senior energy analyst for Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations, said the city began working on the ordinance in 2021, but it wasn’t passed until after years of collaboration and public input…