Newberg Township

supervisor@newbergtwp.com

13020 Born Street, Jones, MI 49061

Directions

🌐

Township Website

newbergtwp.com

Location: Newberg Township (red outline) over OpenStreetMap. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Area Overview

Newberg Township sits in the western half of Cass County, Michigan, roughly 38 miles southwest of Kalamazoo and bordering St. Joseph County to the north. It is centered on the unincorporated community of Jones and includes Bair Lake, Long Lake, Lilly Lake, and Harwood Lake among its inland water bodies. The 2020 census put the population at 1,602 ^[1]. The township is governed by an elected Board of Trustees that meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Newberg Township Fire Department, with the Township Hall at 13020 Born Street in Jones serving as the administrative office ^[2].

Newberg Township is one of a handful of communities in southern Michigan with no zoning ordinance. A proposed Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map adopted by the Township Board on April 11, 2011, was put to a referendum and rejected by voters on February 28, 2012, by a vote of 322 NO to 110 YES ^[3]^[4]. As a result, the township operates without zoning districts, use tables, dimensional standards, or a zoning administrator. The Building Inspector confirms the practical effect: “the good thing about Newberg Township is that you can build what you want as there is no zoning requirements” ^[5].

What this means for rental investors and homeowners is that Newberg Township does NOT have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance, long-term rental registration program, permit cap, rental inspection schedule, or local-agent requirement. STR and LTR activity is governed by (a) the Michigan Residential Building Code for the dwelling itself, (b) Van Buren / Cass District Health Department rules for septic and well, (c) the township’s general-purpose ordinances (blight, noise, mass gathering), and (d) state-level landlord-tenant law. The flip side is that there is also no codified rental fee schedule and no rental-program point of contact at the township; verification questions go directly to Supervisor Dan Covey, the Building Inspector, or the assessor depending on the topic ^[6].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Permitted with no STR-specific ordinance, no registration, and no permit cap. Newberg Township is unzoned ^[3]^[4], so there are no “districts” in which STRs are or are not permitted. Operators must comply with the Michigan Residential Building Code, Van Buren/Cass DHD septic and well rules ^[7], the township’s Noise ^[8] and Mass Gathering ^[9] ordinances, the State of Michigan 6% Use Tax on lodging, and applicable Cass County property tax obligations.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Permitted with no LTR-specific ordinance, no rental registration, and no inspection program at the township level. Landlord-tenant relationships are governed entirely by Michigan state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) ^[10]. Health-related rental complaints are handled by the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department under the District Environmental Health Code ^[7].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

STRs are permitted township-wide because Newberg Township is unzoned. The township has no Zoning Ordinance, no zoning map, no zoning districts, and no zoning administrator. A proposed zoning ordinance was put on the February 28, 2012 ballot and rejected by voters 322 NO to 110 YES ^[3]^[4]; that decision has not been revisited.

What this means in practice:

There is no use chart that lists “Short-Term Rental” as permitted or prohibited in any district, because there are no districts.
There is no Special Land Use process for B&B, hotel/motel, or commercial lodging at the township level.
State and federal building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and septic rules still apply to the dwelling itself.
Private deed restrictions, HOA covenants, lake-association rules, and the Newberg Township Blight Ordinance ^[11] can still constrain rental use on a specific parcel — those are reviewed independently of zoning.

The Cass County GIS Parcel Viewer (Beacon) is the right tool to verify ownership, dimensions, and assessed value on a specific parcel. Because the township is unzoned, the Beacon viewer will not show a zoning district overlay for Newberg.

🔍 Cass County Parcel Search 📧 Email Supervisor 📞 Township Hall

2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no STR registration or permit process at the township level. A short-term rental operator does not file an application with Newberg Township, does not pay a registration fee, and does not undergo a township inspection ^[6]^[11].

What an operator does need:

Building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits for any work performed on the dwelling. Permits in Newberg Township are administered locally; forms are linked from the Cass County Building Permit page, with Newberg’s specific document folder hosted on Google Drive ^[12]. The Township Building Inspector (Randy Schmeling) reviews them.
Health Department permits for any new septic system, well, or pool from the Van Buren / Cass District Health Department ^[7].
Michigan Use Tax registration with the Michigan Department of Treasury — the State of Michigan imposes a 6% use tax on transient lodging (defined as rental for less than 30 days) ^[13].
An Address from Cass County GIS if the dwelling is new construction; addressing is handled at the county level ^[14].

📁 Newberg Building Permit Forms (Google Drive)🔗 Cass Co Building Permit Index 📞 Township Hall

3 Fees & Penalties

Township STR registration fee$0 — no STR program

Township STR annual renewal$0 — no STR program

Building permit (set per project)Per Newberg Building Inspector schedule ^[12]

Septic permit (Van Buren/Cass DHD)Per 2026 DHD fee schedule ^[15]

Well permit (Van Buren/Cass DHD)Per 2026 DHD fee schedule ^[15]

Michigan Use Tax on transient lodging6% of rental receipts (under 30 days) ^[13]

Mass Gathering permit (200+ persons)Per Mass Gathering Ordinance ^[9]

Noise Ordinance violationCivil infraction per Noise Ordinance ^[8]

Blight Ordinance violationCivil infraction per Blight Ordinance ^[11]

Because Newberg Township does not maintain an STR fee schedule, every cost above sits with the township’s general-purpose ordinances or with the county/state agency named.

