Rental Investment Guide

Ganges Township

Short-term & long-term rental regulations, fees, and investor resources for Allegan County, Michigan.

Updated May 2026
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Township Clerk
269-543-8316
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Township Clerk
gangesclerk@gmail.com
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Directions
1904 64th Street, Fennville, MI 49408
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Township Website
www.gangestownship.org

Area Overview

Ganges Township is a rural lakeshore township in southwestern Allegan County, Michigan, stretching along Lake Michigan between Saugatuck/Douglas to the north and South Haven to the south. Housing stock is a mix of orchard-country farmsteads, lakefront seasonal cottages, and a handful of small unincorporated communities (Ganges, Glenn, Pier Cove). The township office is at 1904 64th Street in Fennville [1].

Short-term rentals are currently not permitted in Ganges Township. On December 9, 2025 the Township Board adopted Ordinance 66, imposing a temporary moratorium on the consideration of any application or proposal for use of property as a short-term rental [2]. The moratorium took effect December 25, 2025 and runs through June 30, 2026 (or until a new STR ordinance is adopted, whichever comes first); the Board reserves the right to extend by resolution. During the moratorium the township is studying STR regulations and possible amendments to the Zoning Ordinance [2].

Long-term rentals (leases of 30 days or longer, which fall outside the STR moratorium definition) operate under the Ganges Township Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance 65, effective April 25, 2025) [3]. Single-family and two-family residential dwellings are permitted by right in the “R” Residential District, and Ganges Township does not maintain a separate landlord registration, rental license, or municipal inspection program for long-term residential tenancies.

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals NOT ALLOWED

Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are under a temporary moratorium adopted by the Township Board on December 9, 2025 (Ordinance 66) [2]. No STR applications or proposals are being considered. The moratorium expires June 30, 2026 unless extended by resolution or replaced by a new STR ordinance. Hotels and motels lawfully operating and licensed are exempt from the moratorium.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rentals (30+ day tenancies) are permitted in residentially-zoned parcels. Single-family and two-family dwellings are listed as Permitted Uses by right in the “R” Residential District [3]. Ganges Township does not require a township rental license, landlord registration, or local rental inspection — standard Michigan landlord-tenant law applies [4].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

STRs are not currently allowed anywhere in Ganges Township. Ordinance 66 imposes a township-wide moratorium on the consideration of any application or proposal for use of property as a short-term rental — effective December 25, 2025 and running through June 30, 2026 (or until a new STR ordinance is adopted, whichever comes first) [2].

The underlying Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance 65, effective April 25, 2025) does not list “short-term rental” or “transient rental” as a permitted use in any district [3]. Under Section 3.1.B of the Zoning Ordinance, any use not listed in a district’s Table of Uses is considered prohibited [3]. Bed and Breakfast establishments are defined separately and treated as a distinct land use, not as an STR.

Ganges Township Zoning Map (2025)

Click the map to open the full PDF zoning map (updated April 2025).

📄 STR Moratorium (Ord. 66)📄 Zoning Ordinance PDF📧 Ask the Clerk
2 Registration & Permit Process
⚠ No STR applications are being accepted. Ordinance 66 prohibits the township from considering any STR application or proposal until the moratorium ends [2]. The Zoning Administrator and Township Board are precluded from issuing approvals for use of a property as a short-term rental during this period.

If you have a property you are considering for STR use after the moratorium expires, the practical path is:

  • Watch for ordinance adoption. The Township Board has stated the moratorium is in place specifically to allow study and possible Zoning Ordinance amendments addressing STRs [2]. Monitor the township’s public hearing notices and Planning Commission meeting agendas.
  • Contact the Clerk’s office for the current status before underwriting any STR-dependent valuation.
  • Hotels and motels that are lawfully operating and licensed are explicitly exempt from the moratorium [2] — but they fall under a different zoning use category (Hotel/Motel) and require Special Land Use approval per the Zoning Ordinance use tables [3].
Moratorium adoptedDecember 9, 2025
Moratorium effectiveDecember 25, 2025
Moratorium expiresJune 30, 2026 (or upon adoption of new STR ordinance)
STR definition (moratorium)Any rental of a dwelling unit, in whole or in part, for transient use of less than 30 consecutive days
📄 Full Moratorium Text (PDF)📞 Call Clerk’s Office📧 Email the Clerk
3 Fees & Penalties

There is no STR registration fee schedule in Ganges Township because there is no STR registration program — STRs are currently prohibited by moratorium [2].

