Macomb County does not require a short-term rental to be the host's primary residence. Any owner-occupancy or primary-residence condition would come from a city or township ordinance, and Michigan imposes no statewide primary-residence mandate for STRs.
No county rule in Macomb County limits STRs to owner-occupied or primary residences. Whether non-owner-occupied (investor) STRs are allowed depends on the municipality: some Michigan communities restrict STRs to a homeowner's principal residence or cap non-resident-owned rentals, while others (Macomb Township historically) impose no such limit. Michigan has no statewide primary-residence requirement; a 2024 preemption bill was debated but not enacted, so the question is decided community by community. Owners considering an investment STR should verify with their city or township zoning office whether whole-home, non-owner-occupied rentals are permitted. The Principal Residence Exemption is a property-tax classification and does not itself authorize or restrict STR use.
The county has no primary-residence rule, so there is no county-level violation. Where a municipality restricts STRs to primary residences, operating a non-owner-occupied rental is a zoning violation — a civil infraction with fines and possible license revocation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Sterling Heights, MI
Sterling Heights prohibits storing abandoned, inoperable, or unregistered vehicles on public streets or visible on private property. Vehicles may be tagged a...
Sterling Heights, MI
Sterling Heights regulates electric vehicle charging infrastructure for residential and commercial properties. Building codes may require EV-ready parking in...
Sterling Heights, MI
Sterling Heights regulates overnight parking on public streets. Many areas restrict parking between certain hours or require permits for overnight street par...
Sterling Heights, MI
Sterling Heights requires pool barriers meeting safety codes to prevent drowning. Fences must be at least 4 to 5 feet tall with self-closing, self-latching g...
Sterling Heights, MI
Sterling Heights requires permits for retaining walls above a certain height, typically 4 feet. Engineering review may be required for taller walls.
Sterling Heights, MI
Sterling Heights restricts or prohibits intentional feeding of wildlife including deer, coyotes, and bears. Feeding wildlife creates public safety hazards an...
See how Sterling Heights's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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