Martin Township

Martin Township’s zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 30, as amended) does not separately define or regulate “short-term rental,” “transient rental,” or “vacation rental” uses ^[3]. Whether a given parcel can be operated as an STR depends on whether the parcel’s zoning district permits the underlying single-family dwelling use, since the ordinance treats residential occupancy by category and accessory use rather than by length of stay.

The base ordinance and its amendments (Ordinance 1-20, plus Ordinances 94, 98, 104, 109, 122, 127, 129, 130, 133, and 134) are posted as scanned PDFs on the township site, and the consolidated district structure must be verified directly with the Zoning Administrator for any specific parcel ^[11]. Section 11.3 (Special Exception Uses) has been amended multiple times (Ord. 109, Ord. 122) and is the most-used pathway for non-by-right uses in the township ^[12]. Most of the township is agricultural with residential pockets, plus the Gun Lake shoreline on the eastern edge. For any specific property, verify the zoning district through the Allegan County Parcel Viewer and confirm with the township office before listing.

There is no township-level short-term rental registration or permit to file with Martin Township ^[3]. The township does not maintain an STR portal, a permit application, or a rental license. The township office is at 998 Templeton St., Martin, MI 49070, phone (269) 672-5027 ^[2].

What investors and operators still need to handle independently of the township:

• Michigan Treasury – Use Tax on Accommodations. Operators of rentals under 30 days must register with the Michigan Department of Treasury and remit the 6% Use Tax on Accommodations on the gross rental receipts.
• Building / mechanical / electrical / plumbing permits. Any improvements to the structure go through the Allegan County Building Department ^[6]. Plan submittals, inspections, and final certificates of occupancy are issued at the county level for Martin Township parcels.
• Zoning sign-off. Before listing, confirm in writing (email is fine) with the township office that the parcel’s zoning district permits the proposed rental use ^[2].
• Septic permit / records. If the property is on a private septic system, request inspection records from the Allegan County Health Department, 3255 122nd Ave., Allegan, MI 49010, (269) 673-5411 ^[7].
• Outdoor gathering threshold. If the rental will host events of 250+ persons, the Outdoor Gatherings ordinance (Ord. 97, as amended by Ord. 101 and Ord. 107) is triggered and a permit is required ^[4].

Martin Township does not charge a township-level short-term rental fee or annual rental registration fee as of May 2026 ^[3]. There is no township STR permit to renew. The costs to budget for instead are state and county:

If the township enacts a short-term rental ordinance in the future, this section will be updated and the new fee schedule added here.

Martin Township does not run an STR safety-inspection program. Building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and code inspections triggered by new construction, additions, or alterations are handled by the Allegan County Building Department, 3283 122nd Ave., Allegan, MI 49010, (269) 673-0440 ^[6].

For any STR or LTR property, standard Michigan habitability and safety expectations still apply:

• Smoke and CO detectors meeting Michigan Residential Code on each habitable level and outside each sleeping area.
• Egress windows in any bedroom – every sleeping room must have at least one operable emergency escape opening.
• Functioning utilities (water, electricity, heat capable of maintaining 68°F).
• Septic system in working order if not on municipal sewer. Most Martin Township parcels are on private septic; the Gun Lake Sewer & Water Authority serves a portion of the eastern lakefront area ^[15].
• Well water permitted and (recommended) tested for safe drinking-water parameters at change of ownership and before a high-turnover rental use ^[7].
• State Construction Code violations are enforceable by the township as civil infractions under Ord. 103 ^[16].

Operating rules for rentals in Martin Township come from a small set of operating ordinances plus state law – not from a separate STR good-neighbor policy.

• Outdoor gatherings of 250+ persons require a permit under Ord. 97, as amended by Ord. 101 and Ord. 107 ^[4]. This is the operative “big-party” threshold for Martin parcels; events below 250 are not separately permitted but remain subject to general nuisance and trespass enforcement by the Allegan County Sheriff.
• Marihuana establishments are prohibited. Ord. 125 prohibits marihuana establishments and facilities, and Ord. 126 amends the zoning ordinance to maintain that prohibition ^[5]. Personal use is unaffected; commercial cannabis operations are not permitted.
• Burn permits. Open burning requires a permit; instructions and contact information are on the Martin Township Fire & Rescue page ^[17].
• Fireworks. Michigan’s Fireworks Safety Act (PA 256 of 2011) controls; the township has not adopted a stricter local fireworks ordinance.
• Civil infractions / penalties. Ord. 105 establishes the township’s general civil-infractions framework for ordinance violations ^[13].

For a high-volume STR, build a written house manual that addresses Allegan County Sheriff non-emergency dispatch contact, the 250-person gathering cap, the Michigan fireworks calendar, and the township office number for noise complaint follow-up.

The eastern edge of Martin Township borders Gun Lake, the largest inland lake in Allegan and Barry Counties, and lakefront parcels have additional layers of regulation that affect rental investment ^[15].

• Gun Lake Improvement Board (GLIB) meetings are held jointly with neighboring townships and Barry County representatives; meeting schedule and minutes are on the Martin Township calendar ^[17].
• Gun Lake Sewer & Water Authority (GLASA) serves a portion of the Martin lakefront and is referenced in Ordinance 1-20 (the township’s foundational code) and Ord. 21-30 (rezonings and franchise amendments) ^[11]. Confirm whether a specific parcel is on the GLASA sewer system or on private septic before underwriting.
• Watercraft Ord. 51-60 includes a watercraft control / lake-use ordinance applicable to portions of the township shoreline ^[18]. STR operators advertising “boat slip included” should confirm any docking arrangement complies with the watercraft control rules and any homeowners-association covenants.
• Lake-quality and shoreline use: Inland lake riparian rights and shoreline-protection rules (seawalls, dock placement, dredging) are state-regulated under EGLE; major shoreline work requires state permits in addition to local sign-off.