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EAST LANSING — East Lansing officials are raising concerns as a debate over short-term rentals resurfaces in the Michigan Legislature.
Bills moving through the House and Senate would stop local governments from using zoning to ban or restrict vacation rentals, like the ones available through Airbnb or Vrbo.
East Lasing has 21 overlay districts where rentals, including short-term rentals, at single-family homes are prohibited or restricted. But if House Bill 4722 or Senate Bill 446 becomes law, vacation rentals would become legal in those districts.
The bills define short-term rentals as residential housing available for a term of no more than 30 consecutive days. East Lansing Mayor Aaron Stephens said he's worried about people treating the vacation rentals like a month-to-month lease by continuing to rent in 30-day chunks.