Washtenaw County, MI Short-Term Rentals: Permit Requirements (2026)

Michigan currently leaves short-term rental regulation to local government. HB 5438 of 2024 (the Short-Term Rental Regulation Act) proposed a statewide STR registry, a 6 percent excise tax, and a framework limiting outright local bans, but has not been enacted as binding statewide preemption. Washtenaw County's Board of Commissioners has not adopted a county STR ordinance. The City of Ann Arbor's Chapter 97 (Title VII) is the dominant local regime: a short-term rental is defined as any dwelling rented for 30 consecutive days or less; the annual license fee is $500 per unit, payable through the STREAM portal at application; review takes up to 21 business days; the application must include a Sworn Statement of Principal Residency; only principal residences may obtain a license in residential 'R' zones; non-owner-occupied STRs require a Certificate of Compliance where permitted; ADUs are prohibited from STR use; license number and maximum occupancy must appear in all advertisements; and the host is responsible for nuisance complaints. Other Washtenaw jurisdictions — Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Charter Township, Saline, Chelsea, Dexter, Scio Township — administer their own rules or have no STR-specific ordinance and rely on default zoning. Statewide obligations apply regardless: 6 percent Michigan use tax on transient accommodations under the Use Tax Act (MCL 205.93a). Michigan case law (Terrien v. Zwit, 467 Mich 56 (2002)) held that STR use can be 'commercial' for HOA covenant enforcement.