Occupancy Limits: Dearborn vs Detroit
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Dearborn, MI and Detroit, MI?
Dearborn and Detroit have similar restriction levels.
Dearborn, MI
Wayne County
Dearborn caps STR occupancy via the state and property maintenance codes, typically two persons per bedroom plus two, with additional limits based on bedroom square footage.
View full Dearborn rules →Detroit, MI
Wayne County
Detroit has not codified a short-term-rental-specific occupancy cap such as a fixed maximum number of guests. Occupancy is governed by the bedroom-area and dwelling-unit-area provisions of the Detroit Property Maintenance Code in Chapter 8, Article XV, which incorporates the standard International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) minimum-area-per-occupant rule: a bedroom must provide at least 70 square feet for one occupant and at least 50 additional square feet for each additional occupant. The January 3, 2024 draft Short Term Rental Ordinance would add a fixed 10-person STR cap, but that draft is not yet adopted.
View full Detroit rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Dearborn | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Code basis | IPMC via Dearborn Ch 10 | - |
| First occupant | 70 sq ft bedroom | - |
| Each additional | 50 sq ft | - |
| Common cap | 2 per bedroom plus 2 | - |
| MI Housing Law | MCL 125.401 et seq | - |
| Codified STR Headcount Cap | - | None; draft 10-person cap proposed January 2024 not adopted |
| Governing Standard | - | IPMC bedroom and dwelling area tables as adopted by Detroit City Code Chapter 8, Article XV |
| Dwelling Unit Minimum | - | 150 sq ft for first occupant, +100 sq ft per additional occupant |
| Bedroom Minimum (1 occupant) | - | 70 sq ft |
| Bedroom Minimum (2+ occupants) | - | 50 sq ft per occupant |
| Verification | - | BSEED 15-point inspection at Certificate of Compliance issuance/renewal |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Dearborn FAQ
How do I find my legal occupancy?
Check the rental certificate or ask Property Maintenance at (313) 943-2150 for the approved occupancy for your unit.
Do children count?
Generally yes, though infants under one year are typically not counted toward the cap.
Detroit FAQ
What is the maximum number of guests for a Detroit Airbnb?
Detroit has not codified a flat STR headcount cap. The maximum is whatever the bedroom-area and dwelling-area math under the International Property Maintenance Code yields - 150 square feet of dwelling area for the first occupant plus 100 square feet for each additional occupant, with bedrooms providing 70 square feet for one occupant or 50 square feet per occupant if shared - as adopted by reference in Detroit City Code Chapter 8, Article XV. The January 3, 2024 draft Short Term Rental Ordinance would add a flat 10-person cap, but that draft is not yet law.
Does Detroit count children toward STR occupancy?
The IPMC area tables Detroit adopts under Chapter 8, Article XV count any person occupying the unit, including children, for the purpose of the bedroom-area calculation. Operators should compute permitted occupancy from the per-room square footage at the address and have that figure on file; BSEED inspectors verify during the 15-point Certificate of Compliance inspection.
Could a Detroit STR be classified as a rooming house or bed and breakfast?
Yes, depending on configuration and length of stay. Chapter 50 (Zoning) defines 'rooming house,' 'bed and breakfast,' and similar lodging uses and assigns them to specific districts. If BSEED Zoning determines that the operation falls into one of those use classes rather than 'one-family dwelling,' additional standards (including parking and density) apply and the operation may be limited to specific districts.
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