Ann Arbor — Ch. 97 Short-Term Rentals § 7:651
Definitions
Operative Text
Guest means persons renting lodging from a short-term rental host, or through a hosting platform on behalf of the short-term rental host, for less than 30 consecutive days. Host means a person engaged in providing a short-term rental unit. Hosting platform means a marketplace in any form or format which facilitates short-term rental units, through advertising, matchmaking or any other means. Permanent resident means the person(s) occupying a property as their principal residence. Principal residence means the one dwelling unit where an owner of the property, or tenant of a period greater than 30 days, has their true, fixed, and permanent home to which, whenever absent, they intend to return and that shall continue as a principal residence until another principal residence is established. Short-term rental unit means any dwelling unit that is rented wholly or partly for compensation, for periods of 30 consecutive days or less, by persons other than the permanent resident or owner including: (a) Non-principal residence short-term rental (or commercial rental) means an activity where the owner of a non-principal residence hosts visitors, for compensation, for periods of 30 consecutive days or less. (b) Principal residence homestay means an activity whereby the permanent resident(s) host visitors in their homes, for compensation, for periods of 30 consecutive days or less, while at least one of the permanent residents lives on-site in the dwelling unit, throughout the visitors' stay. (c) Principal residence whole house means an activity whereby the permanent resident(s) host visitors in their homes, for compensation, for periods of 30 consecutive days or less, while a residential dwelling unit is not occupied by the owner of record while the guest is present. UDC means Unified Development Code ( Chapter 55 of Ann Arbor City Code).
Ann Arbor — Ch. 97 Short-Term Rentals § 7:651 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Ann Arbor's short-term rental regulatory framework. It distinguishes between different types of short-term rental activity—such as commercial rentals of non-principal residences, homestays where a permanent resident remains on-site, and whole-house rentals where the owner is absent during a guest's stay. A rental arrangement qualifies as short-term when it involves compensation for periods of 30 consecutive days or less, and the definitions of 'principal residence' and 'permanent resident' determine which category of regulation applies to a given property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating or considering short-term rentals in Ann Arbor should familiarize themselves with the defined terms in Ann Arbor — Ch. 97 Short-Term Rentals § 7:651, as these definitions govern how a rental activity is classified under the city's rules. Whether a unit qualifies as a non-principal residence commercial rental, a principal residence homestay, or a principal residence whole-house rental depends on factors such as owner occupancy and whether a permanent resident is present during a guest's stay. Operators generally ensure their records and practices accurately reflect which category applies to their property, since classification affects the specific requirements they must meet under the broader Chapter 97 framework.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who rent their homes to short-term guests should be aware that Ann Arbor — Ch. 97 Short-Term Rentals § 7:651 includes tenants with leases longer than 30 days within the definition of 'permanent resident,' which can affect eligibility to host under the principal residence categories. Understanding whether a rental arrangement qualifies as a homestay or whole-house rental—and how 'principal residence' is defined—may be relevant to a tenant's rights and obligations under both their lease and city regulations. Tenants with questions about how these definitions apply to their housing situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the full Chapter 97 provisions.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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