Birmingham commissioners unanimously approved a short-term rental ban Monday, Oct. 19, with existing licensed properties allowed to continue until their licenses expire.
The commission amended the city’s zoning ordinance and rental regulations, according to WDIV. The station quoted the adopted language as prohibiting rental units from being advertised, listed or rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
The decision follows months of debate that intensified after an April shooting connected to a party at a rental property on East Lincoln Street. Police found bullet holes in four homes and two vehicles, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
The commission had temporarily halted new short-term rental licenses while officials reviewed possible changes. That moratorium was nearing expiration when commissioners acted.
The ban takes effect seven days after approval. Existing short-term rental licenses remain valid until April 15, 2027, but will not be renewed, according to WXYZ’s post-meeting report.
Residents spoke both for and against the proposal at Monday’s meeting.
Birmingham resident Carter Drewry described concerns about the changing guests at a neighboring rental, WXYZ reported. She said she had not known the property operated as a short-term rental when she moved in.
Karen Wilson of the Greater Metropolitan Association of Realtors opposed the ban. According to WXYZ, she argued that the city should regulate problem properties rather than prohibit responsible operators from offering short-term lodging.
Mayor Clinton Baller described the April shooting as a major incident in an interview with WXYZ before the vote. He said the issue involved both public safety and neighborhood character.
