Baroda Township

LTRs (30+ day leases) are governed by Rental Ordinance #36 and are permitted wherever the underlying residential use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance ^[1]. The ordinance applies to “any residential dwelling” — single-family, two-family, and multiple-family — occupied for 30 days or longer.

In Baroda Township that means R-1 (Single-Family), R-2 (Rural Estate), R-3 (Multiple-Family), and R-4 (Manufactured Home Park) districts allow LTRs by right where residential use is the principal use of the property. LTRs are also permitted in mixed-use parcels where a residential dwelling is lawfully established. Agricultural (AG) parcels with a primary dwelling may also be leased long-term.

The registration requirement attaches to any dwelling rented for 30+ days regardless of district — so a lawful dwelling in any district triggers Ordinance #36 compliance when rented.

Every long-term rental must be registered with the Township and must carry a Certificate of Compliance before occupancy ^[1]. Submission is paper-based — the 2021 Rental Registration Form PDF is distributed by the Township Office.

Under §XI of Rental Ordinance #36, the Building Official inspects half of all registered rental units each calendar year, alternating on a biennial cycle ^[1]. Every LTR is therefore inspected once every two years.

• Standard: International Property Maintenance Code plus all other applicable Baroda Township and state regulations.
• Complaint-initiated inspections: If a complaint is filed and no violation is found, no inspection fee is assessed (§XXII).
• No-show fee: If the owner or Responsible Local Agent fails to appear at a scheduled inspection, a fee is assessed; no inspection is completed until paid.
• Reinspection fee: A separate fee is charged for every reinspection when the violation has not been corrected (§XXIII).
• Building Official: Jim Nelson, (269) 999-0302.

Penalties for non-compliance are set directly in Ordinance #36 §II ^[1]. Registration and inspection fees are set separately “by resolution of the Township Board of Trustees” (§III) and are not listed on the current Building Permit Fee Schedule — confirm the current dollar amounts with the Township Office before submitting.

Revocation + habitability finding triggers a vacation order under §XVI — occupants must vacate and no one may re-occupy until the unit is brought back into compliance.

Every registered rental unit must designate a Responsible Local Agent who resides in Berrien County ^[1]. This is the person who accepts legal notice and service of process for the property, provides access for inspections, and is legally responsible for operating the unit in compliance with Township ordinances (§I definition; §IV Registration).

• The agent must maintain a list of the names and number of occupants of each rental unit they are responsible for.
• The agent’s authorization must be signed by both the owner and the agent (§VIII.F) and filed with the registration.
• A change of agent triggers a re-registration within 60 days (§VI).
• The agent’s name, address, and phone number must be posted in a conspicuous place inside the unit or in a shared common area (§XIV).

For out-of-state owners (common in the Chicago-metro/Makers Trail market), this means hiring a local property manager or designating a local friend or family member who can physically respond to inspection scheduling and legal service.

Michigan landlord-tenant relationships are governed by state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) and the Summary Proceedings Act for evictions. The State Bar of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords that covers leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process ^[4]. These rules apply in Baroda Township and are not modified by Ordinance #36 — the township ordinance governs the registration and inspection regime, not the tenancy itself.