Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Munising?

• Yes. Short-term rentals (STRs) are allowed in the City of Munising, but they are regulated as conditional uses in several zoning districts, subject to a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), site plan approval, and specific operational rules (occupancy, parking, lighting, signs, contact information, reporting, and annual re-affirmation).
• As of August 19–20, 2024, the City of Munising implemented a two-year moratorium on accepting new STR paperwork. Existing permitted STRs (including those with submitted applications before the moratorium’s effective date) are not affected. The City will use the moratorium period to reassess market conditions during its master plan update and a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA). Investors cannot obtain new City STR permits during the moratorium; they can, however, prepare assets and documentation for when the moratorium lifts.
• Munising Township (adjacent and separate jurisdiction) continues to issue “Vacation Rental” permits. These are distinct from City permits and are subject to different processes and criteria. Investors should not confuse City and Township requirements.

Key takeaway for investors:

• If your property is within the City of Munising, no new STR permits will be issued during the two-year moratorium. Existing permitted STRs can continue to operate. When the moratorium ends, expect a competitive environment with limited permits in certain districts due to caps.
• If your property is in Munising Township, you can proceed with a Vacation Rental permit ($50 fee), provided you meet Township standards, submit a site plan, and comply with occupancy and parking rules.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in this Market

City of Munising (short-term rentals; conditional use)

• Confirm zoning eligibility before applying. STRs are allowed as conditional uses in the following districts (with limits):
  • H-2 (Highland Two District): conditional use (cap of five STR permits in the district at any time).
  • D (Downtown District): conditional use, but only for upstairs and/or downstairs dwelling units where at least 50% of the ground floor is designed, built, or used as commercial space on the effective date of the ordinance.
  • T (Transitional District): conditional use (cap of ten STR permits in the district at any time).
  • LC (Lakefront Commercial): conditional use.
  • I-1 (Light Industrial): conditional use.
• Because a moratorium is in effect, do not submit new City applications at this time. Rather:
  • Identify potential sites in eligible zones (H-2, D, T, LC, I-1) and monitor City announcements for the end of the moratorium.
  • Assemble application materials in advance: preliminary and final “as-built” site plans, a floor plan with room sizes and uses, exterior exits and lawful egress windows, and the location of all fire extinguishers and exit signs.
  • Appoint and document a Local Contact Person (available 24/7, within 25 road miles, with full authority and access).
  • Confirm off-street parking spaces that meet Article IV (City Zoning Ordinance) requirements and are fully on the property.
  • Prepare operational documents: notice of City ordinances for tenants (Animals, Snowmobiles/ORVs, Noise, Open Burning, Blight) and posted emergency numbers (911, Munising Memorial Hospital, Alger County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Munising City Police).
  • Plan exterior maintenance and lighting that are residential in character (no overhead flood-type yard lighting; no STR signage).
  • Design advertisements to include the property’s street address or fire number (required by City ordinance).
  • Calendar the annual January 31 re-affirmation notice to the City.
• Note: No City permits will be accepted during the moratorium. Existing permitted STRs continue under their prior approvals.

Munising Township (vacation rentals)

• The Township issues Zoning Compliance Permits for Vacation Rentals. There is no moratorium mentioned.
• Complete the application, pay the $50 fee to Munising Township, and mail to the Zoning Administrator.
• Provide the 24-hour contact person and travel time to the rental property.
• Submit a site plan (see site plan standards below). A site plan is required for any new use or change in use.
• Ensure off-street parking is entirely on-site (garage, driveway, or other improved area).
• Acknowledge annual January 31 notice requirement for continued use; permits expire if the property is not used as a vacation rental for two consecutive years.
• The Township may set a maximum number of vacation rentals by resolution; verify current caps before applying.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

City of Munising — Short-Term Rentals

• Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application (subject to zoning district eligibility).
• Preliminary site plan (identifying any improvements to be made).
• Final “as-built” site plan (must not depart materially from the preliminary plan).
• Floor plan showing:
  • Room sizes and uses.
  • All exterior exits (including lawful egress windows).
  • Location of fire extinguishers and exit signs.
• Identification and contact details for the Local Contact Person.
• Proof of off-street parking compliance (Article IV; all parking within the property boundaries).
• Posting materials for tenants:
  • City ordinances: Animals, Snowmobiles/ORVs, Noise, Open Burning, Blight (keep legible copies on-site).
  • Emergency numbers: 911, Munising Memorial Hospital, Alger County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Munising City Police.
• Annual re-affirmation letter by January 31 each year to the City.
• Advertising must include the property’s street address or fire number.

