Holland Charter Township

353 North 120th Avenue, Holland, MI 49424

Directions

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Township Website

hct.holland.mi.us

Area Overview

Holland Charter Township wraps around the City of Holland on three sides in northwest Ottawa County, anchoring the Holland metro area’s eastern and northern suburbs. Housing stock is dominated by year-round single-family neighborhoods, denser multi-family and student-adjacent rentals near Hope College and the I-196 corridor, and newer subdivisions along Riley Street and James Street. The township is distinct from the City of Holland, which has its own (and very different) rental ordinances.

Short-term rentals such as Airbnb, VRBO, Homestay, and individual-room rentals within a dwelling are not permitted in Holland Charter Township ^[1]. The only exception is a Bed & Breakfast operating under an approved Special Land Use Permit, and the owner/operator must live on the premises ^[1]. Long-term rentals (stays of 15 consecutive days or more) are permitted but must be registered with the Township, inspected, and obtain a Certificate of Compliance before being occupied ^[1]. Registration itself is free; the Certificate of Compliance carries a one-time fee per 3- or 6-year cycle ^[2].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals NOT ALLOWED

Short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, Homestay, individual-room rentals within a dwelling) are NOT permitted in Holland Charter Township ^[1]. The only path for stays of 14 consecutive days or less is an owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast operating under an approved Special Land Use Permit ^[1]^[3]. Out-of-town investor STRs are not a viable strategy here.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Rentals of 15 consecutive days or more are permitted in residentially zoned districts with annual registration and a Certificate of Compliance ^[1]. Registration is free if received by February 15; Certificate of Compliance fees range from $150 (single-family) to $200 per building plus $25 per unit (multi-family) on a 3- or 6-year cycle ^[2].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Short-term rentals are not permitted anywhere in Holland Charter Township. Stays of 14 consecutive days or less by Airbnb, VRBO, Homestay, or individual-room arrangements within a dwelling are prohibited ^[1]. The only exception is an owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast operating under an approved Special Land Use Permit ^[1]^[3].

Because this is a township-wide prohibition rather than a district-by-district restriction, the zoning map is informational only for STR investors. The same map still matters for B&B eligibility: B&Bs require a Special Land Use approval that depends on the parcel’s zoning district.

Open the January 2026 zoning map (PDF) for a high-resolution version.

📄 Rental Housing Policy 🗺 Zoning Map (Jan 2026 PDF)📞 Rental Housing

2 Bed & Breakfast Exception (the only path for short stays)

To host paying guests for 14 consecutive days or less, the only legal option is an owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast under an approved Special Land Use Permit issued by the Planning Commission ^[1]^[3]. The owner/operator must live on the premises ^[1].

Operating standards in the zoning ordinance ^[3]:

Guest rooms capped: one (1) fewer than the total bedrooms in the dwelling, not to exceed five (5) guest rooms.
Occupancy: two (2) adults maximum per guest room.
No separate cooking facilities in guest rooms.
Outside special events: no more than four (4) per 12-month period, maximum two (2) days each.

Investor takeaway: Buying a non-owner-occupied second home and listing it on Airbnb is not a viable strategy in Holland Charter Township. The B&B path is meaningful only for resident owners who want to host on the side of living in the home themselves.

📄 Special Use Permit Application 📄 Special Use Standards (Zoning Part IV)📞 Planning Office

3 Penalties for Unpermitted Short-Term Rentals

Operating a prohibited STR or violating the Property and Housing Maintenance Code is punishable as a Municipal Civil Infraction under the township code ^[1]^[4]. The Code Enforcement Office investigates complaints; the Property and Housing Maintenance fee schedule applies additional administrative penalties for unregistered or non-compliant rental activity ^[2]:

Complaint investigation fee$50

Notice to Vacate$100

Notice to Abate$100

Attorney Warning Letter$300

Condemnation of Human Occupancy$200

Property and Housing Maintenance Board of Appeals$600

📄 Code Enforcement 📄 Fee Schedule (PDF)📞 Report a Concern

4 What About Stays Between 15 and 30 Days?

Properties that offer stays of 15 consecutive days or more are treated as long-term rentals and must participate in the Rental Inspection Program ^[1]. That means corporate housing, traveling-nurse contracts, mid-term furnished rentals, and similar 15-to-90-day arrangements ARE permitted — but they follow the LTR rules (registration, inspection, Certificate of Compliance) rather than the STR prohibition.

Switching listings to a 15-night minimum on Airbnb does not make a property an STR for purposes of Holland Charter Township’s code; it makes it an LTR that needs to be registered and inspected. See the LTR tab on this page for the full process.

📄 Rental Housing Policy 📄 Rental Registration Form

5 Verifying STR Status Before You Buy

Because STRs are flatly prohibited, the most common buyer mistake is assuming a seller’s existing Airbnb listing transfers with the property. It does not. Pro forma revenue based on STR comps in Holland Charter Township should be discounted heavily — those comps are not legally operable for a non-owner-occupied buyer.

