Wayne Township

53950 Glenwood Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047

Directions

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Township Website

www.waynetwpmi.org

Area Overview

Wayne Township sits in northern Cass County, Michigan, sharing a border with Van Buren County. The township is roughly 36 square miles of farmland, forests, subdivisions, and small inland lakes ^[1] – Mill Pond, Twin Lakes (East and West), and the Village of Glenwood are the recognized lake areas inside the township boundary ^[2]. Population was 2,654 at the 2010 census ^[1]. Schools are split among the Dowagiac, Decatur, Cassopolis, and Marcellus districts. The City of Dowagiac is minutes south; Kalamazoo, Mishawaka (IN), and St. Joseph are all about 30 minutes away.

Unlike the Lake Michigan shoreline townships in Berrien County, Wayne Township has no dedicated short-term-rental ordinance, no permit cap, and no rental registration program at the township level ^[3]. Rentals operate under the Township’s general Zoning Ordinance, which permits single-family dwellings in the residential and lake-residential districts ^[4]^[5]. Inland-lake waterfront on Mill Pond and Twin Lakes is the primary draw for vacation rentals here. Septic and well inspection for short-term-rental properties is handled by the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department, which administers the county-level Environmental Health Code ^[6]^[7].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals ALLOWED

No township short-term-rental ordinance, no permit cap, no rental registration program ^[3]. STRs ride on the underlying residential or lake-residential zoning of the parcel ^[4]^[5]. The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department may require well/septic inspection for STR properties under the county Environmental Health Code ^[6]^[7]. Confirm parcel zoning with the Zoning Administrator (Mark Davis, 269-414-3159) before purchase.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Permitted in all residential and lake-residential districts as a single-family dwelling under the Township Zoning Ordinance ^[4]^[5]. No township rental registration or annual fee. Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) governs leases, security deposits, and eviction ^[8].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Wayne Township has no STR-specific ordinance and no permit cap. Whether a parcel can be used as a short-term rental defaults to whether the underlying zoning district permits a single-family dwelling. Single-family dwellings are permitted by right in R-1 Single Family Residential, R-2 Medium Density Residential, LR-1 Lake Residential, LR-2 Medium Density Lake Residential, A-1 Prime Agricultural, A-2 General Agricultural, and OSR Open Space and Recreation districts ^[4]^[5]^[9].

Watch out: The Zoning Ordinance defines a Dwelling Unit as a building ‘arranged or designed for permanent occupancy by not more than one (1) family’ ^[10]. There is no published township interpretation that explicitly approves transient/nightly rental of a Dwelling Unit, and there is no published interpretation that prohibits it either. Rural Cass County townships have generally treated whole-house rentals as a permitted residential use absent a contrary ordinance, but this is parcel-level guidance the Zoning Administrator should confirm in writing for any specific property.

Click to open the full zoning map (PDF).

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance Articles 📞 Ask Zoning Admin (Mark Davis)

2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no township STR registration or permit process. Wayne Township does not require operators to register, post a permit number on listings, designate a local agent in writing, or pay any annual rental fee at the township level ^[3].

What investors and operators are still responsible for at the parcel/property level:

Zoning Permit if making any change in use, building footprint, sign, or accessory structure – apply via the Zoning Permit Application ^[11]. Zoning Administrator Mark Davis is at the Township Hall Thursdays 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM ^[12].
Building / Mechanical / Electrical / Plumbing Permits for any construction, remodeling, or system replacement – Wayne Township uses the Cloudpermit portal for building permits ^[13].
Septic / Well inspection through the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department, which has a dedicated Short-Term Rental Inspection Application ^[7].
Michigan use tax on rental receipts under 6% (state-level) – file with the Michigan Department of Treasury.