Munising Township — Vacation Rentals

• Zoning Compliance Permit Application (Vacation Rental), $50 fee payable to Munising Township.
• 24-hour contact person details and travel time to the property.
• Number of bedrooms (occupancy cap: two per bedroom plus up to four additional occupants on the premises).
• Pet policy confirmation (if pets are allowed, they must be secured or leashed).
• Parking plan (diagram preferred; off-street and entirely on-site).
• Site plan (see site plan standards below).
• Annual January 31 notice to the Zoning Administrator; permit expires if not used for two consecutive years.

Site Plan Standards (both City and Township contexts)

• Legal description of the site; lot lines and dimensions.
• Roads and easements.
• Existing and proposed buildings labeled with their uses.
• Distances between buildings and lot lines; building dimensions.
• Natural features affecting development (rock, water bodies).
• Well and septic locations (if applicable).
• North arrow and scale.
• For commercial/industrial/multiple-family developments, provide six copies including:
  • Utility services and adequacy.
  • Topographic map indicating surface water and drainage patterns.
  • Snow storage location and resulting drainage.
  • Screening for loading/unloading and outside storage areas facing residential properties or public thoroughfares.
• Exterior lighting arranged to avoid adverse impacts to adjacent properties.

Specific Regulations: Short-Term Rentals in City, Township, and Contextual State Requirements

City of Munising — Operational Requirements and Limits

• Definitions:
  • Short-term Rental: A dwelling unit or group of rooms forming a single habitable space with sleeping, cooking, eating, and bathing facilities, rented on a daily, weekly, or other basis for less than 30 days per rental period. STRs are not bed and breakfasts, motels/hotels, or boarding houses. STRs may be apartments, two-family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, or upper-floor commercial dwellings.
  • Bedroom: Not smaller than 100 square feet, with four walls, a heat run, an egress window, and a door.
  • Local Contact Person: Available 24/7, residing at the STR or within 25 road miles, with full access and authority over the property.
• Zoning and Permitting:
  • STRs are conditional uses in H-2, D, T, LC, and I-1 districts.
  • H-2: cap of five STR permits at any given time.
  • T: cap of ten STR permits at any given time.
  • D: allowed only for upstairs/downstairs dwelling units where ≥50% of the ground floor is designed, built, or used for commercial space.
  • LC and I-1: conditional use without numeric caps specified.
  • No CUP for any building with more than four dwelling units; buildings with >4 units cannot use any dwelling unit as an STR.
• Operational Rules:
  • Off-street parking within the property boundaries, compliant with Article IV.
  • Occupancy cap: number of bedrooms multiplied by 3.
  • Outdoor events limited to allowed occupants.
  • Exterior/grounds must maintain harmony with the neighborhood; STRs must not be readily apparent from the exterior.
  • No overhead flood-type yard lighting; safety lighting at entryways permitted if consistent with neighborhood character.
  • No STR advertising signs on the property.
  • Advertisements must include the property’s street address or fire number.
  • Compliance with Building Codes, Fire Codes, City Water and Sewer Ordinance, and health regulations of the Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft District Health Department.
  • Violations of these codes/ordinances constitute a violation of the STR ordinance.
• Site Plan Filing and Annual Reporting:
  • File preliminary and final site plans (final must match preliminary in all material ways).
  • Provisional CUP may be issued based on preliminary plan; CUP rescinded if final plan is not filed or departs materially.
  • Existing STRs on the ordinance’s effective date had 90 days to file a compliant site plan.
  • False/misleading site plan information is a violation.
  • By January 31 each year, notify the City whether the property will be used as an STR that calendar year; non-use for two consecutive years causes the permit to expire.
• Penalties and Enforcement:
  • City Police Department can issue civil infraction citations; City Attorney prosecutes them.
  • Operator and owner are jointly and severally liable for civil fines and costs.
  • Requirements are deemed conditions of the permit; violations can lead to revocation.
  • Any third violation in a calendar year triggers Planning Commission revocation of the CUP.
  • STR operated in violation is “maintained” in violation of City Zoning Ordinance §1404(C).

