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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Michigan
  6. ·
  7. Iron Mountain

Iron Mountain

Moderate
MichiganUpdated Apr 17, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Iron Mountain requires all short-term rental operators to obtain an annual license from the City Clerk and pass a mandatory fire inspection. STRs are permitted in most residential and business zones but are subject to strict occupancy limits and a 1% city lodging fee.

Restriction level

Severity 21
Classification
Moderate
21
Severity

Why this classification

  • Standard permit fee: $150
  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Iron Mountain, you must first apply for a city license and have your property inspected for fire safety. The city allows these rentals in most residential areas, provided you don't exceed the occupancy limit (usually 2 people per bedroom plus 2). You will need to pay an annual fee of approximately $150 and collect a small local tax on top of the state sales tax.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$150
Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1You must pass a fire inspection before the license is issued.
  2. 2Iron Mountain enforces a strict occupancy limit based on bedroom count.
  3. 3A local 1% city lodging fee is required in addition to any county or state taxes.
  4. 4Guest registration logs must be maintained and available for inspection.
  5. 5The license must be renewed annually to avoid civil infraction fines.
  6. 6Verify your specific zone (R-1, R-2, etc.) as rules can vary by parcel.
  7. 7You must provide a local contact person who can respond to issues within 30 minutes.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility5 rules
  • Iron Mountain does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
  • Iron Mountain allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Apartments.
  • Iron Mountain: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements16 rules
  • Iron Mountain STR warning: Guest registration logs must be maintained and available for inspection.
  • Iron Mountain: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
  • Iron Mountain STR warning: You must pass a fire inspection before the license is issued.
Application process7 rules
  • Iron Mountain STR permit - Step 3: Submit License Application. File the Short-Term Rental License Application with the City Clerk. Required documents: Floor plan, Site plan, Insurance certificate. Time: 2 weeks. Cost: 150.
  • Iron Mountain STR permit - Step 2: Initial Fire Inspection. Schedule a fire safety inspection with the Iron Mountain Fire Department. Time: 1 week.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Iron Mountain charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).
Taxes3 rules
  • MI has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Iron Mountain charges a City Lodging Fee of 0.01%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Hosts are generally responsible for remitting local fees manually.
  • Iron Mountain: A local 1% city lodging fee is required in addition to any county or state taxes.
Limits & restrictions5 rules
  • Iron Mountain limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Iron Mountain: Iron Mountain enforces a strict occupancy limit based on bedroom count.
  • Iron Mountain occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Iron Mountain limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional
Safety requirements2 rules
  • Iron Mountain: You must pass a fire inspection before the license is issued.
  • Iron Mountain requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress plan posted in each sleeping room, Working landline or local cell service accessible.
Penalties3 rules
  • Iron Mountain enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1,000 fine. Third offense: License revocation. Daily fine: Each day of violation is a separate offense. Permit may be revoked for violations.
  • Iron Mountain: The license must be renewed annually to avoid civil infraction fines.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Iron Mountain: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Iron Mountain exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Iron Mountain

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Zoning

Confirm your property is located in an R-1, R-2, R-3, or B zone.

1 dayFree
Step 2

Initial Fire Inspection

Schedule a fire safety inspection with the Iron Mountain Fire Department.

1 week
Step 3

Submit License Application

File the Short-Term Rental License Application with the City Clerk.

2 weeks$150
Documents needed
  • Floor plan
  • Site plan
  • Insurance certificate
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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