6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Oakland County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Oakland County does not issue a county-wide short-term rental (STR) permit. STR licensing is handled by the city or township under Michigan's Home Rule City Act (MCL 117.1 et seq.) and Township Zoning Act. Each Oakland County municipality sets its own STR permit framework — examples include Ferndale (annual STR license under Code §7-155), Hazel Park (HPMC Ch. 5.44 license, capped at 30 citywide), Clawson (Ord. 766 / Code §34.353 registration + license), and Bloomfield Township (Zoning Ord. 653).
City of Ferndale Code §7-155 (Ord. 1258)
No Short Term Rental Unit may be advertised, operated, or offered to the public without a valid Short-Term Rental Unit license issued pursuant to this ordinance.
STRs in Oakland County must comply with the noise ordinance of the host municipality. The Ferndale STR ordinance (§7-157) requires owners to provide a written copy of the city noise ordinance to every guest, and to inform occupants of the city's quiet-hour requirements. Most Oakland County cities (Royal Oak, Troy, Birmingham, Southfield, Pontiac) impose nighttime quiet hours of approximately 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
City of Ferndale Code §7-157 (Ord. 1258)
Information regarding the City's noise ordinance shall be provided in writing to occupants and the Owner and Owner's authorized agent of the Short Term Rental Unit shall inform occupants of noise requirements.
Every STR booking of less than 30 days in Oakland County is subject to Michigan's 6% Use Tax under the Use Tax Act (MCL 205.93a). Oakland County does not impose a separate hotel/lodging tax. Municipal STR license fees vary widely: Hazel Park charges a $500 annual application fee; Clawson charges roughly $80 per building under its rental program; Ferndale sets fees by Council resolution with separate residential and non-residential tiers.
MCL 205.93a(1)(b) — Michigan Use Tax Act
Rooms or lodging furnished by hotelkeepers, motel operators, and other persons furnishing accommodations that are available to the public on a commercial basis ... [tax does not apply to] rooms and lodging rented for a continuous period of more than 1 month.
Most Oakland County municipalities require STR guest parking to fit entirely on-site or in lawful on-street spaces, with no blocking of alleys, fire lanes, or driveways. Ferndale Code §7-157 directly states STR parking 'shall not restrict access by emergency vehicles or the traveling public and shall not impede any ingress or egress on any street, alley or highway,' and prohibits recreational vehicles, RVs, and tents at the STR.
City of Ferndale Code §7-157 (Ord. 1258)
Parking shall not restrict access by emergency vehicles or the traveling public and shall not impede any ingress or egress on any street, alley or highway. No recreational vehicles, tents, or RVs permitted at properties.
Oakland County STR occupancy caps are set by the host municipality. Ferndale Code §7-157 limits overnight occupancy to 'no more than two (2) adult (meaning over eighteen years of age) people per bedroom,' with a total cap of eight (8) overnight guests. Hazel Park, Clawson, and Bloomfield Township use similar 2-adults-per-bedroom standards. Children typically do not count toward the limit, but always check the local rule.
City of Ferndale Code §7-157 (Ord. 1258)
The overnight occupancy of a Short Term Rental Unit shall be limited to no more than two (2) adult (meaning over eighteen years of age) people per bedroom. The total overnight occupancy of a Short-Term Rental Unit shall not exceed eight (8) people.
Registration is handled at the city/township level, not by Oakland County. In Hazel Park, HPMC Ch. 5.44 requires a $500 application plus building-department inspection, capped at 30 licenses citywide and renewed annually by December 31. Clawson Ord. 766 / Code §34.353 requires registration AND licensure for any property used as an STR more than 14 days per calendar year, renewable each December. Ferndale Code §7-156 requires annual renewal with owner contact, parcel ID, and 24/7 local agent.
City of Clawson Code §34.353 (Ord. 766)
Properties used for short-term rentals for more than 14 days per calendar year must be registered and licensed with the city. Licenses are valid for one year and must be renewed each December. When a short-term rental property is sold, the registration(s) and license(s) will expire at sale and are not transferable.
1 cities in Oakland County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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