Grand Rapids restricts most short-term rentals to a host's primary residence inside residential zones, with stricter limits in single-family districts. Michigan PA 2024-12 partially preempts local STR rules but preserves city authority over zoning, residency, and rental registration in most cases.
Under the Grand Rapids zoning ordinance, whole-home short-term rentals in low-density residential zones generally must be the operator's primary residence, defined as where the host lives most of the year. Non-primary STRs are typically limited to mixed-use, commercial, or specific overlay districts. Michigan Public Act 2024-12 partially preempted local STR regulation but expressly preserved municipal authority over zoning classifications, residency requirements, and registration where consistently applied. Operators must hold an active rental certificate before listing.
Operating a non-primary whole-home STR in a single-family zone can trigger zoning citations starting around 200 dollars per day, plus orders to cease listings on Airbnb or Vrbo until compliance is restored.
See how Grand Rapids's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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