Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Lansing?

Yes. Lansing requires Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance), and the fee is $400. 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.

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

The Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance) fee in Lansing 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.

How to get a short-term rental permit in Lansing, MI (2026)

Lansing requires Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance) — the fee is $400. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance)
Permit fee	$400
Renewal	—

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. 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.
2
Apply for the Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance)
Submit the Rental Registration (Certificate of Compliance) application to Lansing and pay the $400 fee. 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.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Lansing. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.

STR rules change without warning.

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

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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Lansing before applying.

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