Council adopts stricter short‑term rental ban with fines up to $5,000

The Dearborn Heights City Council voted on Sept. 9 to adopt Ordinance H2502, tightening prohibitions on certain short‑term rentals and raising civil penalties for hosts and marketing entities.

Councilman Hassan Ahmad moved the ordinance at second reading, and the council approved it after debate over enforcement resources. The ordinance language raises potential fines — the adopted text includes a $5,000 maximum fine for hosts found operating prohibited short‑term rentals and a $1,000 penalty for marketing violations. "If an officer walks up and finds out that this is a short‑term rental, it is a $5,000 fine onto the host," Council Chair said during debate.

Opponents warned that the city must have capacity to enforce the new rules. Councilman Andre Wenzel said the city needed ordinance officers specifically assigned to monitor rental properties and questioned whether fines could be collected without adequate enforcement. Administration and legal counsel noted that the city had recently sworn in additional ordinance officers and that enforcement would involve police on weekends together with the ordinance team. Attorney Gary Miyake reviewed statutory authority and cited precedent indicating municipalities can regulate such land‑use activity; he advised the $1,000/$5,000 penalties were supportable under the Home Rule City Act and municipal civil infraction provisions.

Council members said the ordinance responds to residents’ concerns about noise, grass and quality‑of‑life impacts. "This is a law. It's a law that was done properly. The time is now," the council chair said. The motion carried by voice vote.

What’s next: Administration will publicize the new rule to residents, assign enforcement responsibility to ordinance officers and the police department, and pursue grant support and staffing to sustain enforcement over time.