Rental Investment Guide

Spring Lake


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

Updated May 2026

Area Overview


The Village of Spring Lake is a small Ottawa County community of roughly 2,400 residents on the south shore of Spring Lake at the mouth of the Grand River, immediately east of Ferrysburg and across the channel from Grand Haven. Together with Grand Haven and Ferrysburg, Spring Lake is part of the Tri-Cities area, with most year-round housing concentrated south of Savidge Street and a mix of waterfront cottages and bayou-front homes along Lloyd’s Bayou, Petty’s Bayou, and Smith Bayou. The Village shares law enforcement coverage with the Ottawa County Sheriff and fire service with Spring Lake Township [1].

Every rental in the Village – short-term or long-term – must be registered with Village Hall and hold an active Certificate of Compliance before it can be rented [2]. Long-term rentals (28 days or more) are permitted by right in any residential structure legally in existence, with a $30/unit annual registration fee [3][4]. Short-term rentals (less than 28 days) are treated very differently: STRs are only allowed inside a small Short-Term Rental Overlay District, require a Planning Commission Special Land Use approval, and carry a $500/unit annual registration plus a $450 application fee and $1,000 escrow [4][5].

The STR overlay map has tightened twice in the last 18 months. The Village Council adopted a six-month STR permit moratorium in November 2024 [6], unanimously voted in April 2025 to ban new STRs on Rex, Monarch, and Dixie streets (the six existing operators on those streets are grandfathered) [7], and adopted Ordinance 396 on June 9, 2025 restating Chapter 271 of the Code of Ordinances [8]. Net result: outside the overlay you cannot operate an STR, period; inside the overlay you can still apply but face full Special Land Use review.

Quick Status Summary


Short-Term Rentals LIMITED

Short-term rentals (under 28 days) are allowed only within the Village’s Short-Term Rental Overlay District and only as a Special Land Use approved by the Planning Commission [5]. Annual STR registration is $500/unit, with a $450 application fee and $1,000 escrow at first approval [4]. Following an April 2025 amendment, properties on Rex, Monarch, and Dixie streets are no longer in the overlay (six pre-existing STRs there are grandfathered) [7]. Ordinance 396 restated the rental program effective June 9, 2025 [8].

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rentals (28 days or more) are a permitted use in any residential structure legally in existence [3], subject to annual registration with the Village ($30/unit) and a biennial inspection through Michigan Township Services Muskegon ($50/unit) [4][3]. No cap. Renew before January 1 each year; late fees escalate to $60 (31-60 days late) and $90 (61+ days late) [4].

Rental Regulations


1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Short-term rentals are allowed only inside the Village’s Short-Term Rental Overlay District. Anywhere else in the Village, an STR is prohibited [5]. The overlay is a small mapped area south and east of downtown that overlays Single-Family Residential (SFR), Multi-Family Residential (MFR), Commercial (C), Central Business District (CBD), and Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning [9].

Even inside the overlay, an STR is not a by-right use – it is a Special Land Use that must be approved by the Planning Commission after a public hearing with notice to property owners within 300 feet [5]. The Planning Commission can deny or condition approval if the lot is nonconforming or the use would adversely affect neighbors [5].

April 2025 contraction: Properties on Rex, Monarch, and Dixie streets were removed from the overlay; six existing STRs on those streets are grandfathered but no new approvals will issue there [7].

Village of Spring Lake STR Overlay Map

Click to open the current Short-Term Rental Overlay Map (PDF, updated April 2025).

2 Registration & Permit Process

STR applicants follow two parallel tracks. First, submit a Special Land Use (SLU) application to the Planning Commission via Village Hall, 102 W Savidge Street. Second, after SLU approval, submit the Rental Unit Registration Application with the $500 fee and schedule a rental inspection through Michigan Township Services Muskegon (231-865-6977) [4][5].