🔗 Cloudpermit (Building)📄 Zoning Permit Application (PDF)🔗 STR Septic Inspection Application

3 Fees & Penalties

Township STR registration fee$0 – no program ^[3]

Township annual renewal$0 – no program ^[3]

Permit capNone ^[3]

Zoning violation (general)Misdemeanor under Article XXIII Penalties; injunctive relief and per-day fines as set in the ordinance ^[14]

Health Dept septic inspection (typical)Fee schedule maintained by Van Buren/Cass DHD – confirm at intake ^[7]

If you operate without complying with applicable zoning, building, or health-department requirements, the enforcement path is through the Township Zoning Administrator (Article XX, Administration & Enforcement) or the Health Department, not through a rental-program-specific fine schedule ^[14].

📄 Article XXIII – Penalties (PDF)📄 VB/Cass Environmental Health Code

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Wayne Township does not run a rental-property inspection program, but two inspection paths affect short-term rentals here:

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department – operates a dedicated Short-Term Rental well/septic inspection process. Per the Department, ‘if you own a short-term rental property, your local government code may require your well or septic system be inspected’ ^[7]. Apply and pay online via the Environmental Health form ^[15].
Building Inspector (Scott Saunders, 269-999-6475) – conducts inspections triggered by building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permits, not by rental status ^[12]. Any modification to add bedrooms, change egress, install a hot tub or pool, or convert basement/attic to habitable space requires a permit and inspection.

Recommended baseline safety items for any STR (state and IPMC norms – Wayne Township has not codified these specifically): working smoke detectors in each bedroom and outside sleeping areas, working CO detector if any fuel-burning appliance or attached garage, fire extinguisher in kitchen, posted egress map, GFCI outlets in wet areas, and a fenced pool if one exists.

📄 Health Dept STR Inspection Page 📞 Building Inspector (Scott Saunders)📧 Email Building Inspector

5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Parking)

Wayne Township has not codified STR-specific operating rules. The constraints that do apply to any rental property here come from three sources:

Zoning supplemental provisions (Article XVIII). Accessory buildings cannot be used for dwelling purposes, temporary or otherwise – meaning detached garages, sheds, or outbuildings cannot be rented as separate sleeping units ^[16]. Off-street parking must comply with Article XVI (one parking space per dwelling unit minimum, more for larger units) ^[17].
District-specific rules. In LR-1 and LR-2 lake districts, no dwelling, accessory building, or septic system may be constructed within 25 feet of a lake’s ordinary high-water mark ^[5]. Buyers of lakefront vacation rentals should verify any deck, dock, fire pit, or hot-tub installation against this setback.
State / county nuisance and noise rules. No township noise ordinance is published online; nuisance complaints are handled by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office (non-emergency dispatch) ^[18].

📄 Article XVIII – Supplemental (PDF)📄 Article VIII – LR-1 Lake (PDF)🔗 Cass County Sheriff

6 Local Agent / 24-Hour Contact Requirement

No township-level local-agent rule. Wayne Township does not require non-resident STR owners to file a designated local agent’s name with the township, post a 24-hour contact on the listing, or maintain a complaint hotline ^[3]. Investor-owned STRs in Wayne are not subject to the kind of local-agent affidavits required in Berrien County’s Lake Michigan shoreline townships.

That said, Cass County’s Sheriff’s Office handles after-hours nuisance and noise complaints for unincorporated townships ^[18]. Operators with out-of-state ownership are well-served keeping a local property manager on file with insurance, the Health Department, and Airbnb/VRBO listing – both for guest service and to triage any sheriff’s-office contact about the property.

🔗 Cass County Sheriff 📞 Wayne Township Office

7 Permit Caps, Moratoriums & Recent Changes

No permit cap, no moratorium, no recent STR-specific ordinance changes. The most recent published Wayne Township Board agendas and minutes (2025-2026) do not list a short-term-rental ordinance under consideration ^[19]. The Township continues to operate under the existing Zoning Ordinance (Articles I-XXV) without amendment for STRs.