Confirm the parcel is in Holland Charter Township, not the City of Holland. The boundary is irregular; the city’s rules are different. Use the Ottawa County property lookup linked below.
Ask the listing agent for the Certificate of Compliance. A legitimate listing should produce one for any unit that has been rented in the past 15+ day form.
Call Rental Housing (616-395-0196) with the property address to confirm registration status and any open code enforcement matters.

🔎 Ottawa County Property Lookup 📞 Verify with Rental Housing

1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (15 consecutive days or more) are permitted wherever residential dwelling use is permitted by the township zoning ordinance. Holland Charter Township’s zoning ordinance establishes the standard residential, multi-family, mobile-home, and mixed-use districts where rental occupancy is allowed by right ^[3].

For any specific parcel, verify the zoning district on the map below, then confirm dwelling use is permitted (or grandfathered) by contacting the Zoning Office.

Open the January 2026 zoning map (PDF) for a high-resolution version.

🗺 Zoning Map (Jan 2026)📄 Zoning Districts (Part II PDF)📞 Zoning Office

2 Registration & Certificate of Compliance Process

Submit the Rental Dwelling Registration Form by email (PDF scan) or by mail to the Holland Charter Township Rental Housing Office at 353 North 120th Avenue, Holland, MI 49424 ^[1]. Once registered, the township will schedule the rental inspection; a 3- or 6-year Certificate of Compliance is issued after all violations are corrected and fees are paid.

Submission methodEmail (PDF) or mail to township office

New construction / new conversionRegister within 30 days

Property sale or transferNew owner re-registers

Annual renewal deadlineFebruary 15

Certificate term3 or 6 years

For investors: The Certificate of Compliance does not automatically transfer with the property. A buyer must re-register and may trigger a new inspection. Build that timing into closing schedules if you intend to rent immediately after closing.

📄 Rental Registration Form 📄 Rental Housing Page 📞 Rental Housing Office

3 Fees & Penalties

Holland Charter Township does not charge for annual registration if filed on time. Fees apply to the Certificate of Compliance and to late or missed inspections ^[2].

Annual rental registration (by Feb 15)$0

Annual registration after Feb 15 (late)$100

Single-family Certificate of Compliance (3 or 6 yr)$150

Two-family Certificate of Compliance (3 or 6 yr)$200

Multi-family Certificate of Compliance$200 per building + $25 per dwelling unit

Additional inspection$100 per dwelling unit

Missed inspection$100

Denied entry to inspector$50

Late charge (invoices over 30 days)$50

Fee schedule effective January 1, 2024 ^[2]. There is no additional re-inspection fee if all corrections from the first inspection have been made.

📄 Full Fee Schedule (PDF)

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

The owner, agent, or authorized representative must be present during the rental inspection ^[1]. The entire premises must be accessible, including basements and accessory buildings. Tenant notification is the owner’s responsibility.

Heat systems must be inspected separately by a licensed contractor, and the contractor’s report must be submitted to the township ^[1]^[5]. Use the Basic Rental Requirements checklist and the Heat System Inspection Checklist to pre-review the property and address obvious deficiencies before the township inspector arrives.

To reschedule a missed inspection without penalty, call (616) 395-0196 at least three days in advance ^[1]. After the inspection, the township issues a notice of re-inspection with the date and any required corrections. There is no fee for the first re-inspection if all corrections have been made; subsequent re-inspections incur fees ^[2].

📄 Basic Rental Requirements 📄 Heat System Inspection Checklist 📄 Property & Housing Maintenance Code

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 of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords that covers leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process ^[6]. These rules apply equally in Holland Charter Township and are not modified by local ordinance.

For tenants in housing emergencies, Holland Charter Township maintains an Emergency Community Resources document covering shelter, food, health, and legal aid contacts ^[7].

📄 Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords 📄 Emergency Community Resources 🌐 Michigan Legal Help

Official Resources

Ordinances

Property & Housing Maintenance Code (Chapter 7)

Rental registration & certification of compliance

Zoning Ordinance — Part II (Zoning Districts)

Districts where residential use is permitted

Zoning Ordinance — Part III (Development Provisions)

Bed & Breakfast use standards

Zoning Ordinance — Part IV (Review Processes)

Special Land Use Permit standards

Code of Ordinances (Municode Library)

Full searchable township code

Forms & Applications

Rental Dwelling Registration Form

PDF — submit by email or mail

Special Land Use Permit Application

Required for Bed & Breakfast

Basic Rental Requirements Checklist

Pre-inspection self-review

Heat System Inspection Checklist

Submitted by licensed contractor

Property & Housing Maintenance Fee Schedule

Effective January 1, 2024

Maps

Holland Charter Township Zoning Map (January 2026)

18×24 high-resolution PDF

Zoning, future land use, bike paths, precincts

Township Maps Page

Ottawa County Property Mapping

Parcels, taxes, ownership, utilities

Portals & Lookups

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Ottawa County Property Lookup (miOttawa)

Look up property records by address

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Code Enforcement

Report violations / complaints

Contact & Directions

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Rental Housing Office

(616) 395-0196

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Zoning / Planning Office

info@hct.holland.mi.us