SLU application fee$450 + $1,000 escrow (refundable balance) [4]
STR annual fee$500 per unit, due by January 1 each year [4]
Renewal deadlineJanuary 1 (renewed each calendar year except the first January 1 after initial registration) [2]
InspectorMichigan Township Services Muskegon – 231-865-6977 / mtsm@frontier.com
Inspection cycleBiennial (every 2 years); $50/unit [4]
Responsible Local AgentRequired; agent must live within 60 miles of the Village, accept calls at all times the unit is rented, and be physically present at the property within one hour [2]
300-foot noticeOwner must provide the Responsible Local Agent’s contact info in writing to every property owner within 300 feet [2]
Planning CommissionMeets 4th Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Barber School, 102 W Exchange St [5]
For investors: If the parcel sits outside the STR Overlay District as updated in April 2025, an STR application will not be accepted. Verify overlay status with the Senior Planner before writing an offer.
3 Fees & Penalties
STR annual registration$500 per unit [4]
Special Land Use application$450 application fee + $1,000 escrow (at first approval) [4]
Biennial inspection$50 per unit (paid to Michigan Township Services Muskegon) [4]
Re-inspection$50 per unit [4]
Operating an unregistered STR$1,000 1st violation / $1,500 each subsequent violation [10]
Exceeding maximum occupancy$500 1st / $1,500 2nd and subsequent [10]
Other STR violations (parking, noise, etc.)$100 / $500 / $1,500 (each successive violation) [10]
Each day = separate violationYes – daily fines can stack [10]
Certificate suspension1st violation/12mo: up to 30-day suspension; 2nd: 60-day suspension; 3rd: revocation + 24-month bar from reapplying [10]

Fee schedule per FY 2025-26 Village Fee Schedule [4]. Penalty schedule per Chapter 271 ยง271-29 and ยง271-30 [10].

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Every rental unit (STR and LTR) must pass a biennial inspection scheduled through Michigan Township Services Muskegon (MTS) at 231-865-6977 or mtsm@frontier.com [3]. A Certificate of Compliance will not issue until MTS provides passing inspection results to Village staff [3].

Inspection items follow the International Property Maintenance Code as referenced in the Michigan Building Code, plus Chapter 271 standards. Key items called out on the rental registration affidavit and in the STR submittal packet [3][5]:

  • Operational smoke detectors in every sleeping area.
  • All guests must sleep in approved bedrooms – no sleeping on couches, the floor, in tents, or in trailers on the lot.
  • No separate cooking facilities in bedrooms.
  • Maximum occupancy is set by the IPMC based on bedroom count and square footage; this number is fixed at inspection and posted in the unit.
  • Fire pits must be at least three feet from any lot line and comply with the fire code.
  • Pools, hot tubs, decks, patios must meet the underlying district setbacks (at-grade decks/patios that don’t count as structures must be at least 3 feet from any lot line).
  • Garbage must be in closed containers and disposed of weekly.

The certificate is valid through the current calendar year plus the following calendar year unless revoked [2]. If items fail, they must be corrected and re-inspected ($50 fee) before the certificate issues.

5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Parking, Posted Notices)

Once approved, every STR in Spring Lake Village operates under a strict set of performance standards built into Chapter 271 ยง271-27 and Article X of the Zoning Ordinance [2][5]:

  • Posted in the unit: a full-size Certificate of Compliance, copies of applicable Village ordinance sections (registration, trash, noise, occupancy, parking), the Responsible Local Agent’s name and contact info, and the maximum occupancy. For single-family STRs, the Certificate must also be visible from the street [2].
  • 300-foot neighbor notice. The owner must provide the Responsible Local Agent’s contact info in writing to all property owners within 300 feet of the rental [2].
  • No couch / floor / tent / trailer sleeping – all guests sleep in approved bedrooms [5].
  • Off-street parking minimum: 2 spaces per unit for up to 6 occupants, plus 1 additional space per 3 occupants over 6. Parking on grass is prohibited. Designated parking area must be shown on the site plan [5].
  • Quiet hours / noise / fireworks: STR occupants may not violate Village noise or firework regulations – these are explicitly listed as nuisance triggers [2].
  • Garbage: closed containers, weekly disposal [5].
  • Site modifications: structural expansions or interior alterations that increase the number of sleeping rooms void the existing SLU approval and require a new Planning Commission amendment [5].
6 Local Agent / 24-Hour Contact Requirement

Every STR (and LTR) in Spring Lake Village must designate a Responsible Local Agent on the Rental Registration Application, and the agent’s residence must be within 60 miles of the Village [2]. The owner may serve as their own agent if they meet the residency test.