📄 DHD 2026 Fee Schedule 🔗 MI Use Tax Info

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Newberg Township does not conduct rental inspections. Habitability complaints are routed to the Van Buren / Cass District Health Department, which has authority under the District Environmental Health Code to investigate sewage, water-supply, and unsafe-housing complaints and conducts rental housing inspections when triggered ^[7]^[16].

Practical safety duties that still apply to STR operators:

Smoke and CO alarms. Required by the Michigan Residential Building Code; replace 10-year sealed alarms before they expire and document.
Egress windows in sleeping rooms. Every bedroom must have a window or door meeting the Michigan emergency-escape-and-rescue requirement.
Septic capacity. A 3-bedroom septic system rated for ~6 occupants is not designed to support a 12-person STR weekend; pumping intervals and the field’s ability to absorb peak loads matter. Get the most recent inspection records from Van Buren/Cass DHD before underwriting.
Well water quality. Test for nitrates and bacteria before guests arrive; Michigan does not require landlords to do annual well testing, but a documented test protects you.
Lead-based paint disclosure. The federal Lead Disclosure Rule (Title X) applies to any pre-1978 dwelling; provide the EPA pamphlet and a written disclosure at booking and at lease.
Pool fencing. Required by Michigan Building Code if you have a pool.

🏥 DHD Environmental Health 📄 District Environmental Health Code (PDF)📧 Email DHD Environmental

5 Operating Rules (Quiet Hours, Trash, Mass Gatherings)

Newberg’s general-purpose ordinances apply to STR operators just like every other property owner.

Noise Ordinance. The Newberg Township Noise Ordinance prohibits unreasonably loud, disturbing, or unusual noise that disturbs the peace ^[8]. Quiet-hours-style restrictions are enforced by complaint to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office (non-emergency dispatch).
Blight Ordinance. The Blight Ordinance gives the township authority to cite property owners for visible accumulations of junk, inoperable vehicles, deteriorated structures, and similar conditions ^[11]. It applies regardless of whether the property is owner-occupied or rented.
Mass Gathering Ordinance. Any outdoor gathering of approximately 200 or more persons requires a Mass Gathering permit from the township in advance ^[9]. Wedding-rental and private-event STR operators in particular should review the threshold; the application is on the township site ^[17].
Solid Waste / Landfill Passes. The township issues seasonal landfill passes to residents for disposal at the Marcellus Township landfill; STR turnover trash is the operator’s responsibility, not the township’s ^[18].
Cass County Sheriff Non-Emergency Dispatch: 269-445-4911
Fire / EMS: Newberg Township Fire & EMS, 11900 McKinley Street, Jones ^[2]. 911 for emergencies.

📄 Noise Ordinance (Township page)📄 Mass Gathering Ordinance (PDF)📄 Mass Gathering Application (PDF)

6 Local Agent / 24-Hour Contact Requirement

There is no local-agent or 24-hour-contact requirement in Newberg Township because there is no STR ordinance to impose one. Out-of-state owners can self-manage or hire a manager without township paperwork.

That said, three practical reasons to designate a local contact anyway:

Insurance. Most short-term rental insurance carriers want a local contact named on the policy and reachable within 60 minutes.
Sheriff dispatch. If the Cass County Sheriff is dispatched on a noise or nuisance complaint, having a local agent who can show up shortens the incident and reduces the risk of escalation to a Blight or Noise Ordinance citation ^[8]^[11].
Septic and freeze-up risk. Inland-lake cottages on private wells and septic are susceptible to frozen pipes; a manager who can reach the property in 30 minutes during a winter shutdown is worth the management fee.

📞 Cass County Sheriff Non-Emergency 📧 Email Supervisor

1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

LTRs are permitted township-wide because Newberg Township is unzoned. The township has no Zoning Ordinance and no zoning districts; the 2012 referendum rejecting the proposed zoning ordinance left the township without use, density, or dimensional standards ^[3]^[4]^[5].

What still applies to a long-term rental conversion or a new rental dwelling:

Michigan Residential Building Code for any structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work. Permits run through the Newberg Township Building Inspector ^[12].
Septic and well rules from the Van Buren / Cass District Health Department ^[7] — critical when an existing single-family home is being subdivided into multiple LTR units, because septic capacity is sized to bedroom count.
Michigan Mobile Home Commission rules for any manufactured-home rental.
Private deed restrictions and HOA covenants on lake associations (Bair Lake, Long Lake, Harwood Lake, Lilly Lake) — those are private and enforced by lawsuit, not by the township.

🔍 Cass County Parcel Search 📧 Email Supervisor 📞 Township Hall

2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no LTR registration program in Newberg Township. A landlord renting a single-family or two-family dwelling for 30 days or longer does not register with, license through, or obtain a permit from the township ^[6]^[11].

