Judge throws out lawsuit over Park Township’s Airbnb ban

PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A judge has sided with Park Township and dismissed a lawsuit from a group of property owners who sued for the right to continue renting out their homes on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.

Ottawa County Circuit Court Judge Jon Hulsing on Thursday dismissed the lawsuit, saying the court lacks jurisdiction in the case, according to a court filing provided to News 8 by Park Township Neighbors, the nonprofit made up mostly of short-term rental owners who sued the township.

The core issue of the case was whether the township’s 1974 zoning ordinance banned residential-area short term rentals (properties rented for under 28 days), meaning the STR owners have been operating illegally. Park Township Neighbors argued township officials previously told property owners that STRs were legal, while the township said the 1974 ordinance bans STRs in residential areas.

Suing to keep Airbnbs open, Park Township owners tout value

Following decisions in 2022 and 2023 that…