In Michigan, we live in a home rule state—which means that all 1,773 municipalities have the authority to regulate land use and short-term rentals as they see fit. There is no single, statewide rulebook. Instead, short-term rental owners and operators must navigate a patchwork of local ordinances, zoning interpretations, and evolving policy conversations.
At MiSTRA, advocacy is one core part of our broader mission to support and strengthen Michigan’s short-term rental ecosystem. Alongside our focus on education, community, and responsible business practices, we believe that supporting STR owners and operators in local advocacy is essential to protecting fair and balanced regulation.
But doing this effectively takes more than passion—it takes structure, strategy, and shared knowledge.
Why Advocacy Is Challenging in Michigan
Because every community has the right to make its own rules, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work here. What’s happening in Traverse City might look very different from what’s happening in Saugatuck, or in small rural townships across the Upper Peninsula. Hosts and property managers face unique pressures, timelines, and political climates depending on where they operate.
To meet this challenge, MiSTRA has been building both the tools and the support system to empower local voices. We believe that STR operators are most successful when they are equipped to communicate clearly, show up respectfully, and offer thoughtful alternatives to blanket restrictions.
Here’s how we’re making that happen.
Tools for Advocacy in Action
We’ve introduced a suite of tools and resources designed to support members at every stage of engagement:
- The MiSTRA Advocacy Playbook & Tools
A practical, easy-to-follow guide to speaking at township meetings, responding to proposed ordinances, and articulating the value of STRs in your local economy. (Members will find these in the online member forum) - Monthly ALAC Open Forums
Hosted by our Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Committee, these sessions are designed to keep members informed about regulatory trends across the state and foster shared learning.
Now Forming: The MiSTRA Advocacy Council
In 2025, we’re taking the next step: forming a statewide Advocacy Council.
This council will bring together a network of dedicated STR owners and operators from across Michigan’s diverse regions, with the goal of strengthening communication between local areas and the state level, and providing strategic insight that helps us prioritize our collective advocacy work.
The role of the Advocacy Council will include:
- Representing the unique concerns and opportunities within your region
- Sharing real-time insights from on-the-ground conversations and ordinance proposals
- Helping to shape MiSTRA’s legislative positions and advocacy focus
- Supporting members in neighboring communities with tools, strategy, and encouragement
What it Takes
Our dedicated volunteer board has been showing up at local township meetings after meeting. I personally had one meeting canceled and rescheduled – gratefully, since there were two in my region that same night. It is…exhausting.
To do the work we need in our state effectively, we need a much larger team that has or can build a network within the various regions around the state to help facilitate information sharing and where necessary, coordinate efforts.
By distributing the work – and doing so systematically, we can begin to make more headway in our messaging, efforts, and ideally begin to shift the tide. And we can do it without burning out – a key consideration in advocacy work.
Why You Should Apply
If you’re someone who wants to do more than react to regulation—someone who believes in protecting property rights, supporting tourism economies, and ensuring STRs are a part of the housing and travel conversation in a reasonable, responsible way—we want you to apply.
Whether you’re a one-property host or manage a portfolio, your perspective matters. Together, we are stronger—and better equipped to help ensure that Michigan remains a state where short-term rentals can thrive responsibly.