It would allow short-term rentals to be regulated but not banned By May 8, 2021 Legislation being considered in the Michigan Legislature would help homeowners who rent out their dwellings on a short-term basis by establishing in state zoning law that short-term renting is an allowable residential use of property, not a commercial one. By doing so, it would keep local governments from banning short-term rentals. Renting out one’s home or the family cottage has been, in some case, a generations-long activity, one that has become more popular with online services such as Airbnb and VBRO. But cities and townships across Michigan have begun banning people from doing it.