Legal
No STR ordinance on the books, but rental registration plus inspection is mandatory
Detroit has never adopted a short-term rental ordinance, so there is no city STR license, night cap, or guest limit. A whole house you do not live in counts as rental property under Chapter 8 of the city code, which means registering with BSEED, passing a 15-point safety inspection, and holding a Certificate of Compliance before you collect rent.
Permit and costs
- Permit
- Rental Registration + Certificate of Compliance
- Issued by
- City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)
- Cost
- Registration free; inspection $195-$225 + $20 processing
- Renewal
- Keep the certificate current; re-inspect as required by the city
Key limits
- No night cap
- No annual night limit or STR-specific guest limit currently exists, since there is no STR ordinance.
- Inspection required
- A 15-point safety inspection is required before renting, and properties without a certificate of compliance can be ticketed.
- Compliance push
- The city is pushing to bring rentals up to code by September 2027, so enforcement is tightening even without an STR law.
- Draft rules pending
- Draft short-term rental language sits with the City Council's Legislative Policy Division and could become law.
Taxes
- State use tax
- Michigan use tax on lodging, which Airbnb remits on hosts' behalf
- City income tax
- Detroit income tax applies to rental income and is filed separately through the city's Income Tax Division
Registration checklist
- 1Register with BSEEDRegister the property as a rental with the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department.
- 2Pass the inspectionSchedule and pass the 15-point safety inspection, with the first re-inspection included in the fee.
- 3Get the certificateHold the Certificate of Compliance in hand before taking any bookings.
What could change this verdict
Your HOA
Deed restrictions and condo bylaws can ban STRs even where the city has no rule, so check them before buying.
Rule changes
The council's draft STR ordinance could add licensing, occupancy limits, and night caps, so watch City Council action.
Legal
Renting rooms inside your own home is excluded from registration
Owner-occupied room rentals are exempt from the Chapter 8 rental registration and inspection requirement.
Permit and costs
- Permit
- Rental Registration + Certificate of Compliance
- Issued by
- City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)
- Cost
- Registration free; inspection $195-$225 + $20 processing
- Renewal
- Keep the certificate current; re-inspect as required by the city
Sources
Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.
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Verify before you buy.
Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.