Rental Investment Guide

Chester Township

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

Updated May 2026
📞
Township Office
616-899-5544
📧
Zoning Administrator
zoning@chester-twp.org
🗺
Directions
3509 Sehler St., P.O. Box 115, Conklin, MI 49403
🌐
Township Website
www.chester-twp.org

Area Overview

Chester Township sits in the northeastern corner of Ottawa County, centered on the unincorporated community of Conklin and the small lakefront settlement around Crockery Lake. It is a predominantly rural, agricultural township of roughly 2,136 residents covering 35.9 square miles [1], with land use dominated by farms, single-family homes, and a small cluster of homes on Crockery Lake. The closest population centers for renters and weekenders are Grand Rapids (about 25 minutes east) and Muskegon (about 25 minutes west).

Unlike Lake Michigan shoreline townships in Ottawa County, Chester Township has not enacted a short-term rental ordinance and does not run a rental registration or inspection program. Rentals are governed primarily by the township’s Zoning Ordinance [2], the County’s Time of Sale/Transfer septic ordinance [3], and standard nuisance-style regulations (noise, fireworks, trash). The Zoning Ordinance defines a “Short Term Rental Unit” as renting all or part of a dwelling for less than 28 consecutive days [2], but does not list it as a permitted or special use in any zone district. For any specific parcel, that combination means short-term rental status needs to be verified directly with Zoning Administrator Aaron Bigelow before underwriting.

Township leadership has also enacted a temporary moratorium on new High Density Residential development as of late 2025 [4], so investors looking at multi-family or higher-density rental projects should expect delays until the moratorium is lifted.

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals VERIFY

Chester Township has no STR-specific ordinance and no registration or permit program. The Zoning Ordinance defines a “Short Term Rental Unit” (under 28 consecutive days) [2] but does not list it as a permitted use in any residential or agricultural district, which leaves operation status dependent on zoning interpretation. Always verify with Zoning Administrator Aaron Bigelow (zoning@chester-twp.org) before purchasing or listing a property as an STR.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rentals (31+ day leases) follow standard residential zoning. There is no township-level rental registration, inspection, or licensing program for long-term rentals. Standard Michigan landlord-tenant law applies, and Ottawa County’s Time of Sale/Transfer septic ordinance [3] requires a septic inspection at every property sale.

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

The Chester Township Zoning Ordinance defines a “Short Term Rental Unit” as a dwelling rented for less than 28 consecutive days [2], but does not list it as a permitted or special land use in any zoning district. That silence in the use chart, combined with the existence of a definition, means STR status hinges on Zoning Administrator interpretation for any given parcel. There is no separate “Commercial Lodging” or “Tourist Home” category in the use table, and no STR permit or registration program exists.

Chester Township’s zoning districts include Agricultural (AG), Low Density Residential (LDR), High Density Residential (HDR), Lake Residential (LR), Commercial, Industrial, and Mobile Home Park [2]. There are three sub-area zoning maps covering the township itself, the Conklin area, and the Crockery Lake area.

Before underwriting any STR purchase here, do all three of these:

  • Pull the zoning district for the parcel using the appropriate map below or the Ottawa County GIS viewer.
  • Email the Zoning Administrator (zoning@chester-twp.org) and ask in writing whether short-term rental use is permitted on that specific parcel.
  • If renting to fewer than 14-day guests as a Bed and Breakfast, note that B&Bs are defined separately as a Home-Based Business that requires owner-occupancy and Planning Commission special-use approval [2].

Chester Township Zoning Map

Click the map to open the township-wide Zoning Map PDF.

📄 Zoning Ordinance PDF🗺 Crockery Lake Zoning Map🗺 Conklin Zoning Map📧 Ask Zoning Admin
2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no STR-specific registration or permit program in Chester Township. The Township does not run a rental hotline, does not issue STR licenses, and does not maintain a public STR registry. There is no application form, no annual fee, and no inspection cycle tied to short-term renting.