What is required:

A written lease compliant with Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.), governing security deposits, repairs, and entry ^[10].
Building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits for any work performed on the property; forms are in Newberg’s Building Permit Google Drive folder ^[12].
Septic and well compliance per Van Buren / Cass District Health Department rules; if a property changes hands, point-of-sale septic evaluation may apply (verify with the health department) ^[7].
State and federal disclosures — lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 dwellings; Truth in Renting acknowledgement; Michigan security deposit disclosure (a single bank where the deposit is held).

📁 Newberg Building Permit Forms 📄 MI Landlord/Tenant Guide 📞 DHD Cass Office (Septic)

3 Fees & Penalties

Township LTR registration fee$0 — no LTR program

Township annual LTR renewal fee$0 — no LTR program

Building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permitsPer Newberg Building Inspector schedule ^[12]

Health department septic/well permitsPer Van Buren/Cass DHD 2026 fee schedule ^[15]

Late tax penalty (delinquent property taxes)Handled by Cass County Treasurer at 269-445-4468 ^[19]

Eviction filing (Cass County 4th District Court)Per state court fee schedule

Because Newberg Township does not publish a codified rental fee schedule, every applicable cost above sits with the county or state agency listed.

📞 Cass Co Treasurer 📄 DHD Fee Schedule

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

The township does not conduct LTR habitability inspections. Tenant-driven housing complaints are routed to the Van Buren / Cass District Health Department under the District Environmental Health Code ^[16] and are investigated when triggered ^[7].

Practical implications for landlords:

Pre-rental due diligence: verify septic system age and capacity, check well water for nitrates and bacteria, and confirm working smoke and CO detectors. The DHD’s complaint pathway is real; a sewage backup report will trigger a county inspection.
Lead-based paint: federal Lead Disclosure Rule (Title X) applies to any pre-1978 dwelling regardless of whether the township inspects.
Egress from sleeping rooms: the Michigan Building Code requires every sleeping room to have a window or door that meets emergency-escape-and-rescue requirements.
Smoke / CO alarms and electrical panels: tenants who report missing detectors or visible electrical hazards can trigger DHD action.

🏥 DHD Environmental Health 📄 District Environmental Health Code 📧 Email DHD Environmental

5 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Michigan landlord-tenant relationships are governed by state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) and the Summary Proceedings Act for evictions, not by Newberg Township ordinance. The State Bar of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords covering leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process ^[10].

Security deposits: capped at 1.5x monthly rent; landlord must provide written itemization within 30 days of move-out and disclose the bank where the deposit is held.
Repairs: Michigan law implies a covenant of habitability; tenants can pursue rent escrow or self-help in narrow circumstances after written notice.
Evictions: filed in Cass County 4th District Court, 60296 M-62, Cassopolis. A judgment of possession requires a court order, not a township action.
Lockouts and utility shutoffs: are illegal in Michigan; a landlord cannot self-help-evict.

📄 MI Landlord/Tenant Guide ⚖️ Cass Co 4th District Court

Official Resources

Ordinances

Newberg Township Noise Ordinance (and Ordinance Index)

Listed on the township Ordinances page

Newberg Township Blight Ordinance

Township ordinance (PDF on Google Drive)

Newberg Township Mass Gathering Ordinance

Required for 200+ person gatherings

Newberg Township Cemetery Ordinance 16-01a

Township ordinance (PDF)

Newberg Township Solar Panel Ordinance

Township ordinance (PDF on Google Drive)

Forms & Applications

Mass Gathering Application

Submit before any 200+ person event

Newberg Building Permit Forms (Google Drive folder)

Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical applications

Newberg Forms, Flyers and Documents (Google Drive)

Township public-document folder

Cass County Property Addressing Application

Required for new dwellings

Maps

Cass County GIS Parcel Viewer (Beacon)

Parcels, ownership, dimensions, tax info

Cass County Parcel Address Search

Look up by street address

Portals & Lookups

🔍

Newberg Township Board Meeting Minutes (Google Drive)

Watch for any rental-program proposals

🔍

BS&A Cass County Property Tax Search

Tax/assessment online portal

🔍

Cass County Property Tax Search

County-hosted lookup

Contact & Directions

Township Hall (Phone/Fax)

269-244-8747

📧

Supervisor: Dan Covey

supervisor@newbergtwp.com

Supervisor Direct (Dan Covey)

269-476-9528

📧

Clerk: Amanda Norton-Duff

clerk@newbergtwp.com

Clerk Direct (Amanda Norton-Duff)

269-251-6600

📧

Treasurer: Jill Blackburn

treasurer@newbergtwp.com

Treasurer Direct (Jill Blackburn)

269-858-9799

Assessor (Shalice Northrop)

269-646-8020

🏥

Van Buren / Cass District Health Department

Septic, well, and rental complaints

DHD Cass County Office

269-782-0064

Cass County Sheriff Non-Emergency

269-445-4911

Cass County Treasurer (delinquent taxes)

269-445-4468