The agent’s duties:

  • Available to accept telephone calls at all times the dwelling is rented [2].
  • Has a key to the unit [2].
  • Capable of being physically present at the property within one hour to address issues – or arrange for another person who can be [2].
  • Maintains a list of the names and number of occupants of each rental unit they are responsible for [2].
  • Accepts service of process and all legal notices on behalf of the owner; notice served on the agent is deemed served on the owner [2].

Public-facing contacts for complaints and compliance questions:

7 Permit Caps, Moratoriums & Recent Changes

Spring Lake Village has not adopted a numeric cap on STR permits, but the overlay-only approach functions as a de facto cap: only parcels inside the mapped overlay can apply. Recent activity:

  • November 19, 2024: Village Council unanimously adopted a six-month moratorium on new STR permits and licenses, ending May 18, 2025 [6].
  • April 21, 2025: Council unanimously approved an amendment to the STR Overlay Map removing properties on Rex, Monarch, and Dixie streets from the overlay. Six existing STRs on those streets are grandfathered and can continue (including under new ownership), but no new STRs will be approved there [7].
  • June 9, 2025: Village Council adopted Ordinance No. 396, restating Chapter 271 of the Code of Ordinances. The restated chapter consolidates registration timing, certificate-of-compliance requirements, inspection rules, the 60-mile Responsible Local Agent requirement, and the STR-specific fine schedule [8].
  • April 21, 2025 (latest overlay map): The current overlay map is dated April 21, 2025 [9] – confirm with the Senior Planner that a target parcel is shown inside the overlay before underwriting an STR strategy.

Underwriting takeaway: the addressable inventory of new STR opportunities in the Village is small (a few blocks of overlay) and shrinking. Outside the overlay, only LTRs work. Inside the overlay, plan on Planning Commission process, escrow, and a public hearing with 300-foot notice.

1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (28-day minimum) are a permitted use in any residential structure legally in existence in the Village [3]. That includes single-family homes in the Single-Family Residential (SFR) district, units in the Multi-Family Residential (MFR) district, and residential units in the Central Business District (CBD), Commercial (C), and PUD districts, as long as the underlying dwelling itself is legal.

No Special Land Use approval is needed for an LTR – just annual registration and inspection. There is no cap. For any specific parcel, verify the zoning district on the Village Zoning Map and confirm the structure is a legal dwelling with the Senior Planner before underwriting [9].

Village of Spring Lake Zoning Map

Click to open the official Village Zoning Map (PDF).

2 Registration & Permit Process

Submit the Village’s Annual Rental Registration Application by mail or in person to Village Hall at 102 W Savidge Street, Spring Lake, MI 49456, attention Jordan Schwing. Check ‘Long Term Rental’ on the form and include the $30/unit fee [3]. One application per rental unit.

LTR annual fee$30 per unit (if paid within 30 days of expiration) [4]
Late fees$60 (31-60 days late) / $90 (61+ days late) [4]
Renewal deadlineJanuary 1 each calendar year (except the first January 1 after initial registration) [2]
LTR definitionRental term of 28 days or more [2]
InspectorMichigan Township Services Muskegon – 231-865-6977 / mtsm@frontier.com
Inspection cycleBiennial (every 2 years); $50/unit [4]
Responsible Local AgentRequired for LTRs as well – agent must live within 60 miles of the Village [2]
Change of ownershipNew owner must reregister within 10 days; certificate of compliance and registration expire within 60 days of transfer otherwise [2]
For investors: Spring Lake Village does not use Deckard or an online portal – registration is paper-based via mail or in-person drop-off at Village Hall. Renewal cycle is January 1, not the more common Tri-Cities April or June date.
3 Fees & Penalties
LTR annual registration$30 per unit (within 30 days of expiration) [4]
Late: 31-60 days$60 per unit [4]
Late: 61+ days$90 per unit [4]
Biennial inspection$50 per unit (paid to Michigan Township Services Muskegon) [4]
Re-inspection$50 per unit [4]
Operating without registration / certificateMunicipal civil infraction under ยง271-5; increased fines for repeated violations within 12 months [2]