That does not mean STR operation is automatically authorized. Because the Zoning Ordinance defines but does not expressly permit STR use [2], any new STR operator should obtain a written zoning determination from Aaron Bigelow before listing the property. A zoning determination is the only path to confirm in writing that a given parcel may be operated as an STR.

Submission pathEmail zoning@chester-twp.org or stop by the Township Office (Mon 1–7 PM, Wed/Thu 9–2 PM)
STR permit feeNone (no STR program)
Inspection requirementNone for STR — but Ottawa County septic inspection required at sale [3]
Zoning permitRequired for any new structure or ground coverage [5]
📧 Request Zoning Determination📞 Call Township Office📄 Zoning Permit Form
3 Fees & Penalties

Chester Township does not charge a short-term rental fee. The fees most likely to apply to an STR operator are zoning, building, and infraction fees published in the Township fee schedule.

STR registration feeNone (no program)
Zoning permit (ground coverage)See zoning permit form [5]
Civil infractionsGoverned by the Civil Infractions Ordinance [6]; building code violations by the Building Code Civil Infraction Ordinance [7]
Operating without required zoning approvalNotice from Zoning Administrator, two-week cure period, then potential citation [8]

The Township enforces zoning complaints reactively, not proactively. A written or verbal complaint kicks off a notice-letter process; the citation only follows if the violation persists past the cure window [8].

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

No STR-specific inspection program exists in Chester Township. The two inspection regimes that may still apply to a rental property here are:

  • Ottawa County Time of Sale/Transfer septic inspection [3]. A well and septic inspection is required prior to any property sale, and any defects identified must be corrected. Buyers of any rural Chester Township property should request the most recent inspection report from the County Environmental Health Division at (616) 393-5645 before closing.
  • Property Maintenance Code [9]. The Township has adopted a Property Maintenance Code Ordinance, which provides baseline habitability standards (no exposed wiring, working plumbing, safe means of egress) enforceable via complaint.

Building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are required for any modifications and are issued by the Township Building Inspector (inspector@chester-twp.org).

🏥 Ottawa County Well & Septic📄 Property Maintenance Code📧 Email Building Inspector
5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Parking)

STR operators in Chester Township are bound by the same set of nuisance, fireworks, and trash ordinances that apply to every property owner. There is no STR-specific occupancy cap or quiet-hours rule.

  • Disorderly Conduct Ordinance — prohibits noisy, disturbing, or threatening conduct on private property [10]. Local law enforcement enforces this; Ottawa County dispatch is the contact for non-emergency complaints.
  • Fireworks Ordinance — limits the days and hours fireworks may be discharged, consistent with the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act [11]. Operators should explicitly list fireworks restrictions in house rules.
  • Trash Ordinance — requires garbage and refuse to be kept in proper containers; piles or unreasonable accumulation are prohibited [12].
  • Crockery Lake Fertilizer Ordinance — restricts phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizer near Crockery Lake [13]. Lakefront STR operators should brief guests and lawn-care vendors.
  • Burn Permit — required for open burning [14].
📄 Disorderly Conduct Ord.📄 Fireworks Ord.📄 Trash Ord.
6 Complaints, Enforcement & Recent Changes

Complaints are received by the Township Office and investigated by the Zoning Administrator [8]. Chester Township does not proactively patrol for nuisance violations — enforcement is complaint-driven and follows a two-letter cure process before a citation is issued.

  • Complaint form: written complaints can be filed using the Township Complaint Form [15]. Anonymous complaints are accepted.
  • First letter: sent to the property owner after a violation is verified.
  • Second letter: sent two weeks later if the violation is uncured; this letter establishes a final compliance deadline.
  • Citation: issued after the final deadline if the violation persists.

