LaGrange Township

Short-term rentals (rental periods of less than 28 days) are permitted in all areas of LaGrange Township where residences are permitted ^[1]. That covers the township’s main residential and agricultural districts under the 2003 Zoning Ordinance ^[5]:

• R-1 Low Density Residential (Section 6) ^[5]
• R-2 Medium Density Residential (Section 7) ^[5]
• R-3 Lake Residential (Section 8), covers the shoreline of Diamond Lake, Stone Lake, and LaGrange Lake ^[5]
• A-P Prime Agricultural and A-G General Agricultural (residential dwellings permitted by right) ^[5]

The Industrial (I-1) district does not permit residential dwellings, so STRs are not permitted there ^[5]. The Water Quality Overlay (Section 11) is layered on top of underlying districts and adds setback and native-strip requirements near the lakes; it does not by itself change STR eligibility ^[5].

For any specific property, verify the underlying zoning district on the map below, then confirm with the Zoning Administrator before listing.

Open the LaGrange Township Zoning Map (PDF)

Submit the one-page Short-Term Rental Registration form, in person or by mail, to LaGrange Township at 24863 Pokagon Hwy, Cassopolis, MI 49031, with a $100 one-time registration fee ^{[2] [1]}. There is no online portal and no annual renewal; registration is one-time per residence.

The form requires: business name and DBA, physical address, number of bedrooms, overnight capacity, property type, owner contact info, and (if not owner-managed) local property-management contact info ^[2]. By signing the form, the owner certifies that smoke alarms and CO detectors meet the Township’s residential rental code ^[1].

$100 one-time registration fee per residence ^[1]. There is no annual renewal fee.

Ordinance 2024-1 §C(5) requires the owner or local agent, when notified of a renter or guest violation, to notify the renter and take action to prevent recurrence; more than two violations in a calendar year shall be investigated by the Township Zoning Administrator ^[1]. The ordinance does not specify a dollar fine schedule; civil-infraction fines for code or zoning violations are imposed under the Township’s general zoning enforcement authority ^[5].

LaGrange Township does not perform a stand-alone STR inspection at registration; the owner certifies safety compliance on the registration form ^[2]. Required equipment and standards from Ordinance 2024-1 ^[1]:

• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors meeting current Township residential rental code on every floor.
• Visible street number marker from the road so emergency responders can find the parcel.
• Sufficient off-street parking for all renter vehicles on the property; street parking is prohibited where not allowed by law.
• Compliance with all Township regulations and ordinances, including building codes, fire codes, noise, and garbage disposal.

The Township maintains separate inspection departments for any structural, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work that does require a permit ^[7]:

• Building Inspector: Luke Wagoner, 574-849-5965
• Electrical Inspector: Ron Bellaire, 269-663-3429
• Mechanical / Plumbing Inspector: John Dobberteen, 269-651-4567
• Zoning Administrator: Steven Allen, 269-479-2387

Septic certification is not required at STR registration in LaGrange, but for any property not on public sewer, buyers should pull a Van Buren / Cass District Health Department septic-system evaluation before closing; failed or undersized systems are a common surprise on older lakefront cottages ^[7].

Ordinance 2024-1 sets the operating standards ^[1]:

• Occupancy. Must not exceed the maximum allowed per the rental agreement and as advertised. The ordinance does not impose a separate per-bedroom occupant cap; your advertised occupancy is the binding ceiling.
• Parking. Sufficient off-street spaces on the property for all renter vehicles. Street parking is prohibited where not allowed by law.
• Local agent. If the owner is not local, the registration form requires a property-management contact name, phone, and email ^[2].
• Notice of violation. When notified that a renter or guest has violated a Township ordinance, the owner or local agent must notify the renter and take action to prevent a reoccurrence ^[1].
• Code compliance. Owners, renters, and renters’ guests must comply with all applicable Township regulations including building codes, fire codes, noise, and garbage disposal ^[1].

LaGrange does not currently publish standalone noise, fireworks, or good-neighbor ordinances on the Township website ^[3]. Cass County’s ORV (off-road vehicle) ordinance applies in the township and is the most commonly cited county-level rule that affects lakefront and rural-parcel renters ^[8].

If the owner does not personally manage the rental, a local property-management contact must be named on the registration form: name, phone, email, and mailing address ^[2]. Ordinance 2024-1 does not set a mileage radius or a 24-hour response window, but in practice the Zoning Administrator and Sheriff use this contact when responding to nuisance reports ^[1].

• Township Clerk (registration & complaints): 269-233-4004
• Zoning Administrator (Steven Allen): 269-479-2387
• Cass County Sheriff (non-emergency): 269-445-0500
• Central Cass Interlocal Fire Department: 23201 M-60, Cassopolis, CentralCassFire@gmail.com

Owners managing remotely should give their local agent the township phone numbers above and a copy of the registration form, so the agent can respond to a complaint or inspection request without having to chase paperwork ^[1].