Rental Investment Guide

Overisel Township

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

Updated May 2026
📞
Township Office
269-751-7030
📧
Contact Form
Use the township contact form
🗺
Directions
A-4307 144th Ave., Holland, MI 49423
🌐
Township Website
overiseltownship.org

Area Overview

Overisel Township sits in the northwestern corner of Allegan County, roughly 10 miles south of Holland and 6 miles east of Hamilton. It is a small, predominantly rural township of about 2,800 residents whose economy and land use are still dominated by farms, orchards, and large-lot rural estates [1]. There is no incorporated village within the township, and most parcels fall under the AG Agricultural or R-1 Rural Estate zoning districts established by the Overisel Township Zoning Ordinance [2].

Overisel does not maintain a short-term-rental ordinance, a landlord registration program, or a rental-inspection program [3]. Rental activity is governed indirectly through the underlying zoning ordinance, the Tourist Home definition, and standard residential dwelling rules. Building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are handled by Professional Code Inspections (PCI), the township’s contracted code-enforcement vendor [4]. The most recent zoning activity in the township was Ordinance 2025-001 (adopted September 9, 2025), which rezoned a single 31.52 acre parcel at 4035 136th Ave from AG Agricultural to R-1 Rural Estate [5].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals VERIFY

Overisel Township has no STR-specific ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance defines Dwelling as a building used as a home or residence, expressly excluding motels, hotels, and tourist rooms or cabins [6]. The closest listed transient-lodging use is Tourist Home, which requires that lodging be provided by a resident family in its own home for compensation [6]. The AG and R-1 districts use permissive zoning (only the listed uses are allowed) [7][8], so a whole-house non-owner-occupied short-term rental is not affirmatively listed in any residential district. Confirm any STR plan in writing with the Zoning Inspector before purchase.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rental (31+ day lease) of a single-family dwelling is permitted by right wherever single-family dwellings are permitted, which includes R-1, R-2, and R-3 by right and AG by Special Use Permit [7][8][9][10]. Two-family dwellings are permitted in R-2 and R-3; multi-family dwellings are permitted in R-3 [9][10]. The township does not require landlord registration, periodic rental inspections, or a separate LTR permit [3]. Statewide Michigan landlord-tenant law applies [14].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Overisel Township’s Zoning Ordinance does not define “short-term rental” or “vacation rental” and does not list either as a permitted use in any district [2]. The Ordinance instead distinguishes between two transient-lodging concepts:

  • Dwelling (Section 3.12): “Any building or portions thereof which is occupied in whole or in part as a home, residence, or sleeping place, either permanently or temporarily, by one or more families, but not including motels, hotels, or tourist rooms or cabins” [6].
  • Tourist Home (Section 3.41): “A building, other than a hotel, boarding house, lodging house, or motel, where lodging is provided by a resident family in its home for compensation, mainly for transients” [6]. This is the closest listed analog to a bed-and-breakfast; by definition it requires the owner to live there.

The AG and R-1 districts use permissive zoning (“land, buildings and structures in this Zoning District may be used for the following purposes only”) [7][8]. Since neither short-term rental nor Tourist Home appears on the AG/R-1/R-2/R-3 use lists, a non-owner-occupied whole-house STR is not affirmatively authorized anywhere in the township. Owner-occupied transient lodging (Tourist Home pattern) may be defensible as an accessory residential use, but only the Zoning Inspector can make that determination for a specific parcel.

Open Overisel Township Zoning Atlas (PDF, 2013) to confirm the zoning district for any parcel before underwriting an STR use case.

For investors: The absence of an STR ordinance is not the same as approval. Before underwriting any STR-based valuation in Overisel Township, get a written determination from the Zoning Inspector that your intended rental use is permitted on the specific parcel. Penalties for violating the Zoning Ordinance are a misdemeanor, with fines up to $500 per day and possible jail time [11].
🗺 Zoning Atlas (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance (PDF)📞 Call Township Office
2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no STR registration program in Overisel Township. The township does not issue a short-term-rental permit, does not maintain a rental registry, and does not charge an STR fee [3]. The Forms & Ordinances page lists FOIA forms, planning and zoning forms, ordinance PDFs, and assessing forms; no rental application or rental affidavit appears on the page [3].

