Lansing, MI Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Either unit is leased
- Requirement
- Register and license as rental
- Issued by
- Code Compliance Office
- Citation
- § 1250.04.08(b)(7)
Summary
If a Lansing ADU or its principal house is leased out, the leased unit must be registered and licensed as a rental with the Code Compliance Office.
If either the ADU, or the principal structure is leased, it must be registered and properly licensed as a rental by the Code Compliance Office.(c)Site layout requirements.
(1) BUILDING MASSING Minimum height 12' 1 story Maximum height 15' 1.5 stories Maximum height of second story unit of a garage 20' 2 stories ADU ground floor area Min. 400 sq. ft. Max. not to exceed the ground floor area of the principal structure, up to 1,000 sq. ft.
(2) BUILDING PLACEMENT Front setback ADU is prohibited from being placed anywhere within the front yard Minimum setback from all side and rear property lines and other structures, if unattached 10' Minimum setbacks if second story unit of a garage May maintain existing setbacks, subject to all Building Code and Fire Code requirements Minimum lot size R-1 7,500 sq. ft. R-2, R-3, R-MX, DT-1 6,000 sq. ft. Maximum coverage of rear yard 33% Maximum lot coverage with ADU 65%
(3) PARKING Parking One unobstructed parking space, in addition to the parking for the principal residence
(Ord. No. 1332, § 1, 5-5-25)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
Lansing Codified Ordinances § 1250.04.08(b)(7) provides that if either the accessory dwelling unit or the principal structure is leased, it must be registered and properly licensed as a rental by the Code Compliance Office. This applies on top of the owner-occupancy requirement in the same subsection: whichever unit is rented out needs its own rental registration and license, not just the ADU. The rule governs ADUs citywide in Lansing, Michigan (Ingham County), adopted under Ordinance No. 1332.
Violations & Fines
Leasing an ADU or the principal home without registering and licensing it as a rental violates § 1250.04.08(b)(7) and can draw a municipal civil infraction citation from the Code Compliance Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a rental license for my ADU tenant in Lansing?
Does the license requirement apply if I rent the main house instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lansing
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