Recent ordinance activity (verified May 2026):

  • November 2025: Township enacted a temporary moratorium on new High Density Residential development [4]. The moratorium remains in effect; investors evaluating multi-family deals should call the Township before contracting.
  • December 2025: Updated Zoning Ordinance posted [2].
  • March 2026: Master Plan and Subarea Plan updates posted [16][17].
⚠ Investor takeaway: Because Chester Township defines but does not expressly permit short-term rentals, an unfavorable zoning interpretation — either now or after a future ordinance amendment — is the principal regulatory risk for any STR pro forma. Get a written zoning determination from Aaron Bigelow before closing.
📄 Complaint Form📄 HDR Moratorium Notice📞 Call Township Office
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (31+ day leases) follow standard residential zoning use. If a parcel is zoned for residential dwelling use — Low Density Residential (LDR), High Density Residential (HDR), or Lake Residential (LR) — a single-family or two-family dwelling may be leased as a long-term rental by right [2]. The Agricultural (AG) district also permits one principal dwelling per qualifying parcel.

One active constraint to verify before any multi-family LTR play: the Township enacted a temporary moratorium on new High Density Residential development in November 2025 [4]. The moratorium does not affect existing HDR properties or single/two-family rentals, but it does block new HDR rezonings, special-use approvals, and building permits for higher-density rental projects.

There is no separate “rental dwelling” or “rental unit” use classification in the Zoning Ordinance, so the residential zoning that applies to an owner-occupied home applies the same to a tenant-occupied one.

Chester Township Zoning Map

Click the map to open the township-wide Zoning Map PDF.

📄 Zoning Ordinance PDF📄 HDR Moratorium📧 Ask Zoning Admin
2 Registration & Permit Process

Chester Township has no long-term rental registration, license, or permit program. A landlord does not need to register the unit with the Township, does not pay a recurring rental fee, and is not subject to a township-led periodic inspection.

The practical landlord obligations are confined to the following:

LTR registration with townshipNot required
Annual renewalNot required
Septic inspection at saleRequired by Ottawa County [3]
Zoning permitsRequired for any new construction or ground-covering improvement [5]
Building permitsRequired for structural work — contact inspector@chester-twp.org
📧 Email Inspector📄 Building Permit Form📄 Zoning Permit Form
3 Fees & Penalties

No annual rental fee. No registration fee. The fees that may apply to a long-term rental property in Chester Township are tied to construction, zoning, and ordinance violations, not to the act of renting.

LTR registration / annual renewal$0 (no program)
Zoning permitPer fee schedule on file with Township [5]
Civil infractionsPer Civil Infractions Ordinance [6]
Building code violationsPer Building Code Civil Infraction Ordinance [7]

Property tax administration fees are governed by the Property Tax Admin Fee Ordinance [18].

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Chester Township does not run a periodic LTR inspection program. Long-term rentals are not pre-cleared, registered, or inspected by the Township. Three external inspection layers may still apply:

  • Ottawa County Time of Sale/Transfer septic inspection [3]. Every property sale triggers a county-led septic and well inspection; any defects must be corrected, often at the seller’s expense.
  • Property Maintenance Code [9]. The Township’s adopted Property Maintenance Code provides minimum habitability standards that can be enforced on complaint.
  • Building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing permits for any improvements [19].

For a buy-and-hold landlord, this means most of the recurring compliance cost lives in the underlying state of the property rather than ongoing license fees.

🏥 Ottawa County Well & Septic📄 Property Maintenance Code📄 All Permits & Forms
5 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Because Chester Township has no rental ordinance of its own, the landlord-tenant relationship is governed entirely by Michigan state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) and the summary proceedings act for evictions. The State of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords covering leases, security deposits, repair obligations, and the eviction timeline [20]. Evictions in the township are filed at the 58th District Court in Hudsonville [21].

📄 MI Tenants & Landlords Guide⚖️ 58th District Court

Special Regulations

Two area-specific rules matter for properties near Crockery Lake and in the rural agricultural districts of Chester Township.

