Short-term Rental permit Ordinance

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  The  Amended Short- Term Rental Permit Ordinance passed on June 1st. 

What is next? Online registration form is available here:

More about the ordinance:

The permit is a way for the police to promptly notify the owners that there is a problem with their property and for the city to keep track of nuisance short-term rental properties which have repeated tickets for ordinance violations. 

Several neighboring communities have severely curtailed or eliminated short term rentals. 

This ordinance is in favor of short-term rentals; visitors are welcome in Michigan City.  Our small businesses, restaurants and bars appreciate and encourage visitors. 

We need to proactively make sure the short-term rental properties are good neighbors to our city residents. 

Permits are able to be renewed yearly for free. The only requirement is to keep the information on the permit updated. There is no inspection associated with this permit. All local ordinances (such as noise) are enforced the same way as in the rest of the city.

 How many STR properties are in Michigan City?

• Michigan City is #3 in Airbnb rentals in the state of Indiana

• An online search lists approximately 345 Airbnb properties and 270 listed with VRBO – some may be listed in both

• Average nightly stay in Michigan City costs $297 (as per Airbnb)

• The maps on the site indicate that the majority of the properties are currently in the 1st and 6th wards.

• Chief Campbell shared the noise ordinance violations in spreadsheet and map format; there is currently no way to determine which of the violations were due to STR tenants

Purpose of the Ordinance

• The information in the permit application will allow the police to promptly notify the property owner that there is a current problem with the property. 

• The permit will give the city information as to the location of the STR properties and in this way be able to manage properties with repeated police issued tickets.

• This permit will assure our residents that their area STRs will be good neighbors and problems with particular properties can be addressed. 

Short- Term Rental Permit Ordinance - Neighboring community restrictions 

• Several neighboring communities have severely curtailed or eliminated short term rentals. This ordinance is in favor of short-term rentals; visitors are welcome in Michigan City.  Our small businesses, restaurants and bars appreciate and encourage visitors. .  

• Long Beach No rentals under 30 days; firm hired to investigate

• Beverly Shores No rentals under 30 days; lease required w/ restrictions

• Michiana Shores Permit needed: non-owner occupied properties must be granted a zoning variance

Short- Term Rental Permit Ordinance Amendments 

Permit fee has been eliminated in the amended ordinance. Permits are able to be renewed yearly for free. The only requirement is to keep the information on the permit updated. There is no inspection associated with this permit. All local ordinances (such as noise) are enforced the same way as in the rest of the city. 

( The requirement to display a sticker/decal with the permit number has been removed.)