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At Wednesday’s Houghton City Council meeting, the body is expected to consider a resolution decrying House Bill 4722. The proposed legislation could severely curtail the ability of municipalities to regulate short-term rentals like AirBNB and VRBO properties. It also could threaten to undo recent ordinances aimed at ensuring minimum quality standards for college rentals that have begun to be enforced in both Houghton and Hancock.
4722 has passed the state House and is being introduced into the state Senate as Bill 446. State Senator Ed McBroom says it could be weeks or months until the bill is ready for a vote.
Its House counterpart was subject to a long process of delays and revisions. McBroom says he is hearing from constituents on all sides of the issue.
Local officials are nearly unanimous in their opposition. You can read the views of Hancock’s John Haeussler and Houghton Manager Eric Waara here.
Resolution 2021-1827 reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the City of Houghton receives a substantial number of visitors and tourists requiring a range of lodging options; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Houghton works to protect and enhance its residential neighborhoods while balancing the needs and wants of visitors; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted an ordinance regulating short-term rentals in 2021 to protect the interests and quality of life for residents and businesses; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Houghton believes that local governments are best positioned to know the unique needs of a community and determine the delicate balance between residential and commercial uses, and between residents and investment property owners; and,
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 446 and House Bill 4722 would eliminate the ability of local governments to regulate short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, House Bill 4722 was passed by the House on November 2, 2021 and sent to the Senate.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Houghton City Council, in an effort to retain local control over the ability of local governments to regulate the short-term rental of residential properties, opposes Senate Bill 446 and House Bill 4722 and urges its representatives to do the same.
