Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Royal Oak, MI

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are allowed in Royal Oak, MI, but operators must obtain a permit before listing. Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional occupants per finished story. Owners must maintain $1,000,000 in liability insurance and designate a local responsible party residing within 30 miles of the property. Hosts must also provide guests with the City's Good Neighbor Policy and adhere to noise and nuisance ordinances. "Airbnb" is a brand name; the rules on this page apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.). See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional occupants per finished story. Owners must maintain $1,000,000 in liability insurance and designate a local responsible party residing within 30 miles of the property. Hosts must also provide guests with the City's Good Neighbor Policy and adhere to noise and nuisance ordinances.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Royal Oak. 1) Submit a completed Rental Registration Application to the Building Division including property details and maximum occupancy. 2) Provide a $1,000,000 liability insurance certificate and sworn attestations regarding safety equipment (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers). 3) Pay the required registration fee (e.g., $145 for single-family) and pass a safety inspection by a Code Official.

1) Submit a completed Rental Registration Application to the Building Division including property details and maximum occupancy. 2) Provide a $1,000,000 liability insurance certificate and sworn attestations regarding safety equipment (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers). 3) Pay the required registration fee (e.g., $145 for single-family) and pass a safety inspection by a Code Official.

Yes. Vrbo operates under the same short-term rental rules as Airbnb in Royal Oak, MI, since regulations apply to the rental activity rather than the booking platform. A permit is required before you list on Vrbo or any other platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

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