The Dearborn Heights City Council unanimously passes an ordinance banning short term rentals during its Sept. 9 meeting.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – The City Council unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 9 banning short term rentals, like Airbnb and Vrbo, within the city, with a $5,000 daily fine for infractions.
The council also passed enforcement provisions for violations.
Short term rentals are referred to as 29 or fewer days of consecutive rental (with 27 days for February), with a hosting platform referred to the means of advertising short term rentals.
The regulations do not apply to bed and breakfasts, boarding houses, hotels, motels, nursing homes, lodging and rooming houses, convalescent or rest homes, or state-licensed residential facilities.
Due to the lack of regulation and owner presence, short term rentals are currently causing problems by guests conducting illegal and illicit activities, including drug trafficking, and hosting parties, which create problems with noise, traffic and parking.
The ordinance applies both single family and multiple dwelling residential districts within Dearborn Heights.
A $5,000 fine applies to each day of the ordinance violation.
Owners applying for new certificates of occupancy will be asked to sign a document indicating that they understand the prohibition of short-term rentals in the applicable zoning district.
Conflicting prior existing ordinances are repealed as part of the new STR ban, and the ordinance becomes effective as soon as it is published as provided by law.