What are some other tips for looking at property in East Lansing?
  • Many single family houses have deed restrictions on them that prohibit them from being rented. A list is provided on the East Lansing web page you can also call the Planning, Building & Development Department or Assessor's Office to find out if a property you are looking at is deed restricted.
  • Some areas of the City have a zoning overlay district that either prohibits new rental licenses or limits them to owner occupied only. This is something that can change at any given time, so call either Planning, Building & Development Department to find out if the house is in an overlay district, or if any overlay ordinances are pending.
  • If you call someone at the City to get information, write down the name of the person you speak to.
  • If you are looking at a property that does not have a rental license and you intend to apply for a license, keep in mind that you are applying and many factors go into the process of applying for a license. You cannot rent property prior to a license being granted.
  • Once you apply for a rental license the process generally will take a minimum of 2 months and more commonly it is 3 to 4 months.
  • Different rules apply to initial rental license applications for condominiums. See Policy Resolution 2002-8.

Show All Answers

1. If I buy a house, can my child or children live in it without me?
2. If I buy a house, can my child and a roommate live in it without me?
3. My child buys the house with me and is on the deed as a co owner. I will not be living there and my child wants one roommate?
4. My child buys the house with me and is on the deed as a co owner. I will not be living there and my child wants two roommates?
5. Two siblings buy a house and one or both are on the deed as co owners and want a roommate?
6. Three or more siblings buy a house and either one, two or all three are on the deed as co-owners and want to have an unrelated roommate?
7. Three people are all owners of the property and all three live there?
8. Four unrelated people (meaning at least one who is not related to all others) are all owners of the property and all four live at the house with ownership equity of 25 percent or more?
9. My sibling and I buy a house and we each want our children to live there together?
10. What are some other tips for looking at property in East Lansing?