Residents urge council to revisit short‑term rental rules amid noise, parking and trash complaints

Several residents asked the Michigan City Common Council on May 6 to revisit and strengthen the city’s short‑term rental ordinance, saying current rules lack enforcement teeth and that large rentals are producing noise, parking shortages and excessive trash in older residential neighborhoods.

Vivian Ott, who lives on Felton Street, asked the council to “revisit this ordinance and perhaps…put some more teeth into it” to address recurring problems she said are harming neighborhood quality of life. Diane Vo, a Fogarty Street resident, described large rental units “that supposedly sleep 20 to 30 people a piece,” and said neighbors have experienced underage drinking, loud late‑night noise and behavior she characterized as “party central.”

Angie Longoria, who said she owns short‑term rentals in the same neighborhood, described trash and late‑night noise and urged rules that protect long‑term residents’ quality of life. Jane McDonald said rental trash often overflows bins and attracts vermin; she suggested fines when police or sanitation are called and raised the possibility of requiring short‑term rental operators to arrange extra trash collection during peak occupancy.

Council members and staff did not take immediate regulatory action that evening. Councilman Colton said the complaints resemble recurring seasonal problems and expressed interest in hosting a workshop to explore options and the council’s legal limits for local regulation. Residents asked for clearer occupancy limits, stricter enforcement, and immediate remedies such as required private trash pickup for large rentals and fines tied to police responses.