If the township determines your intended use is a Tourist Home or a Commercial use in the AG district, a Special Land Use Permit through the Planning Commission is required [12]. The Special Use process includes:

Application formSpecial Use Permit (PDF)
Submit toPlanning Commission Secretary, A-4307 144th Ave., Holland, MI 49423
Required materialsCompleted application, site plan (boundaries, structures, streets, parking, zoning), Section 13.03 compliance statement, application fee [12]
Public hearingRequired, with mailed notice to neighbors within 300 feet, 5–15 days before hearing
Decision windowWithin 30 days following the public hearing
📄 Special Use Permit App🔗 Planning Commission Page📞 Call Township Office
3 Fees & Penalties

No STR application fee, no STR renewal fee, and no STR inspection fee are charged by Overisel Township because no STR program exists [3]. Fees only apply if a Special Use Permit, Board of Appeals action, or other zoning process is triggered:

Special Use Permit application feePer fee schedule adopted by Township Board (call clerk for current amount) [12]
Board of Appeals application feeSee Board of Appeals Fee Schedule (PDF)
FOIA records request feeSee FOIA Fee Schedule (PDF)

Zoning violations are a separate exposure. Per Section 19.01 of the Zoning Ordinance [11]:

Zoning violation (misdemeanor)Up to $500 fine, up to 90 days in Allegan County Jail, or both
Each day of continued violationSeparate offense (fines stack daily)
📄 Board of Appeals Fees📄 Zoning Penalties (Chapter XIX)📞 Call Township Office
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Overisel Township does not perform rental inspections. Building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections are handled by Professional Code Inspections (PCI), the township’s contracted code enforcement vendor [4]. PCI also issues the corresponding permits for new construction, alterations, and additions.

Permitting & inspections vendorProfessional Code Inspections (PCI) [4]
PCI office1575 142nd Ave., Dorr, MI 49323
PCI phone616-877-2000
Septic & well permitsAllegan County Environmental Health [13]

For STR or B&B operators, the Michigan Public Health Code may impose additional food-service licensing if guests are fed. Confirm with the Allegan County Health Department before serving meals.

🔗 PCI Website📞 Call PCI📄 County Septic Permits
5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Parking)

Overisel Township has no standalone noise ordinance, no STR-specific occupancy cap, and no STR-specific parking rules. Operators are bound by:

  • Family definition limit: The Zoning Ordinance defines a Family as one or more persons occupying a single dwelling unit using common cooking facilities; if not all members are related by blood or marriage, a family may contain no more than five (5) persons [6]. This effectively caps the number of unrelated occupants in a residential dwelling.
  • Parking requirements: Chapter XIV governs off-street parking; STR operators should confirm parking compliance with the Zoning Inspector if guest counts could require additional spaces [2].
  • Nuisance enforcement: Section 19.01 declares any zoning violation a nuisance per se, which the township or any owner or occupant of nearby real estate may pursue via injunction, mandamus, or abatement action [11].
  • Retail alcohol sales prohibition: Ordinance No. 1990-1 prohibits retail alcohol sales in the township [15]. This is relevant for hosts considering small on-site retail or event business models.
📄 Definitions (Chapter III)📄 Alcohol Sales Ordinance📄 Parking Requirements
6 Permit Caps, Moratoriums & Recent Changes

There is no permit cap and no moratorium in Overisel Township because there is no rental permit program. Recent zoning activity has been limited to a single rezoning:

  • September 9, 2025: The Township Board adopted Ordinance 2025-001, rezoning the 31.52 acre parcel at 4035 136th Ave (parcel 03-18-034-017-00) from AG Agricultural to R-1 Rural Estate. The ordinance took effect eight days after publication [5].
  • No STR or LTR ordinance amendments have been adopted as of May 2026 [3].

The Planning Commission meets per its posted schedule and would be the first body to act on any new rental ordinance. Watch the township’s News page for public-hearing notices [16].

🔗 Forms & Ordinances🔗 Planning Commission📰 Township News
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rental (31+ day lease) of a residential dwelling is permitted wherever residential dwellings are permitted in Overisel Township. The Zoning Ordinance does not separate “rental” from “owner-occupied” use for dwellings; both are treated as the same residential use [6]. The relevant districts:

  • AG Agricultural: Single-family dwellings are permitted as a Special Use when authorized by the Planning Commission, subject to Chapter XIII review (farm-protection criteria) [7].
  • R-1 Rural Estate: Single-family dwellings permitted by right (2 acre minimum lot, 1,200 sq ft minimum floor area) [8].
  • R-2 Low Density Residential: Single-family and two-family dwellings permitted by right (single 8,500 sq ft min, two-family 15,000 sq ft min) [9].
  • R-3 Medium Density Residential: All R-2 uses plus multi-family dwellings, nursing/senior housing, and mobile home parks (special use) [10].
  • C-1, C-2, I-1: Commercial and industrial districts; residential use is not the primary purpose. Verify with the Zoning Inspector.

Confirm the zoning district of a specific parcel using the Overisel Township Zoning Atlas (PDF) [17] and cross-check with the Allegan County Parcel Viewer for utilities and tax data [18].

