STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in Lansing, MI (2026)

Permit requiredAllowed with permit

Lansing has no dedicated short-term-rental ordinance; STRs are regulated as ordinary rental housing. If the owner does not live in the home, the property must be registered as a rental with the city's Code Enforcement Division ($400 new registration plus inspection fees) and pass inspection for a Certificate of Compliance, while owner-occupied homes renting spare rooms to up to three roomers are exempt. Guests pay Michigan's 6% use tax (collected by major platforms) plus Ingham County's 5% accommodations tax, and occupancy is generally capped at three unrelated adults in a non-owner-occupied home.

✓ Last verified July 21, 2026 · 13 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 13 official sources. How we verify data

Lansing STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for Lansing
Legal statusAllowed with permit
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameRental Registration (Certificate of Compliance)
Permit fee$400
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Total occupancy taxes~11% of gross revenue
EnforcementEnforced by the Code Enforcement Division (316 N. Capitol Ave., 517-483-4361). Unregistered rentals discovered by the city receive a Failure to Register notification and a $150 administrative fee. In March 2026 the city replaced its pink/red tag system with a four-tier notice system: white notice (no valid renters certificate), yellow (failed inspection but safe to occupy), red placard (unfit for occupancy, must vacate), black placard (dangerous, may proceed to demolition). Red-tagged properties monitored 90+ days can be placed in the N.E.A.T. program with a $150/month monitoring fee.

What will guests pay in taxes on a Lansing stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for Lansing, MI — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

Lansing occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
Michigan Use Tax on accommodations (6%)· usually collected by platform$27.00
Ingham County Accommodations (Hotel/Motel) Excise Tax (5%)· host remits$22.50
Total tax (11%)$49.50
Guest pays$499.50

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

Lansing requires Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance) to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $400.

Official Code Compliance Activity Fees (effective March 10, 2020): New Registration $400.00 per property; Change of Owner $200.00. Inspection fees are separate: base $215.00 per building for 1 & 2 family structures ($150.00 for multi-family/townhouse/condo) plus $25.00 per unit for single-family/duplex ($18.00 per unit for multiple dwellings). Registration applies only to non-owner-occupied properties; owner-occupied single-family homes are exempt. Some secondary sources cite a $100 fee, but the city's published fee schedule says $400 for new registration.

Zoning & location rules

Short-term rentals are not a separately defined zoning use; they are treated as rental housing subject to the district's residential occupancy standards. As a general rule a single-family home may be occupied by the owner plus 2 additional unrelated adults (an owner living in the home may rent spare rooms to up to 3 roomers as a 'Rooming House' without a rental license); a non-owner-occupied home may be occupied by 3 unrelated adults. Maximum occupancy varies with the property's zoning district. On-site paved (asphalt or concrete) parking must be provided for all vehicles of persons living or temporarily staying on the site, and overnight on-street parking is prohibited 2:00-5:00 a.m.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
Michigan Use Tax on accommodations6% state use tax applies to rooms/lodging furnished to guests for a continuous period of less than 1 month. Airbnb collects and remits it on its bookings ('Use Tax: 6% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 30 nights and shorter' per Airbnb's Michigan occupancy-tax page); Vrbo does NOT collect Michigan use tax — it relies on hosts to remit (Crain's Detroit Business, 2026-02-17, reporting on a bill Airbnb backs that would force other platforms to collect). Hosts must collect and remit on Vrbo and direct bookings. Michigan has no additional state/local sales tax on lodging.6%platform
Ingham County Accommodations (Hotel/Motel) Excise TaxCounty excise tax levied since 1991 under Public Act 263 of 1974 on persons engaged in the business of providing rooms for lodging to guests staying less than 30 consecutive days, including Airbnb and other short-term rentals; operators remit to the county. An August 4, 2026 primary ballot proposal would raise it from 5% to 8%; the increase requires voter approval under 2024 state legislation.5%host

Enforcement & penalties

Enforced by the Code Enforcement Division (316 N. Capitol Ave., 517-483-4361). Unregistered rentals discovered by the city receive a Failure to Register notification and a $150 administrative fee. In March 2026 the city replaced its pink/red tag system with a four-tier notice system: white notice (no valid renters certificate), yellow (failed inspection but safe to occupy), red placard (unfit for occupancy, must vacate), black placard (dangerous, may proceed to demolition). Red-tagged properties monitored 90+ days can be placed in the N.E.A.T. program with a $150/month monitoring fee.

Under the four-tier notice ordinance adopted March 9, 2026, landlords who ignore notices face fines of up to $500 per day, and violations can be charged as misdemeanors. Occupying or defacing/removing a red-tagged (unsafe) placard carries a $500.00 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Failure to register a rental carries a $150 administrative fee; late rental-inspection fees are $120 (30 or 60 days late, single-family) and $75 (30 days) to $150 (60 days) for multi-family.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in Lansing: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: Short-term rentals are not a separately defined zoning use; they are treated as rental housing subject to the district's residential occupancy standards. As a general rule a single-family home may be occupied by the owner plus 2 additional unrelated adults (an owner living in the home may rent spare rooms to up to 3 roomers as a 'Rooming House' without a rental license); a non-owner-occupied home may be occupied by 3 unrelated adults. Maximum occupancy varies with the property's zoning district. On-site paved (asphalt or concrete) parking must be provided for all vehicles of persons living or temporarily staying on the site, and overnight on-street parking is prohibited 2:00-5:00 a.m. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  3. 3

