With municipalities banning short-term rentals, vacation rental
ordinances have initiated proposed changes that could impact bed
and breakfast properties in Michigan.
LANSING,
Mich., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The city
council and planning board are revisiting ordinances for short-term
rentals in Lansing, MI. In small
communities, ordinances are frequently outdated or inadequate for
future growth or preservation. Lansing is not the only community facing this
in the state; cities such as Grand
Rapids, Ann Arbor,
and Park Township also
face this. As the state of Michigan has deferred short-term rental (STR)
laws to cities and towns, there are no cohesive rulings across the
board.
The revisitation of ordinances is putting into question what
defines a bed and breakfast with respect to proposed STR zoning
laws. The Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association shares its
sentiments on the Lansing debate,
"requesting the city allows bed and breakfasts to operate without
arbitrary room number restrictions and to be more in line with
State definitions."
Members of the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association are
required to adhere to quality assurance standards, including:
- Breakfast must be provided on-site and included in the room
rate.
- Guest rooms must be individually and personally decorated,
appointed in a manner consistent with the style of the inn, and in
a manner that is more home than hotel-like
- The B&B must successfully complete the association's
Quality Assurance Review Program requirements.
- No more than two guest rooms or five people may share one full
bath.
"In Lansing, as community leaders question STR rulings and
enforcements, B&Bs are now in danger, which could potentially
change historical properties that have been the fabric of
communities for years," written in an article
on Hospitality.Net. Michigan
was named on the "Worst Short-Term Rental Growth" list in the next
five years. "As a result, short-term rentals pose big questions for
small towns in Michigan. Without a
legislative road map, communities are patching together rules and
navigating lingering legal questions," Lindsay Moore reported for MLIVE.com.
The Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association and its board of
directors are committed to promoting quality lodging and personal
hospitality in Pure Michigan. Bed and breakfasts play a crucial
role in preserving historic buildings, positively impacting local
communities, and offering the unique accommodations travelers seek.
Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association properties are often one of
the hallmark attractions in a community, where a standard rental
home blends seamlessly without the regular presence of an owner or
maintenance team.
As zoning and ordinance regulations are reviewed, the Michigan
Bed and Breakfast Association would like the Lansing Planning
Commission to reconsider restrictions on the number of rooms for a
bed and breakfast establishment, as limiting the number of rooms
does not align with the State of
Michigan code 125.1504, and that Bed and Breakfast licenses
be granted with hospitality and historic preservation in mind.
About Michigan Bed & Breakfast
An association supporting Michigan's best bed and breakfast, inns, and
small, independent boutique hotels. All member properties are
quality-assured and inspected. Visitors to Michigan can find detailed vacation
itineraries, ideas, and accommodations for the state at
MichBnB.com.
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SOURCE Michigan Bed & Breakfast Association