🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Atlas Township, MI
Short-Term Rentals Divided the Atlas Board - STRs Officially Off The Table for Now
Atlas Township Pulls the Plug on Short-Term Rentals
On Monday night, the Atlas Township Board of Trustees made a big call: short-term rentals (STRs) are officially off the table—at least for now. In a 3-2 vote, trustees decided to ban rentals of fewer than 30 days, sending a ripple of relief for some residents and frustration for others.
Supervisor Jim Busch, Treasurer Ann Marie Moore, and Trustee Pat Major voted in favor of the ban. On the other side, Clerk Toni Yaklin and Trustee Tracy Butcher wanted to allow STRs, albeit with limits and regulations.
So, what’s next? The township’s planning commission now has to draft an ordinance that puts this ban into writing. Township attorney David Lattie explained that leaders could take several approaches: an outright ban across the whole township, a full approval with regulations, or a hybrid model that allows STRs only in specific zones. For now, though, the board majority leaned toward “no.”
STRisker Document Analysis
Finding the right compliance documents shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack - STRisker’s Documents Analysis is built to simplify your life, offering instant access to hundreds of thousands of documents from thousands of cities across the US.
At the heart of the debate is a familiar story playing out across Michigan. Trustee Major, who lives on Lake Shinanguag, said short-term rentals have “destroyed communities” up north and warned that land prices around lakes have tripled where STRs dominate. For her, banning them upfront is better than struggling to manage problems later.
Yaklin and Butcher saw things differently. Yaklin suggested that limitations—not a blanket ban—would be the smarter route. Butcher agreed, saying she was open to regulations but opposed to a zoning “map” that picks winners and losers.
The discussion in Atlas is happening against the backdrop of Michigan’s broader policy struggles. House Bill 5438, introduced two years ago, aimed to create a statewide STR database, allow local regulation, and even add a 6% excise tax to help municipalities cover tourism costs. That bill stalled earlier this year, but lawmakers could revive similar ideas down the road.
Without statewide rules, towns like Atlas are left to figure out their own approach. Some communities welcome STRs as a way to boost tourism and local revenue. Others, like Atlas, see them as a threat to community character and affordability.
For now, Atlas Township residents can expect to see an ordinance drafted that bans STRs altogether. But given the split vote and the growing state conversation, this debate is far from over.
Stay Updated with STRisker
STRisker offers tools and features to keep you updated with the Short-Term Rental movement across the U.S.
👍 We’d love your feedback.
We're always looking for ways to improve Bulletins.
Was this one useful to you? Other topics you'd like to see get covered?
✉️ Just reply directly to this email. We read and respond to every message!
-Will McClure
🙋 P.S.
Know someone else who should be reading this Bulletin? Feel free to forward this along. We want to make sure operators and stakeholders are aware of regulatory changes in their area.