Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Houghton, MI

Airbnb listings are allowed in Houghton, MI, but with restrictions. STRs are permitted only in specific zoning districts: Owner-occupied STRs are allowable in R-1 (Single-Family) and R-2 (Two-Family) districts; Non-owner-occupied STRs are allowable in R-3 (Multiple-Family), R-4 (Redevelopment Ready Residential), and business-group zoning districts. Operators must adhere to parking and maximum-occupancy rules and comply with Chapter 14 housing/rental code requirements; rental properties are required to be registered and undergo annual inspection. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are permitted only in specific zoning districts: Owner-occupied STRs are allowable in R-1 (Single-Family) and R-2 (Two-Family) districts; Non-owner-occupied STRs are allowable in R-3 (Multiple-Family), R-4 (Redevelopment Ready Residential), and business-group zoning districts. Operators must adhere to parking and maximum-occupancy rules and comply with Chapter 14 housing/rental code requirements; rental properties are required to be registered and undergo annual inspection.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Houghton. 1) Complete and submit the City of Houghton Rental Housing License & Registration form to the City (form available on the Building/Planning/Zoning page). 2) Schedule/submit to the required inspection by the City’s Code Enforcement Officer and pay the stated fee (form lists Owner-Occupied $100 and Non-Owner-Occupied $350). 3) Maintain annual renewal (annual inspection and license fee) and comply with Chapter 14 and any zoning/site conditions.

1) Complete and submit the City of Houghton Rental Housing License & Registration form to the City (form available on the Building/Planning/Zoning page). 2) Schedule/submit to the required inspection by the City’s Code Enforcement Officer and pay the stated fee (form lists Owner-Occupied $100 and Non-Owner-Occupied $350). 3) Maintain annual renewal (annual inspection and license fee) and comply with Chapter 14 and any zoning/site conditions.

Vrbo is permitted in Houghton, MI under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Houghton are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Houghton. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.