★ Crockery Lake Properties

Crockery Lake is the township’s main lakefront residential area and has its own dedicated zoning map and overlay rules [22]. Three Crockery-specific ordinances apply to lakefront owners and any renter:

  • Crockery Lake Fertilizer Ordinance restricts phosphorus-containing lawn fertilizer near the lake [13].
  • Crockery Lake Road Ends Ordinance regulates public access points and dock use at road-ends [23].
  • Interference with Chemical Applications in Crockery Lake governs lake-treatment activities [24].

Any LTR or STR operator on a Crockery Lake parcel should brief lawn-care vendors and renters on these restrictions in the house rules or lease addendum. A 2026 Crockery Lake Restoration Plan was also adopted by the Township board [25].

🗺 Crockery Lake Zoning Map📄 Fertilizer Ordinance📄 2026 Restoration Plan
★ Septic & Well (Time of Sale/Transfer Inspection)

Most Chester Township properties are served by private well and septic, not municipal sewer. Ottawa County enforces a countywide Time of Sale/Transfer septic ordinance requiring well and septic inspection prior to every property sale, with any failed components requiring correction [3]. Buyers of older Conklin-area homes and Crockery Lake cottages should request the inspection report and a copy of the well log from the County Environmental Health Division before closing.

🏥 Ottawa County Well & Septic Permits📞 Call OC Environmental Health

Official Resources

Ordinances
📜
Chester Township Zoning Ordinance
Defines STR (<28 day) and zoning districts
📜
High Density Residential Temporary Moratorium
Adopted November 2025
📜
Property Maintenance Code Ordinance
Habitability baseline for rentals
📜
Disorderly Conduct Ordinance
Noise & nuisance baseline
📜
Fireworks Ordinance
Township-level fireworks rules
📜
Trash Ordinance
Refuse storage & disposal
📜
Civil Infractions Ordinance
General enforcement framework
📜
Building Code Civil Infraction Ordinance
Building-code enforcement
📜
Crockery Lake Fertilizer Ordinance
Phosphorus restriction near lake
📜
Crockery Lake Road Ends Ordinance
Lake access at road-ends
Forms & Applications
📋
Zoning Permit Form
Required for ground-covering improvements
📋
Building Permit Form
For structural work
📋
Electrical Permit Form
Electrical work
📋
Mechanical Permit Form
HVAC work
📋
Plumbing Permit Form
Plumbing work
📋
Complaint Form
For zoning / nuisance complaints
📋
Burn Permit Form
Open burning
Maps
🗺
Chester Township Zoning Map
Township-wide zoning districts
🗺
Conklin Zoning Map
Conklin area detail
🗺
Crockery Lake Zoning Map
Lakefront area detail
🗺
Ottawa County GIS Parcel Viewer
Parcels, utilities, sewer, tax info
Portals & Lookups
🔍
BS&A Online — Chester Township
Parcel & tax lookup
🔍
Chester Township Online Payments
Tax & sewer payments
Contact & Directions
📞
Township Office
616-899-5544
📧
Zoning Administrator (Aaron Bigelow)
zoning@chester-twp.org
📧
Building Inspector
inspector@chester-twp.org
🗺
Directions to Township Hall
3509 Sehler St., Conklin, MI 49403
🏥
Ottawa County Environmental Health
Well & septic permits, 616-393-5645
🌐
Chester 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 — Ottawa County

Every municipality in Ottawa County. Click any to view its rental guide — or request one if it’s not yet live. View the Ottawa 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 Chester Township?

I help investors and homeowners navigate rural Ottawa County rental rules — including the practical zoning interpretations that decide whether a Chester Township property pencils as a short-term, long-term, or hybrid play. From Conklin farmsteads to Crockery Lake cottages, get a real read on what the township will and won't allow before you write an offer.