Operating a short-term rental in violation of the moratorium would be subject to enforcement under the Zoning Ordinance and the township’s Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance. A violation of the Zoning Ordinance is declared a nuisance per se and constitutes a civil infraction; each day the violation continues is a separate offense [3].

STR registration feeNone (program does not exist)
Operating without authorizationCivil infraction — enforced via Allegan County Circuit Court [3]
Daily violationsEach day is a separate offense [3]
Municipal civil infractions scheduleSee Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance
📄 Civil Infractions Ordinance (PDF)📄 General Fee Schedule
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Ganges Township does not currently conduct a township-level rental inspection — there is no STR inspection program in place during the moratorium [2]. Properties remain subject to the Michigan Building Code, the Allegan County Health Department septic and well regulations [5], and state fire safety standards.

Two practical inspection items are worth verifying on any candidate property in advance of a future STR ordinance:

  • Septic system. Most rural Ganges parcels are on private septic. Buyers should request the most recent Allegan County Environmental Health inspection records and confirm capacity is appropriate to the bedroom count [5].
  • Private well. Well permits and water quality are regulated by Allegan County Environmental Health under the county Water and Sewage Regulations [5].
📄 Allegan County EH Forms & Permits📄 Septic / Well Records Request
5 Operating Rules (Noise, Fireworks, Outdoor Events)

Even though STRs are not currently permitted, an investor evaluating a future STR opportunity should be aware that the following township ordinances apply to all properties — including any future STR — and will shape day-to-day operating constraints:

  • Anti-Noise & Public Nuisance Ordinance restricts excessive noise, loud parties, and disturbances [6]. Violations are civil infractions.
  • Fireworks Ordinance regulates use of consumer fireworks within township limits, including time-of-day restrictions [7]. Properties used for short-term rental in other Michigan townships are often a focus of fireworks complaints — expect this ordinance to be enforced.
  • Outdoor Entertainment Permit required for events with amplified sound, expected attendance over a threshold, or otherwise outside ordinary residential use [8]. Wedding-style events at an STR would typically require this permit.
  • Litter Ordinance applies township-wide — trash and refuse must be properly contained [9].
📄 Anti-Noise Ordinance📄 Fireworks Ordinance📄 Outdoor Entertainment Ordinance
6 Moratoriums & Recent Changes

Ganges Township is in the middle of a deliberate ordinance-development cycle on short-term rentals.

  • December 9, 2025: Township Board adopted Ordinance 66, imposing a moratorium on STR applications/proposals [2]. The Board’s findings cite concerns about impacts on residential character, housing availability and affordability for permanent residents, public services (police/fire/EMS, water, sewer, waste management), traffic and parking, and noise.
  • December 25, 2025: Moratorium effective date.
  • June 30, 2026: Moratorium scheduled to expire — unless the Board adopts a new STR ordinance first, or extends the moratorium by resolution [2].
  • Concurrent: Ordinance 65 (the comprehensive Zoning Ordinance rewrite, effective April 25, 2025) is itself under review for further amendments; a public hearing on additional zoning amendments was noticed for May 26, 2026 [10].
  • Also adopted recently: A separate Moratorium on RV Parks and Campgrounds is in effect for the same reasons [11].
⚠ Investor takeaway: If a property is being marketed as a “future STR” opportunity, verify directly with the township whether (a) the moratorium has been extended, and (b) what the replacement STR ordinance will look like — the township’s stated rationale (housing affordability, infrastructure impact, neighborhood character) is consistent with a regulatory regime that caps or restricts STRs rather than a fully permissive one. Do not underwrite STR income before the replacement ordinance is adopted.
📄 STR Moratorium (Ord. 66)📄 RV Parks Moratorium
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (30+ day tenancies) are permitted in residentially-zoned parcels. Under Article 7 of the Ganges Township Zoning Ordinance, single-family dwellings and two-family dwellings (duplexes) are listed as Permitted Uses by right in the “R” Residential District [3]. Renting a residential dwelling on a 30+ day lease is the standard residential use — no separate STR-style “transient lodging” classification applies to long-term residential tenancies.

Residential dwellings are similarly permitted by right in the Residential/Agricultural District (Article 6), Glenn Neighborhood Residential District (Article 8), and Glenn Hamlet Mixed-Use District (Article 9) [3]. For commercial, agricultural, or mixed-use-zoned parcels, verify the parcel’s zoning district on the map below and confirm residential dwelling use is permitted (or grandfathered) with the Zoning Administrator.

LTRs are not affected by the STR moratorium — Ordinance 66 explicitly defines STR as transient use of less than 30 consecutive days [2]. A bona-fide lease of 30 days or longer falls outside the moratorium’s scope.

