Airbnb Legal 101: How Katie Johnson Took on a Township and What It Means for You

Are you an Airbnb host or short-term rental investor wondering what legal pitfalls could derail your entire business? In this must-listen episode, I sit down with powerhouse attorney and STR host Katie Johnson—who’s not just navigating the short-term rental industry, she’s on the front lines fighting to protect it.

What began as a side hustle hosting on Airbnb quickly escalated into a legal battle when her Michigan township tried to shut down vacation rentals with a sweeping ban. Katie shares her eye-opening journey from new Airbnb host to legal advocate for over 100 property owners—and why this fight could affect every short-term rental operator across the country.

We’re talking:

• The biggest legal mistakes Airbnb hosts and STR investors make
• Why surface-level research isn’t enough when buying a short-term rental property
• How deed restrictions and local zoning laws can quietly kill your cash flow
• And why having a STR-savvy real estate attorney is no longer optional

Katie is on a mission to educate, empower, and protect Airbnb hosts and vacation rental owners who feel like they’re at the mercy of shifting regulations. This episode isn’t just about legal fine print—it’s about defending your right to host, protecting your real estate investment, and understanding the legal foundation your STR business must be built on.If you’re serious about growing a profitable, long-term Airbnb business, this legal deep dive is your non-negotiable wake-up call. Don’t miss it. HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:19] A short introduction about our guest Katie Johnson and how she got started in the short term rental space

[04:22] What is a Deed Restriction and why should short term rental owners be on the lookout for them

[07:05] Michigan’s interpretation of residential zoning in relation to rental types

[08:04] What should you do if you encounter unclear language in a Deed Restriction or zoning rule

[08:54] Katie explains how deed restrictions are typically created and is there a way to get it removed

[11:05] Katie weighs the risks of self-research versus hiring an attorney for deed restrictions

[14:01] Katie shares her firsthand experience challenging a short-term rental ban in Park Township, Michigan

[16:44] Katie outlines the process of organizing short-term rental owners in response to a local ban

[18:00] How the short-term rental owner coalition quickly scaled, structured funding, and secured major legal support

[22:18] Katie outlines the ideal mix of skills and roles needed to build an effective nonprofit board for STR advocacy

[24:52] Katie’s experience navigating post-lawsuit challenges to preserve STR rights in Park Township

[27:10] Katie’s shares her personal and professional transformation through STR litigation involvement

[29:33] What does Katie advise hosts who are facing similar scenarios involving local restrictions or ordinances

[32:37] Katie’s advice for women in STRs to protect themselves and their businesses

[34:49] The lightning round

Golden Nuggets:

• “Getting organized and banding together, finding an attorney, a local attorney, ideally, that knows the board or knows the town that you're dealing with to help you navigate through this process, is the best advice I can give anyone.”
• “Finding people who are doing the same things, finding people who are thinking big like you, that's been immensely helpful.”
• “If the numbers work, you should buy it like you can buy everything you can. So I wish I had started buying earlier.”
• “How you do anything is how you do everything.”

Let’s Connect!

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