Sec. 7.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, the incorporation of a village shall be initiated as prescribed in and shall be subject to Act No. 278 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended, being sections 78.1 to 78.28 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and the incorporation of a city shall be initiated as prescribed in and shall be subject to Act No. 279 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended, being sections 117.1 to 117.38 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

(2) Except as provided in section 10a, petitions proposing the incorporation of a city shall be signed by a number of persons who are qualified electors and freeholders residing within the affected territory equal to at least 5% of the population of the territory affected by the proposed new incorporation, or 100, whichever number is greater.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (6) and section 10a, petitions for incorporation shall be filed with the commission. The commission shall exercise the powers and carry out the duties of the board of supervisors, the village council, or the secretary of state in relation to incorporations.

(4) A census of the territory affected by an incorporation or consolidation as provided in section 2 of Act No. 278 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended, being section 78.2 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, or by section 6 of Act No. 279 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended, being section 117.6 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, shall not be taken unless a proper petition for the incorporation or consolidation has been filed with the commission and the census has been specifically ordered by the commission.

(5) Except as provided in subsection (6) and section 10a, while this act is in effect no other means of incorporation of a city or village shall be effective.

(6) The incorporation of a general law village as a home rule village without a change of boundaries shall be initiated as prescribed in and subject to Act No. 278 of the Public Acts of 1909, as amended.

History: 1968, Act 191, Eff. Nov. 15, 1968 ;-- Am. 1972, Act 362, Imd. Eff. Jan. 9, 1973 ;-- Am. 1981, Act 67, Imd. Eff. June 23, 1981 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 457, Imd. Eff. Dec. 30, 1982