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EAST LANSING — Michigan State University Extension will host two webinars this year designed to help local government officials better understand policy options related to short-term rentals.
The 90-minute “Short-Term Rental Policy Options for Local Communities” programs will explore trends and research surrounding short-term rentals, commonly known as STRs, and provide guidance on where communities can find local data to evaluate their own situations.
The webinars also will include an overview of policy approaches, regulatory tools, enforcement strategies and key court cases involving STRs. Organizers said the program will highlight several examples of how Michigan communities are regulating short-term rentals.
The webinar will be offered twice: Wednesday, May 20, from 6:30-8 p.m. Eastern time and again Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 6:30-8 p.m. Eastern time.
According to MSU Extension, 116 local leaders participated in the STR Policy Options for Local Communities programs in 2025. Program evaluations showed participants found the information valuable, with nine out of 10 reporting they felt better prepared to suggest ways to regulate or enforce STR policies in their communities.
One participant said the program prepared them to “assist my Planning Board with their development of a viable STR section to the ordinance,” while another said they planned to “negotiate a reasonable STR ordinance” in their community.
MSU Extension’s Center for Local Government Finance and Policy report, “The Short-Term Rental Economy in Michigan: Implications, Policy Options, & Potential Solutions,” notes that STRs continue to expand across the state and may be affecting local housing markets. The report also states that STRs can help meet visitor lodging demand and provide alternative accommodations for both leisure and business travelers.
As more Michigan dwellings are used as short-term rentals, some communities are reviewing local plans and ordinances to ensure they align with community needs and goals, according to MSU Extension.
Registration for the webinars is available at https://events.anr.msu.edu/STR26/.
The cost is $25 per person, or $20 for Master Citizen Planners. All registrants will receive a recording of the program.
For more information, contact a local MSU Extension office by visiting https://www.msue.msu.edu/ or calling 1-888-678-3464.
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