Investor takeaway: this is one of the more permissive rental environments in the broader region precisely because there is no STR ordinance to comply with. The flip side is that the rules can change at any regular monthly board meeting (first Monday of the month, 6:30 PM unless preempted by holiday or election) ^[1]. For a buy-and-hold STR strategy in Wayne Township, monitor the township’s Minutes page annually, especially any Planning Commission discussion of ‘transient rental,’ ‘short-term rental,’ or ‘vacation rental’ terms.

🔗 Township Board Minutes 📄 April 2026 Board Mtg Draft

1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

LTRs (any lease term, including 31+ day leases) are permitted as a single-family dwelling use in every residential, lake-residential, and agricultural district in Wayne Township. Specifically: R-1, R-2, LR-1, LR-2, A-1, A-2, and OSR all list ‘single family dwelling’ as a permitted use ^[4]^[5]^[9].

Multi-family dwellings (apartment buildings of 3+ units) are not enumerated as a permitted use in the standard residential districts, so a duplex or apartment LTR strategy would require either C-1 zoning or a Special Land Use approval under Article XIII. For single-family or two-family LTRs, no separate zoning approval is needed beyond the underlying district permission.

Click to open the full zoning map (PDF).

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance Articles 📞 Ask Zoning Admin (Mark Davis)

2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no township long-term rental registration program. A landlord renting a single-family or two-family dwelling under a 31+ day lease in Wayne Township does not file any rental-specific paperwork with the Township, pay any rental-program fee, or schedule any rental-program inspection ^[3].

What landlords are still responsible for:

Compliance with Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) – written lease, security-deposit handling, repair duties, and the Summary Proceedings Act for evictions ^[8].
Local building / mechanical / electrical / plumbing permits for any work performed on the property ^[11]^[13].
Septic / well compliance through Van Buren/Cass District Health Department for any system installation, alteration, or property transfer ^[6].

📄 MI Tenant/Landlord Guide (PDF)🔗 Cloudpermit (Building)🔗 Health Dept Well/Septic

3 Fees & Penalties

Township LTR registration fee$0 – no program ^[3]

Township annual renewal$0 – no program ^[3]

Township inspection fee$0 – no rental-specific inspection program

Eviction filing (district court)~$45 (Cass County 4th District Court) – set by state schedule ^[8]

Late-rent late fee cap (state)Must be ‘reasonable’ – no fixed state ceiling, but courts disfavor fees over ~5%

Wayne Township has not codified a rental-program penalty schedule because there is no rental program. Landlord-tenant disputes follow the Michigan Summary Proceedings Act process ^[8].

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

No township-mandated rental inspection. The relevant inspection touchpoints for a Wayne Township LTR property are:

Permit-triggered inspections. Building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and zoning permits each carry their own inspection requirements when work is performed ^[11]^[13]. A landlord is the property owner of record and is responsible for ensuring permits are pulled when work is done.
Health Department inspections. Septic system installation, alteration, or transfer triggers Van Buren/Cass DHD review ^[6].
Smoke and CO detector compliance. Michigan rental property must meet state law on smoke alarms (MCL 125.1504c) and CO detection where applicable. Wayne Township has not added local amplifications.

Practical investor advice: even without a rental inspection program, landlords should document the unit’s condition with dated photos at lease start and end, keep records of all permits and inspections, and confirm any septic system has been inspected within the last 5 years before signing a long lease.

🔗 Cloudpermit (Building)🔗 Health Dept Well/Septic 📞 Building Inspector

5 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Wayne Township does not modify Michigan landlord-tenant law. Leases, security deposits, repair duties, retaliation protections, and eviction process are all governed by state statute ^[8]. The State Bar of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords covering the full lifecycle ^[8]. Eviction filings for properties in Wayne Township go to the Cass County 4th District Court in Cassopolis.

Tenants in Wayne Township have access to the same statewide resources as any Michigan tenant: Michigan Legal Help (self-help court forms), Lakeshore Legal Aid (free civil legal services for income-qualifying tenants in southwest Michigan), and the State Attorney General’s consumer-protection division for security-deposit disputes.

