Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Kent County, MI

Airbnbs are effectively legal in Kent County, MI because there are no specific short-term rental regulations on the books. Kent County levies an 8% lodging excise tax on accommodations rented for less than 30 consecutive days. Land-use and licensing are governed by individual municipalities; for example, Kentwood generally prohibits STRs (Ordinance 3-22), while Grand Rapids allows limited one-room rentals subject to a 200-license annual cap, primary residency requirements, and zoning confirmation. Operators should still verify HOA rules, state-level requirements, and any tax-collection obligations. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Kent County levies an 8% lodging excise tax on accommodations rented for less than 30 consecutive days. Land-use and licensing are governed by individual municipalities; for example, Kentwood generally prohibits STRs (Ordinance 3-22), while Grand Rapids allows limited one-room rentals subject to a 200-license annual cap, primary residency requirements, and zoning confirmation.

No permit is currently required to operate a short-term rental in Kent County.

Vrbo is effectively legal in Kent County, MI for the same reason Airbnb is: there are no short-term-rental-specific regulations on the books. Operators should still check HOA, state, and tax obligations before listing. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Kent County 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 Kent County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.