Airbnbs Banned in Lake Community Near Ann Arbor

Dexter Township Bans Short-Term Rentals Across the Board

In a decisive move, Dexter Township, located northwest of Ann Arbor, has officially prohibited all short-term vacation rentals, including those offered through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. This decision marks the end of a year-long debate over how to regulate these types of rentals and their potential impact on the community.

The township’s Board of Trustees recently rejected proposals that would have allowed short-term rentals under certain conditions. They also lifted a temporary hold on enforcing the existing zoning ordinance, which already bans such rentals. The new stance means that all properties in Dexter Township are now off-limits for short-term rental operations.

Currently, there are 13 known short-term rentals operating in the area, according to local officials. At one point, as many as two dozen of these rentals were active. However, with the new policy in place, property owners who currently operate under this model may need to find alternative uses for their homes.

One notable case involved a couple from Pinckney, Amy and Jeffery Bennett, who purchased a home on Portage Lake and converted it into a short-term rental without realizing it was not permitted. After a neighbor filed a complaint and the township issued a citation, the Bennetts asked the township to consider allowing their operation in lake districts, referencing rules from neighboring Hamburg Township. However, the board ultimately rejected this proposal, stating that even if Hamburg’s regulations had been adopted, the Bennetts’ property likely wouldn’t have met the requirements.

This outcome led the township to form a committee to explore possible regulatory options for short-term rentals. The proposed rules from the committee would have effectively eliminated the current 13 rentals, but the board did not support them. In July, the planning commission had recommended only allowing such rentals on commercial or agricultural zoned properties, which would have excluded lakeside residential areas. The board also turned down this option, citing concerns about using taxpayer funds to support commercial rental activities.

Another challenge faced by the township was determining whether the cost of enforcing any new regulations could be covered by licensing fees. Officials concluded that the limited number of qualifying properties made it impractical to cover enforcement costs through fees alone.

Dexter Township Supervisor Lonnie Scott acknowledged the complexity of the issue and thanked the community for their input and patience during the process. “This is a complex issue, and we will continue discussions about what might work for our unique township,” he said. “For now, we have decided to stick with our current ordinance, which does not allow short-term rentals in Dexter Township.”

While the decision is final for now, the township has indicated that it will continue to review the situation and explore potential solutions that align with the needs of residents and the community. For now, the ban on short-term rentals remains in effect across the entire township.