Ann Arbor, MI Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Ann Arbor, MI, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Licenses per unit
- 1 license per dwelling unit
- Licensee
- owner or permanent resident only
- Renewal
- annual, within 30 days
- Max fine
- $500 per violation, per day
Summary
Ann Arbor prohibits operating any short-term rental unit, Airbnb, VRBO, or similar, without a city-issued license, capped at one license per dwelling and issued only to the owner or permanent resident.
Short-term rental units are prohibited unless the city has issued a short-term rental license for the unit. ... The city shall only issue a short-term rental license for a short-term rental unit to the owner or permanent resident of the property. The city shall issue only 1 short-term rental license per dwelling unit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 97 requires every short-term rental, non-principal-residence commercial units, principal-residence homestays, and principal-residence whole-house rentals alike, to hold a city license before renting for 30 consecutive days or less. Only the property's owner or permanent resident can hold the license, and the city issues just one per dwelling unit; it can't be transferred to another person or address. Applications require the unit's address, dwelling type, bedroom count, maximum occupancy under UDC § 5.16.1.A.2, and two contact persons, plus a nonrefundable fee set annually by City Council. Principal-residence licensees must re-affirm the property remains their home each year.
Violations & Fines
Operating or advertising an unlicensed short-term rental is a civil infraction punishable by up to $500 per violation, with each day counted separately; the city can also suspend or revoke the license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to list my Ann Arbor home on Airbnb?
Can I get more than one STR license for the same unit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
How Ann Arbor compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Ann Arbor to another location·View the Michigan short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.