Alpena, Michigan

Short-term rentals are legal in the City of Alpena, but the regulatory landscape changed sharply in 2026. On March 19, 2026, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 26-517, a one-year moratorium blocking any new STR registrations. Only the 56 units already registered as of March 1, 2026 may continue operating and renew; new registrations are blocked while a subcommittee studies numeric caps, a local business-permit process, and recurring inspections. The city cited a 0.4% rental vacancy rate and a broader housing availability crisis as its motivation, and a 2025 Master Plan survey found majority support among residents for numeric caps (55%), a business-permit process (57%), and recurring inspections (69%).

Outside the moratorium’s freeze on new registrations, the underlying framework requires every STR to enroll in the city’s Rental Registration Program, pass a housing-standards inspection before any occupancy, and match the property’s zoning designation. Owners living outside Alpena County and more than 20 miles from the city must designate a local agent. Buyers of an existing registered rental have 30 days to re-register at no fee, but a property without existing registration cannot be newly registered as an STR while the moratorium is in effect.

On taxes, Michigan levies a 6% state use tax on lodging, and a local accommodation tax may also apply, though no city-specific STR lodging-tax rate was confirmed in this data set. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Enforcement is rated moderate. Investors should treat the moratorium as the controlling fact for any Alpena STR purchase decision until the city’s review concludes.