Ganges Township Zoning Map (2025)

Click the map to open the full PDF zoning map (updated April 2025).

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance PDF📧 Ask the Clerk
2 Registration & Permit Process

Ganges Township does not require a separate township-level rental registration, landlord license, or rental inspection for long-term residential tenancies. A property owner leasing a residential dwelling for 30+ days does not file paperwork with the township as a landlord [1]. There is no rental program portal, no registration form, and no annual fee.

What is still required:

  • Zoning compliance for any new construction, alteration, accessory building, or change of use — a zoning compliance permit from the Zoning Administrator [3].
  • Building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits for work that triggers state code requirements — see the Building & Zoning Forms page [12].
  • Septic permit through Allegan County Environmental Health for new construction or septic repairs [5].
  • Lease compliance with Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) [4].
Township rental licenseNot required
Annual landlord registrationNot required
Annual township inspectionNot required
Submission path (zoning/building)In person or by mail to Township Office
📄 Building & Zoning Apps📄 All Township Forms🗺 Directions to Township Office
3 Fees & Penalties

There is no Ganges Township annual rental fee for long-term rentals — the township does not maintain an LTR registration program [1].

Fees that may apply to a rental property, when triggered by construction or compliance work, are published in the General Fee Schedule [13]:

Annual LTR registration feeNone (program does not exist)
Zoning compliance permitPer General Fee Schedule [13]
Building permitsPer General Fee Schedule [13]
Zoning ordinance violationCivil infraction — nuisance per se, each day a separate offense [3]
📄 General Fee Schedule (PDF)📄 Civil Infractions Ordinance
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Ganges Township does not perform a township-level rental inspection on long-term rentals. The property must still comply with state building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical codes [12], and (for parcels on septic and well) the Allegan County Water and Sewage Regulations administered by the Allegan County Environmental Health Department [5].

Practical due-diligence checklist for a landlord taking on a long-term rental in Ganges Township:

  • Verify the property has an open or closed permit history matching the structures on site — contact the Building Official through Michigan Township Services [12].
  • Pull the most recent septic and well records from Allegan County Environmental Health [5]. Septic capacity is sized to bedroom count.
  • Confirm smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors per current Michigan code.
  • Confirm any pool on the property is fenced per applicable state requirements.
📄 Building Permit Requirements📄 Septic / Well Records Request📄 Building & Zoning Forms
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. The State Bar of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords covering leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process [4]. These rules apply equally in Ganges Township and are not modified by local ordinance.

Local resources for Allegan County tenants and landlords representing themselves in court:

  • Allegan County Legal Assistance Center (LAC) provides tools, legal information, and court-approved forms for self-represented parties in landlord-tenant disputes and small claims [14]. Phone: 269-686-5221; email: alleganLAC@gmail.com.
  • Allegan County 48B District Court hears summary proceedings (eviction) actions for properties in Ganges Township.
📄 MI Tenants & Landlords Guide🔗 Allegan County LAC📧 Email Allegan LAC

Official Resources

Ordinances
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Ordinance 66 — STR Moratorium
Adopted 12/9/2025, effective 12/25/2025 — expires 6/30/2026
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Zoning Ordinance (Ord. 65)
Effective April 25, 2025
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Moratorium on RV Parks & Campgrounds
Township ordinance
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Anti-Noise & Public Nuisance Ordinance
Township ordinance
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Fireworks Ordinance
Township ordinance
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Regulate Outdoor Entertainment Ordinance
Township ordinance
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Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance
Enforcement procedure
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Litter Ordinance
Township ordinance
Forms & Applications
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Building & Zoning Applications (2023)
Combined permit application packet
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Building Permit Requirements
Submission checklist
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General Fee Schedule
Permit fees
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Outdoor Entertainment Permit Application
For events/amplified sound
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Site Plan / Special Use Application
For special land uses (B&B, hotel/motel)
Maps
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Ganges Township Zoning Map
District boundaries (April 2025 update)
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Allegan County Parcel Viewer
Parcels, utilities, sewer, tax info
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Ganges Township Master Plan
Adopted comprehensive plan (PDF)
Portals & Lookups
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Allegan County Environmental Health
Septic, well, food service permits
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Allegan County EH Forms & Permits
Septic/well permits & records
Contact & Directions
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Township Clerk
269-543-8316
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Township Treasurer
269-543-3451
📞
Building / Zoning Officials
Via Michigan Township Services — 800-626-5964
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Clerk Email
gangesclerk@gmail.com
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Directions to Township Hall
1904 64th Street, Fennville
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Ganges Township Website
Main municipal site
Other Resources
⚖️
Allegan County Legal Assistance Center
Self-rep help for landlord-tenant

