Northville

Two places, two codes

The City of Northville and Northville Township each run their own zoning code.[1, 3] The City's zoning ordinance includes text amendments through July 2026, and the Township's code on eCode360 is current to Aug 20, 2026.[1, 3] Check which one the address is in before you rely on anything here.

No short-term rental rules found

We found no rule on short-term rentals, vacation rentals or Airbnb in the City's zoning ordinance.[3] The Township's zoning definitions cover bed and breakfast inns, hotels and motels, dwelling units and families, but not short-term rentals, vacation rentals or tourist homes.[8] Its general legislation has no chapter on rentals or lodging.[4]

Unlisted uses

In the Township, uses not expressly permitted are prohibited.[1] If a use isn't listed in any district, you apply to the Planning Commission for a similar-use decision.[9] The City's R-1 rules say no one may use a building, structure or land except as the district lists.[3]

Residential districts

The Township's R-1 to R-4 districts are intended for single-family detached houses and related facilities serving residents of the district.[10]

Township bed and breakfast route

A bed and breakfast inn must be the operator's principal residence, so an operator who lives elsewhere doesn't fit.[2] One nonresident employee is allowed, and meals and services can go only to residents, employees and overnight guests.[2]

City bed and breakfast route

The City allows bed and breakfast accommodations as a special land use in the R-1A, R-1B and R-2 districts and by right in R-3 and R-4.[3] No transient guest can stay more than 30 consecutive days or more than 60 days total in any one year.[3] Sleeping rooms are capped at the least of 50% of the bedrooms or 25% of the floor area, up to eight rooms.[3]

Home occupation route

Only residents of the dwelling unit may be engaged in a home occupation, and up to two clients or customers may be present at any time.[2] Activities are limited to products or services produced within the dwelling.[2]

Township bed and breakfast standards

Parking can't be in the required front yard and must sit at least 50 feet from an adjacent residential district or use.[2] The appearance must be consistent with surrounding homes.[2]

Home occupation standards

Parking must be in a paved driveway, and the work can't create noise, dust, vibration, smell, smoke, glare or other nuisance.[2] Home occupations are limited to 25% of the house's floor area or 50% of an accessory structure.[2]

Township business registration

The Township requires anyone who runs a business, meaning any activity operated for profit, to register with the Clerk and pay a fee that the Board sets each year.[5] We did not confirm whether the Township applies this to short-term rentals.

No short-term rental rules found

We found no Township or City rules on guest limits, permit numbers in listings, insurance or a local contact for short-term rentals, because neither zoning code defines them.[3, 8] The City's online code, codified through an ordinance enacted Sep 5, 2024, has no chapter on rentals or lodging in its chapter list.[11]

State use tax

Michigan's use tax is 6%.[6] It covers rooms or lodging furnished by hotelkeepers, motel operators and others offering accommodations to the public, except rooms rented for a continuous period of more than 1 month.[7] The Treasury's sales and use tax page says use tax applies to hotel and motel accommodations.[12]

Short-term rental hosts

A Detroit City Council report says the 6% use tax includes people providing short-term rental accommodation rented for less than 1 month.[13]

Who collects

We found no Michigan source saying whether booking platforms collect this use tax for you, so confirm with Treasury before you rely on a platform.

Township zoning fines

Township zoning violations are municipal civil infractions: $300 plus costs for a first offense and $500 plus costs for each repeat offense.[14] Each day a violation continues after notice is a separate offense.[14]

Who enforces

Township officials investigate violations and can issue violation notices, stop-work orders and revoke permits.[14] You can appeal a Township decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 30 days.[15]

State zoning law

Under MCL 125.3207, a zoning ordinance can't have the effect of totally prohibiting a land use where there is a demonstrated need, unless no appropriate location exists or the use is unlawful.[16] The section doesn't name short-term rentals.[16]

State bills

Michigan House Bills 6026 and 6027 were introduced on June 2, 2026 and sent to the Government Operations committee.[17, 18] HB 6026 would set up a short-term rental registry and database, and HB 6027 would amend the zoning act section on total bans of a land use.[16, 17, 18] As of Oct 6, 2026, the last action listed on either page was June 3, 2026, and neither is law.[17, 18]