Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Detroit, MI (2026)

Detroit, MI allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-Term Rental License) before listing their property. Detroit regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Detroit.

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-Term Rental License. Registration fee: $100. Annual renewal: $100 annually. Register through the Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) or Detroit Planning and Development Department (PDD). Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Operational Rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in Detroit: 1. STR license required for all rentals of less than 30 consecutive days 2. Michigan Act 20 of 2023 prevents outright bans — Detroit may regulate but not prohibit 3. STR operators must comply with Detroit Building Code requirements for rental housing 4. Certificate of Occupancy required for rental properties 5. All STR listings must include license number 6. Detroit STR hosts subject to state lodging tax plus city income tax on rental income

• •STR license required for all rentals of less than 30 consecutive days
• •Michigan Act 20 of 2023 prevents outright bans — Detroit may regulate but not prohibit
• •STR operators must comply with Detroit Building Code requirements for rental housing
• •Certificate of Occupancy required for rental properties
• •All STR listings must include license number
• •Detroit STR hosts subject to state lodging tax plus city income tax on rental income

Platform-Specific Rules

Platform-Specific Rules in Detroit: Airbnb: Airbnb collects and remits Michigan Use Tax on behalf of hosts VRBO: Similar platform tax collection Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.

Penalties for Violations

Penalties for STR Violations in Detroit: $500-$2,500 per violation for unlicensed STR operation; License suspension or revocation for code violations; Certificate of Occupancy revocation for persistent violations. Detroit has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.

• ⚠$500-$2,500 per violation for unlicensed STR operation
• ⚠License suspension or revocation for code violations
• ⚠Certificate of Occupancy revocation for persistent violations

Frequently Asked Questions