Homeowners

Communal Repeal Method for Property Owners: Organize Your Local Neighborhood

Follow the steps below to repeal the communal RRC for your entire subdivision.

Step One: Determine Whether Your RRC Applies to Your Entire Subdivision

Some RRCs apply not only to an individual building but an entire subdivision, known as a “communal restriction.” To find out whether your subdivision has a communal restriction, first check this non-exhaustive chart of Washtenaw County subdivisions with RRCs, below. If you live in one of the listed subdivisions, your subdivision has a communal restriction.

[INSERT TABLE OF SUBDIVISION RESTRICTIONS HERE]

Second, look up your address on our Mapping Project tool, which might list the type of RRC attached to our home.

Third, if your home is not on the above list of subdivisions with communal restrictions, check the documents you located in the “Find Out If Your Home Has an RRC” instructions, above, to determine if you have a restriction that applies to the entire subdivision or just your individual home.

If you discover that your subdivision does not have a communal restriction—or if you would prefer to only repeal the RRC on your own home—click here.

Step Two: Determine What Your Communal RRC Says About How It Can Be Repealed

Some communal restrictions are easier to remove than others. The difficulty of removing a communal restriction depends on the type of voting mechanism, if any, that is included in the RRC.

A voting mechanism allows amendment or repeal of a communal RRC only if a certain percentage of homeowners sign a document. For example, in the Hannah neighborhood, we only needed more than 50 percent of homeowners to sign. In other subdivisions, such as Wildwood Park subdivision, more than two-thirds of the homeowners needed to sign. Other communal restrictions do not contain any voting mechanism. In those subdivisions, 100% of the homeowners must sign an amendment to repeal the communal restriction.

To determine the voting mechanism for your communal RRC, check the above chart of subdivisions with communal restrictions, along with the documents you located in the “Find Out If Your Home Has an RRC” instructions, above.

If your subdivision has a communal RRC without a voting mechanism—or if you would prefer to only repeal the RRC on your own home—click here.

Step Three: Establish a Neighborhood Working Group

First, establish a working group composed of 4 to 6 neighbors who will meet regularly to develop and lead an organizing strategy for the neighborhood. The working group’s efforts will include:

1. Filling out the communal amendment

2. Informing the neighborhood about the repeal effort

3. Organizing a signature collection event for the neighborhood

4. Recording the completed communal amendment

To reflect the goals of Justice InDeed, the working group should: 1) center the voices and experiences of Black community members; and 2) seek to educate the neighborhood on the racist and harmful history of RRCs.

Step Four: Fill Out Communal Amendment Template

Fill out the Justice InDeed “Communal Amendment for Property Owners” template [NEED TO LINK TO FILLABLE PDF] to create the amendment document to repeal the racially restrictive covenant. The amendment can also include a new statement that embodies the anti-racist and inclusive values of the community.

After filling out the template, do not sign it yet.

Step Five: Organize Community Members

Develop and deliver organizing materials to educate your neighborhood about the racist communal covenant and how to repeal it.

Developing Organizing Materials
Justice InDeed has created customizable templates for:

1. An organizing email to neighbors

2. A flyer [NEED TO LINK TO FILLABLE PDF] to deliver to neighbors

3. A FAQ document [NEED TO LINK TO FILLABLE PDF] specific to your neighborhood

Delivering Organizing Materials

1. Collect the email addresses of your neighbors

2. Send out the organizing email, attach the customized FAQ, flyer, and communal amendment

3. Organize door-to-door visits to share printed materials and speak with neighbors about the repeal effort

Step Six: Host Signature Collection Event

Next, host a signature collection event with at least one notary present.

Preparing for the Collection Event

• Print enough copies of the blank signature page for every lot in your neighborhood

• Pay attention to the percentage of property owners in the neighborhood required to modify the restrictions

• Find a notary to attend the event

Collecting the Signatures

• When signing the individual amendment, all signing property owners must show the notary a valid, government-issued ID

• If your home or lot has multiple owners, all owners must sign

• If your property is owned by a trust, all trustees must sign

• The total number of homeowners that are needed to sign will depend on the voting mechanism in your neighborhood’s communal restriction

How Do I Find a Notary?

• Search Michigan’s notary public database. You can search for only active notaries within Washtenaw County. You can also find electronic or remote notaries.

Step Seven: Submit the Amendment and Recording Fee to the Register of Deeds

Lastly, the amendment must be “recorded” with the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds. This can be done in-person, by mail, or via eRecording.

In-Person
Deliver the notarized individual amendment to the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds and pay the $30 recording fee via cash, check, or credit.


Mail
Mail the notarized individual amendment to the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds and pay the $30 recording fee via check only. You can also drop-off the amendment and check at the drop box outside the Register of Deeds.





eRecording
Submit the amendment and pay the recording fee via an approved eRecording vendor. Learn more about the eRecording process here.

Physical Address
Washtenaw County Register of Deeds
200 N. Main Street, Suite 110
Ann Arbor, MI 48107

Mailing via USPS? Deliver to:
Washtenaw County Register of Deeds
PO Box 8645
Ann Arbor, MI 48107

Mailing via FedEx or UPS? Deliver to the Main Street physical address.

Dropbox located at the Main Street entrance.

Additional information about the recording process can be found on the Register of Deeds website.

Need Help?

Please contact us with questions on how to repeal a racially restrictive covenant at JusticeInDeedmi@umich.edu.