    Apply for the Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance)

    Budget $400. Official Code Compliance Activity Fees (effective March 10, 2020): New Registration $400.00 per property; Change of Owner $200.00. Inspection fees are separate: base $215.00 per building for 1 & 2 family structures ($150.00 for multi-family/townhouse/condo) plus $25.00 per unit for single-family/duplex ($18.00 per unit for multiple dwellings). Registration applies only to non-owner-occupied properties; owner-occupied single-family homes are exempt. Some secondary sources cite a $100 fee, but the city's published fee schedule says $400 for new registration. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: Ingham County Accommodations (Hotel/Motel) Excise Tax (5%) is remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  5. 5

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    Under the four-tier notice ordinance adopted March 9, 2026, landlords who ignore notices face fines of up to $500 per day, and violations can be charged as misdemeanors. Occupying or defacing/removing a red-tagged (unsafe) placard carries a $500.00 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Failure to register a rental carries a $150 administrative fee; late rental-inspection fees are $120 (30 or 60 days late, single-family) and $75 (30 days) to $150 (60 days) for multi-family. Enforced by the Code Enforcement Division (316 N. Capitol Ave., 517-483-4361). Unregistered rentals discovered by the city receive a Failure to Register notification and a $150 administrative fee. In March 2026 the city replaced its pink/red tag system with a four-tier notice system: white notice (no valid renters certificate), yellow (failed inspection but safe to occupy), red placard (unfit for occupancy, must vacate), black placard (dangerous, may proceed to demolition). Red-tagged properties monitored 90+ days can be placed in the N.E.A.T. program with a $150/month monitoring fee.

Recent rule changes in Lansing

  1. July 10, 2026material

    Ingham County hotel/accommodations tax increase on August 4, 2026 ballot

    County voters will decide at the August 4, 2026 primary whether to raise the county hotel excise tax from 5% to 8% for stays under 30 days at hotels, motels, Airbnb properties and other short-term rentals. If approved, total lodging taxes (with the 6% state use tax) would reach 14%.

    Official source →

  2. March 9, 2026material

    Lansing adopts four-tier rental notice/tagging ordinance

    City Council voted 7-0 to replace the pink/red tag system with four notice levels (white: no valid renters certificate; yellow: failed inspection; red: unfit for occupancy; black: dangerous/near demolition), with fines up to $500 per day and possible misdemeanor charges for landlords who ignore notices. Unlicensed/unregistered rentals — including STRs — now receive white notices.

    Official source →

  3. July 30, 2024

    Lansing council and planning board revisit STR zoning definitions

    The Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association publicly weighed in as Lansing's city council and planning board revisited short-term-rental zoning ordinances, including how proposed STR zoning rules would define bed and breakfasts. No dedicated STR zoning ordinance has been adopted as of July 2026.

    Official source →

  4. April 2, 2024

    Michigan legislation requires voter approval for county lodging-tax increases above 5%

    State legislation signed April 2, 2024 (House Bill 5048, amending the county accommodations tax framework) allows counties like Ingham to raise accommodations taxes above 5% (up to 8%) only with majority voter approval, setting the stage for Ingham County's ballot proposals.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in Lansing?

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Lansing, MI, but you must obtain a Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance) before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Lansing?

Yes. Lansing requires a Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance) to operate a short-term rental, which costs $400. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a Lansing short-term rental permit cost?

The Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance) costs $400. Official Code Compliance Activity Fees (effective March 10, 2020): New Registration $400.00 per property; Change of Owner $200.00. Inspection fees are separate: base $215.00 per building for 1 & 2 family structures ($150.00 for multi-family/townhouse/condo) plus $25.00 per unit for single-family/duplex ($18.00 per unit for multiple dwellings). Registration applies only to non-owner-occupied properties; owner-occupied single-family homes are exempt. Some secondary sources cite a $100 fee, but the city's published fee schedule says $400 for new registration.

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Lansing?

Yes — Lansing does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Lansing?

Hosts in Lansing are subject to: Michigan Use Tax on accommodations (6%), Ingham County Accommodations (Hotel/Motel) Excise Tax (5%) — roughly 11% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Lansing?

Partially. Platforms collect Michigan Use Tax on accommodations (6%), but hosts must register for and remit Ingham County Accommodations (Hotel/Motel) Excise Tax (5%) themselves.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Lansing?

Under the four-tier notice ordinance adopted March 9, 2026, landlords who ignore notices face fines of up to $500 per day, and violations can be charged as misdemeanors. Occupying or defacing/removing a red-tagged (unsafe) placard carries a $500.00 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Failure to register a rental carries a $150 administrative fee; late rental-inspection fees are $120 (30 or 60 days late, single-family) and $75 (30 days) to $150 (60 days) for multi-family. Enforced by the Code Enforcement Division (316 N. Capitol Ave., 517-483-4361). Unregistered rentals discovered by the city receive a Failure to Register notification and a $150 administrative fee. In March 2026 the city replaced its pink/red tag system with a four-tier notice system: white notice (no valid renters certificate), yellow (failed inspection but safe to occupy), red placard (unfit for occupancy, must vacate), black placard (dangerous, may proceed to demolition). Red-tagged properties monitored 90+ days can be placed in the N.E.A.T. program with a $150/month monitoring fee.

Lansing's STR rules changed 2 times recently.

Get an email the moment Lansing changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Lansing and a qualified professional before operating.

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