🗺 Zoning Atlas (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance (PDF)📞 Call Zoning Inspector
2 Registration & Permit Process

Overisel Township does not require landlord registration, a rental license, or a rental inspection. A property owner who rents a single-family dwelling, duplex, or multi-family unit (in the appropriate zoning district) does not need to file anything with the township before doing so [3].

The owner is still subject to:

  • Statewide landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.), including security deposit limits, written lease disclosures, and the summary proceedings act for evictions [14].
  • Building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits via PCI for any alterations, additions, or new construction [4].
  • Septic and well permits via Allegan County Environmental Health for any new system or repair [13].
  • The underlying Zoning Ordinance use limits (one family per dwelling unit; max 5 unrelated persons per family unit) [6].
📄 MI Landlord-Tenant Guide🔗 PCI (Building Permits)📄 County Septic Permits
3 Fees & Penalties

No LTR registration fee, no LTR renewal fee, and no LTR inspection fee are charged by Overisel Township because no LTR program exists [3]. Costs to a landlord are limited to:

Building / electrical / plumbing permit feesPer PCI fee schedule [4]
Septic permit feePer Allegan County Environmental Health schedule [13]
Zoning violation (misdemeanor)Up to $500 fine, up to 90 days jail, each day a separate offense [11]

State-level penalties for security-deposit, lease-disclosure, or eviction-procedure violations are governed by Michigan landlord-tenant statutes and case law, not by the township [14].

📄 Zoning Penalties📄 MI Landlord-Tenant Guide
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

There is no periodic rental inspection program in Overisel Township. A landlord is not required to pass a township inspection before renting out a single-family or multi-family dwelling [3]. Practical points still apply:

  • Code-driven inspections: Any renovation, alteration, mechanical work, or new construction requires the appropriate PCI inspection at permit closeout [4].
  • Septic & well inspections: Allegan County Environmental Health permits and inspects on-site sewage systems and private wells for new construction, repairs, and replacements [13].
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: Michigan building code requirements apply to all dwellings; tenants can request inspections through the local building authority if alarms are missing or inoperative.
  • Lead-paint disclosure: Federal law (24 CFR Part 35) requires the lead-paint disclosure form for any rental property built before 1978; this is a federal landlord obligation independent of any township program.
🔗 PCI Website📄 County Septic Permits🏥 Environmental Health
5 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Landlord-tenant disputes in Overisel Township are handled at the state level. The governing framework is MCL 554.601 et seq. (Truth in Renting Act, security deposits) and the Summary Proceedings Act for evictions. The State Bar of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords that covers leases, deposits, repairs, and the eviction process [14].

Eviction cases for Overisel Township properties are filed in the Allegan County 57th District Court [19]. Self-represented tenants and landlords can get free procedural help (not legal advice) at the Allegan County Legal Assistance Center [20].

📄 MI Landlord-Tenant Guide⚖ 57th District Court📄 Legal Assistance Center

Official Resources

Ordinances
📜
Overisel Township Zoning Ordinance
Consolidated PDF, all chapters
📜
Chapter III — Definitions
Dwelling, Family, Tourist Home definitions
📜
Chapter V — AG Agricultural District
Use regulations for AG zoning
📜
Chapter VI — R-1 Rural Estate District
Use, area, and lot regulations
📜
Chapter VII — R-2 Low Density Residential District
Single and two-family dwellings
📜
Chapter VIII — R-3 Medium Density Residential District
Multi-family, senior housing, mobile home parks
📜
Chapter XIII — Special Uses
Special Use Permit procedures
📜
Chapter XIV — Parking and Loading Spaces
Off-street parking requirements
📜
Chapter XIX — Zoning Penalties
Misdemeanor, $500/day max, 90 days
📜
Ordinance No. 1990-1 — Retail Alcohol Sales Prohibition
Township-wide restriction
📜
Ordinance 2025-001 — Recent Rezoning (4035 136th Ave)
AG to R-1, effective 8 days after Sept 2025 publication
Forms & Applications
📋
Special Use Permit Application
PDF — submit to Planning Commission Secretary
📋
Board of Appeals Fee Schedule
Variance & appeal fees
📋
FOIA Fee Schedule
Records request fees
📋
FOIA Public Summary
Procedures & guidelines
Maps
🗺
Overisel Township Zoning Atlas
2013 zoning atlas (PDF) — use for district boundaries
🗺
Allegan County Parcel Viewer
Parcels, utilities, tax info
Portals & Lookups
🔍
Allegan County Property Records (PRD)
Search, review, print property records
🔍
BS&A Online — Overisel Township
Tax & assessment lookups
Contact & Directions
📞
Township Office
(269) 751-7030 — Tuesdays 9am–5pm
📞
Professional Code Inspections (PCI)
Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical
🏥
Allegan County Environmental Health
Septic & well permits
⚖
57th District Court (Allegan County)
Eviction case filings
📄
Allegan County Legal Assistance Center
Free procedural help
🗺
Directions to Township Office
A-4307 144th Ave., Holland, MI 49423
🌐
Overisel Township Website
Main municipal site

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.
📊
Michigan Property Tax Guide
PRE, millage, transfer rules
🏛
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 or investing in Overisel Township?

