Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Michiana adopts stricter short-term rental ordinance, lifts moratorium effective Jan. 1
Summary
The Village of Michiana voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2025-02, capping licensed short‑term rentals at 40, tightening occupancy and enforcement rules, increasing fines, and setting a Jan.1–Mar.15 renewal window; the moratorium on new rentals will lift Jan. 1, 2026.
The Village of Michiana council unanimously adopted an amended Short‑Term Rental ordinance (Ordinance 2025‑02) at its Dec. 12 meeting and voted to lift the moratorium on rentals effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Council President Tim McCarthy read the ordinance changes during the first reading and the council approved the second reading and adoption on a subsequent motion. Major changes include a cap of 40 licensed STRs in the village; an annual renewal window from Jan. 1 through March 15; a right of first refusal for prior-year participants; and a $100 nonrefundable waiting-list fee for new applicants. The council also tied occupancy limits to the number of legal bedrooms and Marion County Health Department septic-capacity limits and established a seasonally higher minimum rental length: a seven-night minimum between May 1 and Sept. 30 and a two-night minimum outside that season.
Enforcement provisions were strengthened: police and the building commissioner are given ordinance-defined authority to issue citations, fines are significantly increased for repeat violations, and specific operational requirements were added for garbage and recycling (bins must be pulled at least 10 feet off the street within 24 hours) and parking (vehicles on lawns or easements will trigger citations). The ordinance also bans marijuana use and fireworks at STR properties and prohibits “rental stacking” (back-to-back short bookings that would circumvent the minimum-stay rule).
During public comment, residents raised concerns about allocation and grandfathering of already-booked 2026 reservations. One Lakeshore Drive owner said their 2026 calendar is fully booked through an online platform that penalizes cancellations at 50 percent; council said the village does not intend to punish compliant long-time operators but reiterated that no one has a legal right to rent in 2026 without a valid 2026 permit under the new ordinance. Village Attorney Sara Senica said the village will work internally to review how to address preexisting contracts.
The council approved the ordinance and lifted the moratorium by unanimous vote. Tim McCarthy moved to approve the second reading and lift the moratorium; Mike Botelho seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The final ordinance includes language the attorney and council said is structured for future flexibility.
