HB 6027 would amend Michigan’s Zoning Enabling Act to strengthen limits on local zoning authority when a land use is needed in a community. Under current law, zoning ordinances and decisions may not totally prohibit a land use where there is a demonstrated need for that use in the local unit of government or surrounding area, unless there is no appropriate location available or the use is unlawful. The bill keeps that general rule and adds a specific prohibition on local governments adopting or enforcing any ordinance, rule, regulation, or zoning decision that has the effect of totally prohibiting short-term rentals.
The bill defines “short-term rental” by reference to the separate short-term rental act, tying this measure to that existing statutory framework. It also includes a tie-bar, meaning it would not take effect unless either Senate Bill No. ____ (request no. S03776'25) or House Bill 6026 (request no. H03776'25) is enacted into law. In practical terms, the bill would limit municipalities’ ability to ban short-term rental activity outright and would likely affect local zoning codes, enforcement practices, and property owners who use or wish to use homes for short-term lodging.
HB 6027 would amend MCL 125.3207 in the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act by adding short-term rentals to the list of land uses that local governments may not totally prohibit through zoning or related regulatory action. The bill would constrain local ordinances, rules, and decisions that effectively eliminate short-term rentals within a city, village, or township, while still allowing regulation short of a total ban. It would primarily affect local governments, property owners, and short-term rental operators, and it would incorporate the definition of short-term rental from the separate short-term rental act.
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears designed to protect short-term rental activity from categorical local bans, suggesting a pro-property-rights and pro-rental-market policy direction. The tie-bar to related legislation indicates it is part of a broader package rather than a standalone change.
The likely point of contention is the balance between local control and statewide limits on zoning authority. Supporters would likely favor preventing municipalities from imposing outright bans on short-term rentals, while opponents may argue that local governments should retain discretion to regulate or prohibit such uses to address neighborhood character, housing availability, nuisance concerns, and enforcement burdens. The bill’s broad prohibition on any ordinance or decision that has the effect of totally prohibiting short-term rentals could also raise questions about how much regulatory authority remains available to local units.