Property Tax Treatment

i
Important for investors: A property used as a rental in Michigan is generally classified as non-homestead, which is taxed at the full local millage rate (no Principal Residence Exemption). Short-term rental income may also be subject to the Michigan Use Tax on transient accommodations. Consult a CPA before underwriting any deal — these are not opinions, they are starting points for your own tax research.
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Michigan Property Tax Guide
PRE, millage, transfer rules
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Michigan Treasury
State tax info

Explore Rental Guides — Allegan County

Every municipality in Allegan County. Click any to view its rental guide — or request one if it’s not yet live. View the Allegan County hub →

STRs Allowed
STRs Capped/Limited
STRs Heavily Restricted
STRs Not Allowed
Unverified
Guide Coming Soon

Looking at a property in a different county? View all Southwest Michigan rental guides →

Buying, selling, or investing in Ganges Township?

Ganges Township is in the middle of a deliberate STR rule-making cycle, and the next 12 months will reshape what a rental investment looks like along the Allegan County lakeshore. I help investors and homeowners read the township-specific rules — from the moratorium to long-term-rental zoning to septic and well diligence — so a Fennville-area deal actually pencils.

Schedule a Consultation Call (269) 235-9910

Sources & Downloads

  1. 1
    Ganges Township — Home / Contact https://www.gangestownship.org/index.html
    Township Hall address, clerk/treasurer phone numbers, board officials
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  2. 2
    Ganges Township — Ordinance 66 (STR Moratorium, adopted 12/9/2025) https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/Moratorium%20on%20Short%20Term%20Rentals%20Ord%20No%2066%20(1).pdf
    Full text of the temporary STR moratorium. Effective 12/25/2025, expires 6/30/2026 unless extended or superseded by a new STR ordinance.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  3. 3
    Ganges Township — Zoning Ordinance (Ord. 65, effective 4/25/2025) https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/Ganges%20Zoning%20Ordinance%20050125.pdf
    Full zoning ordinance text. R Residential District use table (Article 7), Section 3.1.B (uses not listed are prohibited), enforcement provisions (Section 21.6).
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  4. 4
    Michigan Legislature — A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf
    Statewide landlord-tenant law, leases, eviction process
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  5. 5
    Allegan County — Environmental Health https://www.allegancounty.org/health/environmental-health
    Septic and well permits and records, county Water and Sewage Regulations
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  6. 6
    Ganges Township — Anti-Noise & Public Nuisance Ordinance https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/Anti-Noise%20and%20Public%20Nuisance%20Ordinance.pdf
    Township ordinance regulating noise and nuisance behavior
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  7. 7
    Ganges Township — Fireworks Ordinance https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/Fireworks%20Ordinance.pdf
    Township ordinance regulating consumer fireworks use
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  8. 8
    Ganges Township — Outdoor Entertainment Ordinance https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/Regulate%20Outdoor%20Entertainment%20Ordinance.pdf
    Regulates outdoor events with amplified sound or significant attendance
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  9. 9
    Ganges Township — Litter Ordinance https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/Litter%20Ordinance.pdf
    Township-wide litter control
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  10. 10
    Ganges Township — Public Hearing Notice (Zoning Ordinance amendments, 5/26/2026) https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/PH%20Notice%20-%20May%2026%202026.ZO.pdf
    Public hearing on additional Zoning Ordinance amendments scheduled May 26, 2026
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  11. 11
    Ganges Township — Moratorium on RV Parks & Campgrounds https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/Moratorium%20on%20RV%20Parks%20Campgrounds.pdf
    Separate moratorium on RV parks and campgrounds during ordinance study
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  12. 12
    Ganges Township — Township Building & Zoning Forms https://www.gangestownship.org/Township-Forms.html
    Building, zoning, and permit applications and contacts (Tasha Smalley, Zoning Admin; Dan Poll, Building Official, both via Michigan Township Services 800-626-5964)
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  13. 13
    Ganges Township — General Fee Schedule https://www.gangestownship.org/public-documents/General%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf
    Township permit fees
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  14. 14
    Allegan County — Legal Assistance Center (LAC) https://www.allegancounty.org/courts-law-enforcement/legal-assistance-center-aclac
    Self-represented party support for landlord-tenant, small claims
    Verified: 2026-05-11
How this guide is produced. This rental guide is researched and drafted with assistance from Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic, working from the official municipal sources linked in this page. AI can make mistakes — any fact that would materially affect a purchase or rental decision should be verified against the official source cited above and confirmed directly with the municipality. See an error? Email a correction.