Schedule a Consultation Call (269) 235-9910

Sources & Downloads

  1. 1
    World Population Review — Chester Township, Michigan https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/michigan/chester-township-ottawa-county
    Population 2,136 (2026 est.), 35.9 sq mi total area
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  2. 2
    Chester Township Zoning Ordinance (Dec 2025 edition) https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Chester-Township-Zoning-Ordinance-3.pdf
    Definitions include "Short Terme Rental Unit" (under 28 days); B&B as Home-Based Business. No STR listed in use chart.
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  3. 3
    Ottawa County Well & Septic Permits / Time of Sale-Transfer Ordinance https://miottawa.org/health/environmental/well-septic/
    County-wide pre-sale septic inspection requirement; Environmental Health at 616-393-5645
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  4. 4
    High Density Residential Temporary Moratorium (Nov 2025) https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/High-Density-Residential-Temporary-Moratorium.pdf
    Moratorium notice posted on Township homepage
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  5. 5
    Chester Township Zoning Permit Form https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Zoning-Permit.pdf
    Permit required anytime ground is covered
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  6. 6
    Chester Township Civil Infractions Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Civil-Infractions-Ordinance.pdf
    General enforcement framework
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  7. 7
    Chester Township Building Code Civil Infraction Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Building-Code-Civil-Infraction-Ordinance.pdf
    Building-code violations enforcement
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  8. 8
    Chester Township — Zoning Violation Complaint Process https://www.chester-twp.org/zoning-and-planning/
    Two-letter cure process before citation; complaint-driven enforcement
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  9. 9
    Chester Township Property Maintenance Code Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Property-Maintenance-Code-Ordinance.pdf
    Habitability baseline
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  10. 10
    Chester Township Disorderly Conduct Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Disorderly-Conduct-Ordinance.pdf
    Noise & nuisance
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  11. 11
    Chester Township Fireworks Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Fireworks-Ordinance.pdf
    Township-level fireworks rules
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  12. 12
    Chester Township Trash Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Trash-Ordinance.pdf
    Refuse storage and disposal
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  13. 13
    Crockery Lake Fertilizer Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Crockery-Lake-Fertilizer-ordinance.pdf
    Phosphorus restriction near Crockery Lake
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  14. 14
    Chester Township Burn Permit Form https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/PERMIT-TO-BURN-FORM.pdf
    Required for open burning
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  15. 15
    Chester Township Complaint Form https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Complaint-Form.pdf
    For zoning and nuisance complaints; anonymous accepted
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  16. 16
    Chester Township Master Plan (Mar 2026) https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Chester-Township-Master-Plan-1.pdf
    Adopted Master Plan
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  17. 17
    Chester Township Subarea Plan (Mar 2026) https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Chester-Township-Subarea-Plan.pdf
    Subarea planning document
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  18. 18
    Chester Township Property Tax Admin Fee Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Property-Tax-Admin-Fee-Ordinance.pdf
    Property tax administration fee
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  19. 19
    Chester Township Permits & Forms page https://www.chester-twp.org/permits-and-forms/
    Master list of building / zoning / electrical / mechanical / plumbing permit forms
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  20. 20
    Michigan Legislature — Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf
    State landlord-tenant law overview
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  21. 21
    Ottawa County 58th District Court https://miottawa.org/courts/58th-district/
    Eviction filings for Chester Township
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  22. 22
    Crockery Lake Zoning Map https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Crockery-Lake-Zoning-Map.pdf
    Sub-area zoning map for Crockery Lake
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  23. 23
    Crockery Lake Road Ends Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Crockery-Lake-Road-Ends-Ordinance.pdf
    Regulates lake access at road-ends
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  24. 24
    Interference with Chemical Applications in Crockery Lake Ordinance https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Interference-with-Chemical-Applications-in-Crockery-Lake-Ordinance.pdf
    Lake-treatment activity rules
    Verified: 2026-05-14
  25. 25
    Crockery Lake Restoration Plan (with Amendments, Apr 2026) https://www.chester-twp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Crockery-Lake-Restoration-Plan-With-Amendments.pdf
    Adopted lake restoration plan
    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 — 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.