Munising Township — Vacation Rental Rules

• Permit: Zoning Compliance Permit for Vacation Rental; $50 fee.
• Contact: Identify a 24-hour contact person with travel time to the property.
• Occupancy: Maximum of two occupants per bedroom plus up to four additional occupants on the premises.
• Parking: All parking must be off-street and entirely within the property (garage, driveway, or other improved area).
• Pets: If allowed, pets must be secured on the premises or on a leash at all times.
• Courtesy: All occupants must practice courtesy to neighbors regarding noise and activity.
• Annual Reporting: By January 31 each year, notify the Zoning Administrator whether the property will be used as a vacation rental; two consecutive years of non-use causes the permit to expire.
• Caps: The Township Board may establish a maximum number of vacation rentals by resolution.

Contextual State-Level Notes (Michigan)

• Building and fire safety: STRs must comply with State Building Code and Fire Code requirements as adopted by the City/Township.
• Health and sanitation: STRs must comply with Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft District Health Department regulations (sewage disposal, water, sanitation).
• Michigan’s Safety Housing Act and fire safety standards (e.g., working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, egress windows in bedrooms) are commonly enforced through local building and fire officials; confirm local adoption and inspection requirements.
• Taxation: Michigan’s Transient Registration Tax (TRT), administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, requires lodging providers to register and collect tax; local bed taxes may also apply through Alger County or other local authorities. Investors should verify current tax registration and collection obligations with the Michigan Department of Treasury and the local tax administrator.

Contact Information (Phone, Email, Website)

City of Munising (for STRs)

• City of Munising (General)
  • Website: cityofmunising.org
  • Mailing Address: City of Munising, 301 E Superior St, Munising, MI 49862
  • Phone: Not provided in the cited sources
• Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator (City)
  • Contact through the City of Munising
  • Permit/Hearing inquiries routed through City Hall
• Police and Emergency Numbers (as required postings)
  • 911 (Emergency)
  • Munising Memorial Hospital
  • Alger County Sheriff’s Department
  • Michigan State Police
  • Munising City Police

Munising Township (for Vacation Rentals)

• Munising Township Zoning Administrator
  • Mailing Address: Township of Munising, PO Box 190, Wetmore, MI 49895
  • Phone: (906) 387-4404
  • Email: muntwpza@gmail.com
  • Application Fee: $50 (check payable to Munising Township)

Penalties, Enforcement, and Compliance Risks

• City of Munising:
  • Civil infractions enforced by City Police; City Attorney prosecutes.
  • Operator and owner are jointly and severally liable for fines and sanctions.
  • Violations can result in revocation of the Conditional Use Permit; a third violation in a calendar year triggers mandatory revocation.
  • False or misleading site plan information is a violation.
  • Operating a STR without a final site plan, or after a CUP is rescinded, is a violation.
• Munising Township:
  • Zoning compliance is enforced under the Township Zoning Ordinance; site plan review standards are mandatory.
  • Failure to meet site plan requirements or annual reporting can result in permit denial or expiration after two consecutive years of non-use.
• Code Compliance:
  • Violations of State Building/Fire Codes, City Water/Sewer Ordinance, or health regulations are also violations of the STR ordinance, carrying the penalties described above.

Key Limits, Caps, and Distinctive Rules

City of Munising

• Cap: H-2 (5 permits), T (10 permits); D, LC, I-1: conditional use without numeric caps in the ordinance.
• No STRs in buildings with >4 dwelling units.
• No STR signs; advertisements must include the street address or fire number.
• Occupancy: Bedrooms × 3.
• Lighting: No overhead flood-type yard lighting.
• Site Plans: Preliminary and final “as-built” required; must be materially consistent.

Munising Township

• Occupancy: Two per bedroom plus four additional occupants.
• Parking: Off-street and entirely on-site.
• Annual notice: January 31 each year.

What Investors Should Do Now

• City of Munising:
  • Prepare property portfolios and pre-assemble application packets for when the moratorium lifts. Pre-qualify sites in eligible districts (H-2, D, T, LC, I-1). Factor the limited caps in H-2 and T into acquisition and underwriting.
  • Secure a Local Contact Person and codify tenant documentation and emergency postings.
  • Ensure off-street parking is fully on-site and compliant with City standards.
  • Align exterior lighting and signage with residential norms; plan for no STR advertising signage.
  • Build a governance calendar for the January 31 annual notice and monitor City communications regarding the end of the moratorium and HNA outcomes.
• Munising Township:
  • Proceed with Vacation Rental permits if assets are within Township boundaries; file site plans that satisfy Township standards.
  • Document occupancy limits and parking diagrams; set pet policies and enforce them.
  • Submit the annual January 31 letter; track two-year non-use rule to avoid permit expiration.

Source Pages

• City of Munising STR Ordinance 2019-1 (short-term rental definitions, conditional use, operational rules, CUP, site plans, penalties,