LTR-specific fines are set by the Village’s civil-infraction schedule under ยง1-2 of the Code of Ordinances [2]. Fee schedule per FY 2025-26 Village Fee Schedule [4].

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

LTRs follow the same biennial inspection cycle as STRs – every 2 years through Michigan Township Services Muskegon at 231-865-6977 or mtsm@frontier.com [3]. A passing inspection is required before a Certificate of Compliance issues; the certificate must be displayed conspicuously in each rental unit at all times [2].

Core inspection standards come from the International Property Maintenance Code as referenced in the Michigan Building Code, plus Chapter 271. The registration affidavit explicitly requires:

  • Operational smoke detectors in every room intended for sleeping [3].
  • Compliance with the IPMC and the Michigan Building Code generally [3].
  • Owner/agent agreement to abide by Chapter 271 and the Village Zoning Ordinance [3].

Re-inspections cost $50 per unit [4]. The certificate is valid for the current calendar year and the following calendar year unless revoked [2]. If ownership transfers and a current certificate doesn’t exist, an inspection is required – violations found at that point invalidate the existing registration and require new registration by the buyer within 10 days [2].

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 Michigan Legislature publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords covering leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process [12]. Spring Lake Village does not have a separate local tenant-rights ordinance – state law controls. Eviction filings for Spring Lake Village properties go to the 58th District Court in Grand Haven.

Note that under ยง271-18 of the local rental ordinance, if a Certificate of Compliance expires and is not renewed within 30 days, the Village can issue a notice declaring the unit unlawful to occupy, and current tenants may be entitled to escrow rent moneys under state law [2]. This protects tenants when an owner stops maintaining compliance.

Special Regulations


Spring Lake Village sits at the mouth of the Grand River where it joins Lake Michigan via Spring Lake, which adds compliance considerations most inland Ottawa County parcels don’t face: Ottawa County’s countywide Time-of-Sale Septic Ordinance at any property transfer, and waterfront overlay zoning along Spring Lake and the bayous.

โ˜… Time-of-Sale Septic & Well Inspection (Ottawa County)

Ottawa County has a countywide Time of Sale/Transfer Septic Ordinance – every parcel served by a private septic system and/or well must be inspected by the Ottawa County Environmental Health Division (or an approved evaluator) prior to property transfer [13]. A failed system must be brought into compliance before or as part of closing.

For investors underwriting an STR or LTR cash flow on an older Spring Lake Village cottage, this is a routine but non-trivial line item; failed-system replacement costs (often $15,000-$35,000+) should be priced into the offer.

โ˜… Waterfront Overlay District (Spring Lake / Bayous)

The Village Zoning Ordinance includes a Waterfront Overlay District applicable to parcels along Spring Lake, Lloyd’s Bayou, Petty’s Bayou, and Smith Bayou. The overlay layers additional setback, screening, and shoreline-protection requirements on top of the underlying zoning [9]. For waterfront STR candidates, confirm whether outdoor structures (decks, pools, hot tubs, fire pits) meet the overlay’s setbacks before the Special Land Use hearing – shoreline non-compliance is a common reason the Planning Commission conditions or denies an STR application.

Official Resources


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 โ€” these are not opinions, they are starting points for your own tax research.

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Buying, selling, or investing in Spring Lake Village?

