LANSING - Legislation to allow short-term rentals in all residential zones was introduced in both the House and Senate in April of this year. House Bill 4503 and Senate Bill 329 mirror each other in language, giving homeowners the control to rent out their homes without local government regulation.

Meridian Township's Township Manager, Frank Walsh wrote in a memo to the Board, "Two bills have been introduced into the Michigan House of Representatives and State Senate aimed at limiting local control over short-term rentals."

While sponsors, Senator Hune and Senator Sheppard, believe in their bill, the Michigan Association of Planning, also known as MAP, says 'removing the ability of local government to regulate Short Term Rentals is a bad policy."

Jeffifer Rigterink, a legislative associate for the League handling economic development and land use, wrote "This is having a detrimental impact on quality of life. "

According to Rigterink, short-term rentals lead to a decrease in enrollment in neighborhood schools, they allow homes to "go dark" for part of the year and have the potential to remove affordable housing.

At the Township Board meeting on Tuesday, May 16, the Board unanimously voted to oppose both House Bill 4503 and Senate Bill 329. Asking to leave control over residential rentals to local instead of state government.