Berrien Springs

Short-term rentals are regulated village-wide under Ordinance 386 (Rental Safety Verification Program) ^[1], but an STR use must also comply with the underlying Zoning Ordinance for the parcel’s district. Section VIII(N) of Ordinance 386 explicitly states: “Short-term rental dwelling units are also regulated by provisions of the Village of Berrien Springs Zoning Ordinance and nothing in this ordinance shall be construed as excusing compliance with zoning requirements.”

The Village of Berrien Springs Zoning Ordinance is codified at Municode ^[2]. Residential-district articles (R-1 Single-Family, R-2 Two-Family, R-3 Multi-Family) govern where dwelling-type uses are permitted. Portions of the downtown corridor are additionally covered by the Joint Place-Based Code (PBC) overlay ^[3], which was adopted jointly with Oronoko Charter Township. The PBC does not separately classify or restrict short-term rentals — STR use in the overlay area is governed by the underlying zoning district plus Ordinance 386.

For any specific property, verify the parcel’s zoning district and confirm residential dwelling use is permitted with the Zoning Administrator before assuming STR use is allowed.

Submit the Rental Registration form (paper) in person or by mail to the Village Office at 112 N. Cass Street. Separate forms are provided for single-dwelling/duplex properties and for complexes ^[4][5].

Ordinance 386 §III(C) sets the registration and inspection fee “as set forth by determination of the Village Council from time to time” ^[1] — that is, fees are set by Council resolution rather than codified in the ordinance itself. The current fee schedule is not posted to the Village website. Call the Village Office at 269-473-6921 or email berriensprings@villageofberriensprings.com to request the current inspection-fee resolution before budgeting an underwriting number.

All new STR permits require an initial inspection. Business STRs are re-inspected annually; Personal STRs are re-inspected every two years on the LTR cycle ^[6]. The inspection covers compliance with the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code, the 2006 International Fire Code, and the requirements in Ordinance 386 itself ^[1]. Inspectors focus on life-safety conditions — smoke detectors, egress, electrical, fire extinguishers — not décor or finishes ^[6].

All rental dwelling units must have ^[1]:

• Working smoke detectors
• A fire extinguisher
• A carbon monoxide detector (if fossil-fuel appliances or an attached garage are present)

STR-specific safety items required in addition ^[1]:

• Land-line telephone with free local calls that will appear at the 911 dispatch center
• Street address posted in at least 4-inch letters on the dwelling exterior
• Externally-facing window notice (first-floor window, 16-point type minimum) listing: agent name, 24-hour phone number, and maximum permit occupancy
• Between-tenant self-inspection using a Village-provided checklist — agent must verify smoke detectors, common-area lights, egress doors, windows, and railings; defects must be corrected promptly and the signed checklist kept for Village review

Short-term rentals must comply with Ordinance 386 §VIII and the Rental Good Neighbor Guidelines ^[1][7]. Key constraints:

• Maximum occupancy overnight: No more than 2 occupants 18+ years of age per bedroom. The International Fire Code (adopted by reference) additionally requires at least 200 square feet per occupant.
• Minimum renter age: 25 years. The tenant/lessee must be present on-site during the rental period — absentee “primary renter” arrangements are not allowed.
• Quiet hours: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. — no noise from the premises that would disturb neighboring properties.
• Parking: Must match the number and location of parking spaces indicated on the permit. On-street parking is not permitted as a substitute. On-site off-street parking only.
• Trash: Minimum one 25-gallon container per two occupants. Owner must arrange weekly pickup during rental terms. Containers may only be at the pickup location from 5 p.m. the night before pickup until 7 p.m. the day of.
• Advertising: All listings must display the Village permit number and reflect accurate occupancy/room counts.
• Fireworks: Not permitted on STR premises except as allowed by state law (the Village’s fireworks ordinance amendment restricts discharge to state-law holidays).
• Events: The Good Neighbor Guideline advises against large events (reunions, weddings) at STR premises because of parking and noise impact on residential neighborhoods.
• Pets: Must be leashed in unfenced public areas; waste must be picked up.

Every STR must designate a Short-Term Rental Agent. The requirements are stricter than in many neighboring municipalities ^[1]:

• Residence / place of business: The agent must reside or maintain a physical place of business such that they can be on-site at the STR within one (1) hour. The ordinance elsewhere specifies the agent must live within 10 miles of the rental.
• Response to law enforcement: On request from Village law enforcement regarding issues at the STR, the agent must be on-site within one hour.
• Authority: The agent must be authorized by the owner to respond to calls from renters, concerned citizens, neighbors, and Village representatives. An owner may act as their own agent if the residence/response criteria are met.
• Window notice: The agent’s name and 24-hour phone number must be posted in a first-floor exterior-facing window (16-point minimum type).

Insurance: Owners of short-term rental dwelling units must maintain personal-injury insurance covering persons entering the premises, at a minimum of $50,000 per person per occurrence ^[1]. This is an ordinance-level requirement, not a platform requirement; confirm your carrier’s policy meets it before listing.

Ordinance 386 §IX sets the enforcement framework ^[1]:

• Any violation is a civil infraction.
• On conviction or plea, the Village may issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke the permit. The owner has 15 days to appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals; if no appeal is filed, the permit is automatically revoked at the end of that period.
• The ZBA may revoke, dismiss the notice, or take “other action deemed fair and equitable.”
• If a permit is revoked, the property is not eligible to reapply for a new rental permit for a period determined by the ZBA, not to exceed 12 months. This is a significant exposure for investor-held properties.
• Occupancy of a rental without a current valid permit is itself a violation — a buyer who inherits a property with an expired or revoked permit cannot simply continue operating while re-registration is pending.