Model Rental Ordinances for Surburban Towns

I live in a small, well-to-do, walk able, non-university, suburban community in Michigan. With the economic crisis in Michigan our town has a growing problem of houses going unsold and people not living in them. Since 2000, rentals have increased 32 percent and now almost 6% of all homes have rental permits. The actual number of rentals is probably higher and growing. Current city ordinances are practically useless in the enforcement of rental properties.

Concerns have been raised concerning the number of non-related occupants in a rental property, traffic and parking concerns, maintenance concerns, and other topics. We do not have a concern with trying to regulate rental rates. We are concerned with the challenges from non-owner occupied housing.

We would like to proactively deal with our growing rental and vacant housing prior to it becoming a serious problem.

Are there “model” ordinances or examples that our town should consider adopting?