Silver Creek Township

STRs are permitted township-wide under Ordinance 25-01, but ONLY in single-family dwellings. Two-family dwellings, tents, recreational vehicles, motorhomes, vehicles, and accessory structures cannot be used as short-term rentals ^[1].

Beyond the single-family-dwelling rule, STRs must comply with the underlying Silver Creek Township Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 155) ^[5]. The currently published township zoning map is the 1982 edition (PDF) ^[2] — if your parcel is not clearly residential, verify the zoning district with the Zoning Administrator before applying.

Click the image to open the 1982 Zoning Map (PDF). The township is preparing an updated map; verify the current district with the Zoning Administrator before relying on the 1982 map.

STR applications are submitted to the Zoning Administrator (Ryan Laylin) using the township’s STR Application Packet ^[10]. There is no online STR portal — forms are returned in person or by mail to 32764 Dixon Street, Dowagiac, MI 49047 ^[4].

STR fines are set by ordinance and tiered by violation type ^[1]. The annual STR registration fee is set by Township Board resolution and is not currently published on the township website — confirm the current amount with the Zoning Administrator before submitting an application.

Each day a violation continues counts as a separate violation. Two separate-day responsible determinations within a calendar year can trigger registration revocation ^[1].

Owners must consent to and schedule inspections on request of the Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer, law enforcement, or another designated official ^[1]. If the dwelling is not on public sewer, the Cass‐Van Buren District Health Department must inspect the septic system and issue a certificate confirming it is in good working order; that inspection is required every three (3) years ^{[1] [7]}. Porta-potties / temporary bathrooms are explicitly prohibited ^[1].

Required by Ordinance 25-01 ^[1]:

• Smoke detectors per Michigan Residential Code: one in each bedroom, one on each habitable floor, and one in the basement.
• Carbon-monoxide detector on each floor (operational, approved per Michigan Residential Code).
• Fire extinguisher in the kitchen (operational).
• Green reflective street-address placard visible from the road.
• Street address posted inside in at least two prominent locations — in the kitchen and near any telephone or pool.
• $1,000,000 liability insurance as a rental property, maintained throughout the registration period (the township must be notified within 24 hours if coverage lapses).

Attics, basements, garages, accessory buildings, and porches do not count as habitable space for occupancy purposes unless they meet Michigan Property Maintenance Code / construction-code egress requirements ^[1].

Maximum occupancy is the lesser of (a) 10 total occupants OR (b) 2 occupants per bedroom plus 1 additional occupant per finished story that meets egress requirements ^[1]. Daytime guests are allowed between 8 AM and midnight, and the total people on site (occupants + day guests) cannot exceed 2x the maximum occupancy ^[1].

• Quiet hours: 12 AM to 8 AM. Yelling, shouting, singing, and outdoor music that unreasonably disturbs others are prohibited at any time ^[1].
• Rental term: Minimum 3 days, maximum 28 consecutive days; only one rental term may begin during any calendar week; no more than 180 rental days per calendar year per dwelling ^[1].
• Parking: Tenants must park only in approved off-street spaces. Parking on grass, public or private roads, road right-of-way, or land owned by someone else is prohibited — violators will be towed at their own expense ^[1].
• Trash: Adequate, closed containers required. Trash must be disposed of on a regular weekly schedule and kept secured from animals ^[1].
• Signs: No exterior sign may be used to advertise the dwelling as a short-term rental ^[1].
• Land-based recreation, pets, campfires: All recreation and pets must stay on the rented premises (no encroaching on neighbors). Campfires only in designated fire pits, attended at all times, and subject to State or local burn bans ^[1].
• Boats / lake access: If a boat or vessel is rented separately or included with the dwelling rental, a Livery License is required under MCL 324.44516 ^[1].
• Fireworks: Must comply with the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act (Act 256 of 2011, as amended) ^[1].

Owners must provide renters with copies of the township’s STR rules, trash/parking/occupancy/day-guest limits, quiet-hours rule, and good-neighbor policy ^[1]. Those rules and the local-agent contact info must also be posted in the rental property ^[1].

The owner, a local agent, or the designee of either must respond within 30 minutes of being contacted by the Township or law enforcement about an issue at the property ^[1]. The responding agent must possess keys to access all buildings on the property and must have authority to make decisions about the issue at hand ^[1].

Public-facing contacts for renters and neighbors:

• Zoning Administrator (STR program): Ryan Laylin — 269-424-3125 / zoning@silvercreektwpmi.gov ^[4]
• Code Enforcement Officer: Ryan Shields — 269-424-3025 x9 / code@silvercreektwpmi.gov ^[4]
• Cass County Sheriff (non-emergency): Use the county dispatch line; for emergencies, dial 911

Silver Creek Township stood up its first dedicated short-term rental ordinance in 2025 after several years of planning-commission discussion.

• March 19, 2025: Township Board adopted Ordinance 25-01 unanimously ^[1].
• April 28, 2025: Ordinance took effect (30 days after publication) ^[1].
• June 1, 2025: Initial registration deadline. Owners renting or advertising a short-term rental after June 1 without having registered are subject to an increased late-registration fee set by Board resolution ^[1].
• 500-unit cap. No more than 500 STRs may be registered township-wide in any calendar year. Applications are first-come, first-served and date- and time-stamped; once the cap is reached, additional applications for that year are denied ^[1]. The township does not publish the current count online — confirm availability with the Zoning Administrator before underwriting an STR-based purchase.
• Annual renewal: Owners must re-register for each calendar year, providing the registration information at least 30 days before license expiration ^[1].
• Non-transferable. Registrations do NOT convey with a property sale — new owners must reapply, subject to cap availability ^[1].
• Single-family only. Two-family dwellings, RVs, motorhomes, vehicles, tents, and other structures cannot be used as STRs under any circumstance ^[1].