Overisel is one of the Allegan County townships that has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance, which is both an opportunity and a risk for investors. I help buyers verify rental-use feasibility with the township before they commit, and structure deals so STR cash-flow assumptions do not blow up if rules change.

Schedule a Consultation Call (269) 235-9910

Sources & Downloads

  1. 1
    Overisel Township, Michigan — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overisel_Township,_Michigan
    Population, geography, and demographics
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  2. 2
    Overisel Township — Zoning Ordinance (consolidated PDF) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/OVERISEL-TOWNSHIP-ZONING-ORDIANCE.pdf
    Full Zoning Ordinance covering all districts and procedures
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  3. 3
    Overisel Township — Forms & Ordinances page https://overiseltownship.org/forms-ordinances/
    Lists all available forms; no rental application or registration appears as of May 2026
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  4. 4
    Overisel Township — Building Department / PCI https://overiseltownship.org/building/
    PCI handles all building, electrical, mechanical permits and inspections; 1575 142nd Ave., Dorr, MI; 616-877-2000
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  5. 5
    Overisel Township — Forms & Ordinances (Ord 2025-001 rezoning) https://overiseltownship.org/forms-ordinances/
    Sept 9, 2025: rezoning of 4035 136th Ave from AG to R-1. NOTE: the township's standalone 'notice-of-ordinance-adoption' page was removed and 404s as of 6/7/2026; relinked to the official Forms & Ordinances landing page.
    Verified: 2026-06-07
  6. 6
    Overisel Township — Chapter III Definitions https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChapterIII.pdf
    Dwelling (3.12) excludes motels, hotels, tourist rooms. Family (3.14) caps at 5 unrelated persons. Tourist Home (3.41) requires resident family.
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  7. 7
    Overisel Township — Chapter V (AG Agricultural District) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChapterV.pdf
    Single-family dwellings permitted only as Special Use; permissive zoning
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  8. 8
    Overisel Township — Chapter VI (R-1 Rural Estate District) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChapterVI.pdf
    Single-family dwellings permitted by right; 2-acre min, 1,200 sqft min floor
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  9. 9
    Overisel Township — Chapter VII (R-2 Low Density Residential) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChapterVII.pdf
    Single and two-family dwellings permitted by right
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  10. 10
    Overisel Township — Chapter VIII (R-3 Medium Density Residential) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChapterVIII.pdf
    Multi-family dwellings, senior housing, mobile home parks (special use)
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  11. 11
    Overisel Township — Chapter XIX (Penalties) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChapterXIX.pdf
    Misdemeanor up to $500 / 90 days; each day separate offense
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  12. 12
    Overisel Township — Chapter XIII (Special Uses) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChapterXIII.pdf
    Special Use Permit procedures, public hearing, 300-ft notice
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  13. 13
    Allegan County — Environmental Health https://www.allegancounty.org/health/environmental-health
    Septic, well permits, food service licensing
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  14. 14
    Michigan Legislature — A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Publications/tenantlandlord.pdf
    Statewide landlord-tenant law, leases, eviction process
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  15. 15
    Overisel Township — Ordinance No. 1990-1 (Retail Alcohol Sales Prohibition) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ordinance-1990-1.pdf
    Township-wide retail alcohol sales prohibition
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  16. 16
    Overisel Township — News page https://overiseltownship.org/news/
    Board and Planning Commission public-hearing notices
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  17. 17
    Overisel Township — Zoning Atlas (2013) https://overiseltownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Overisel_ZoningAtlas_2013.pdf
    Official township zoning district map (PDF)
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  18. 18
    Allegan County — Parcel Viewer (GIS) https://gis.allegancounty.org/portal_webadaptor/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2ec1c68c8edc4ef595f41cc10596f3eb
    Parcel and tax info GIS
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  19. 19
    Allegan County — 57th District Court https://www.allegancounty.org/courts-law-enforcement/57th-district-court
    Eviction case filings for Overisel Township properties
    Verified: 2026-05-12
  20. 20
    Allegan County — Legal Assistance Center (ACLAC) https://www.allegancounty.org/courts-law-enforcement/legal-assistance-center-aclac
    Free procedural help for self-represented tenants and landlords
    Verified: 2026-05-12
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.