Spring Lake Village is one of the most surgically regulated STR markets in West Michigan – the overlay district has been redrawn twice in the last 18 months, and an STR outside it is a non-starter. I help investors confirm overlay status, model the $500/$30 fee + Planning Commission process, and underwrite waterfront Tri-Cities parcels before you write the offer.

Sources & Downloads


  1. 1
    Village of Spring Lake – About / Contact https://springlakevillage.org/about/
    Village profile, Tri-Cities geography, Sheriff arrangement
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  2. 2
    Full rental ordinance: registration, certificate-of-compliance, 60-mile Responsible Local Agent, January 1 renewal, posting requirements, inspection authority, STR performance standards (ยง271-27), fines (ยง271-29), suspensions (ยง271-30)
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  3. 3
    Village of Spring Lake – Annual Rental Registration Form (PDF) https://springlakevillage.org/?ddownload=12013
    LTR $30 / STR $500, late-fee escalator, mail-in or in-person submittal to Jordan Schwing, MTS Muskegon biennial inspection contact (231-865-6977 / mtsm@frontier.com), smoke detector affidavit, IPMC compliance
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  4. 4
    Village of Spring Lake – FY 2025-26 Fee Schedule (PDF) https://springlakevillage.org/?ddownload=19794
    Confirms STR $500 / LTR $30 registration, $50 biennial inspection, $50 re-inspection, $450 SLU application + $1,000 escrow, STR violation fines ($1,000/$1,500 unregistered, $500/$1,500 over-occupancy, $100/$500/$1,500 other)
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  5. 5
    Village of Spring Lake – Short-Term Rental Submittal Packet (PDF) https://springlakevillage.org/?ddownload=21549
    Full SLU application form, application materials checklist, Planning Commission process, and full text of Article X (ยง390-64 through ยง390-68) including STR Overlay District intent, permitted uses, design requirements, SLU standards, parking requirements
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  6. 6
    Village of Spring Lake – November 2024 Moratorium Notice https://springlakevillage.org/spring-lake-village-council-votes-to-approve-short-term/
    Council adopted a 6-month STR permit moratorium on November 19, 2024, expiring May 18, 2025
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  7. 7
    April 21, 2025: unanimous council vote to remove Rex, Monarch, Dixie from STR overlay; 6 existing STRs grandfathered (can continue under new ownership)
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  8. 8
    Village of Spring Lake – Chapter 271 Codified on eCode360 https://ecode360.com/29462617
    Codified Chapter 271 (Registration of Rental Units) as restated by Ordinance 396, adopted June 9, 2025
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  9. 9
    Village of Spring Lake – Short-Term Rental Overlay Map (April 2025 PDF) https://springlakevillage.org/?ddownload=21547
    Current overlay map dated April 21, 2025; underlying zoning districts include CBD, C, MFR, SFR, PUD
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  10. 10
    Village of Spring Lake – Chapter 271 ยง271-29 / ยง271-30 (Fine + Suspension Schedule) https://springlakevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Chapter-271-Registration-of-Rental-Units-Restated-Ordinance.pdf#page=9
    STR-specific fines: $1,000/$1,500 unregistered, $500/$1,500 over-occupancy, $100/$500/$1,500 other (each day = separate violation); certificate suspensions 30/60 days and 24-month revocation on 3rd violation in 12 months
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  11. 11
    Village of Spring Lake – Residential Rentals Program Page https://springlakevillage.org/residential-rentals/
    Senior Planner Cassandra Chaphalkar (cchaphalkar@ght.org, Wed 1-5pm) and Associate Planner Harrison Hill (hhill@ghtmi.gov); STR forms index
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  12. 12
    Michigan Legislature – Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf
    Statewide landlord-tenant law, leases, security deposits, evictions (MCL 554.601 et seq., Summary Proceedings Act)
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  13. 13
    Ottawa County – Well & Septic Program (Time of Sale Ordinance) https://miottawa.org/health/environmental/well-septic/
    Countywide Time of Sale/Transfer Septic Ordinance; Environmental Health 616-393-5645
    Verified: 2026-05-14
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 โ€” 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.