Short-term rentals

Protect your township’s ability to zone for short-term rentals!

Local governments count on zoning to shape their communities and preserve the quality of life so important to their residents. Past legislative efforts–which may continue in the current legislative session—sought to eliminate your township’s ability to do so. Those efforts would have preempted your township’s local zoning authority to regulate short-term rentals.

Many communities across the state have enacted regulations to address detrimental impacts short-term rentals have had on the quality of life in neighborhoods. Each community has accomplished this in a manner that best meets the needs of residents and short-term rentals. These local efforts should not be undermined and replaced with a one-size-fits-all approach from the state.

Past legislative efforts threatened the ability for local municipalities to manage the number and location of rentals across Michigan, undermining local control and upsetting the delicate balance between property rights and the established, transparent process for local decision-making.

Many times, commercial interests purchase multiple homes in a community for the sole purpose of renting them on a short-term basis—daily, weekly or monthly—with no intent for the owner to ever occupy the residential property. MTA believes locally elected township boards are best positioned to balance the unique needs of their community when addressing zoning issues and to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents, vacation visitors and renters.

MTA opposes such attacks on local decision-making.