📄 MI Tenant/Landlord Guide (PDF)🔗 Michigan Legal Help – Housing

Special Regulations

Wayne Township’s inland-lake setbacks and septic-system requirements meaningfully affect any rental investment on Mill Pond, Twin Lakes, or other water frontage. These are layered on top of (not replacement for) the standard zoning rules.

★ Lake Setbacks & Waterfront Construction (LR-1 / LR-2)

In LR-1 Lake Residential and LR-2 Medium Density Lake Residential districts, no dwelling, accessory building, or septic system may be constructed, erected, installed, or enlarged within 25 feet of a lake’s ordinary high-water mark ^[5]. Storage of liquid petroleum (other than fuel oil) over 40 gallons or hazardous substances over 15 gallons must be set back 150 feet from the high-water mark ^[5]. Existing nonconforming structures destroyed by fire or act of God may be reconstructed within 12 months but must comply with current setbacks if reconstruction takes longer.

Investor implication for Mill Pond or Twin Lakes vacation rentals: a deck addition, hot tub installation, expanded septic field, or boathouse upgrade may require a setback variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Confirm any planned addition with the Zoning Administrator before closing.

📄 Article VIII – LR-1 (PDF)📄 Article IX – LR-2 (PDF)

★ Septic & Well – Van Buren/Cass District Health Department

Most Wayne Township properties are on private well and septic. The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department administers the county-level Environmental Health Code, which is the controlling document for septic permitting, inspection, and short-term-rental well/septic verification ^[6]^[7]. The Cass County office is at 302 S. Front Street, Dowagiac, MI 49047 – minutes from the Wayne Township Hall – and reachable at (269) 782-0064 ^[7].

For investors: failed or undersized septic systems are a common surprise on older lake cottages and are expensive to remediate. Request the most recent septic inspection and pumping records from the Health Department before closing on any Wayne Township property using septic. The Department also runs a Septic Replacement Loan Program through Michigan Saves for owner-occupants needing low-interest financing on a system replacement ^[7].

🔗 Water & Septic Page 📄 Environmental Health Code (PDF)📞 Cass Office (Dowagiac)

Official Resources

Ordinances

Includes Dwelling Unit, Family, Hotel, Motel definitions

Article II – Definitions

Article VI – R-1 Single Family Residential

Permitted uses, lot/yard requirements

Article VIII – LR-1 Lake Residential

Lake setbacks, permitted uses

Article IX – LR-2 Medium Density Lake Residential

Higher density lake district

Article IV – A-2 General Agricultural

Most rural Wayne Township parcels

Article XIII – Special Land Uses

Process for non-default uses

Article XVIII – Supplemental Provisions

Accessory buildings, home occupations

Article XXIII – Penalties

General zoning enforcement

Wayne Township 2014 Master Plan

Long-range land-use plan

VB/Cass DHD Environmental Health Code

Controlling septic/well/STR-inspection rules

Forms & Applications

Zoning Permit Application

Required for any change in use or new structure

Electrical Permit Application

PDF – Wayne Township

Mechanical Permit Application

PDF – Wayne Township

Plumbing Permit Application

PDF – Wayne Township

Maps

Wayne Township Zoning Map

Township-wide zoning districts (PDF)

Cass County GIS Parcel Viewer

Parcels, utilities, sewer, tax info

Portals & Lookups

Cloudpermit (Building Permits)

Wayne Township uses Cloudpermit

STR Septic Inspection Application

Van Buren/Cass DHD online form

Cass County Property Tax Search

BS&A Online

Cass County Property Deeds Search

Contact & Directions

Zoning Administrator (Mark Davis)

(269) 414-3159 – Thursdays 5-7 PM

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Building Inspector (Scott Saunders)

(269) 999-6475

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Building Inspector Email

buildinspector269@gmail.com