Jamestown Charter Township

2380 Riley St., Hudsonville, MI 49426

Directions

🌐

Township Website

twp.jamestown.mi.us

Area Overview

Jamestown Charter Township is a fast-growing residential and agricultural community in the southeast corner of Ottawa County, immediately south of Hudsonville and roughly 15 miles south of Grand Rapids. The 2020 census counted 9,630 residents ^[1], and the township continues to add subdivisions and planned developments along the 24th Avenue and Riley Street corridors. Housing stock is dominated by owner-occupied single-family homes, with a small but growing inventory of rental homes and a handful of newer multi-family developments.

Unlike the Lake Michigan resort townships of Ottawa County, Jamestown has no short-term-rental ordinance and no rental-registration or inspection program for long-term rentals. STRs are not separately named in the Zoning Ordinance restated April 5, 2023 ^[2]; the only nightly-lodging use defined is owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast lodging, which is regulated as a Special Use in specific zoning districts ^[2]. Long-term landlords operate under standard Michigan landlord-tenant law without a township license. Recent ordinance activity has focused on the 2026 Data Center Moratorium (Ordinance 26-005, April 2026) ^[3] and a pending Planning Commission text amendment on site-plan expiration scheduled for hearing on May 19, 2026 ^[4].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals VERIFY BY DISTRICT

Jamestown has no dedicated short-term-rental ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance (restated April 5, 2023) defines owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast lodging as the only nightly-lodging use category ^[2]. Non-hosted/whole-home STRs are not separately addressed and so default to whatever residential use the parcel’s zoning district permits — verification with the Zoning Administrator (PCI) is required before operating. No STR registration, fee, or permit cap exists at the township level.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rentals (31+ day leases) are permitted in residential zoning districts with no township registration, no annual inspection program, and no LTR-specific fee ^[5]. Standard Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) applies. Ottawa County’s countywide Time of Sale septic ordinance does apply at property transfer for any home using a well or septic system ^[6].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Jamestown’s Zoning Ordinance does not separately name short-term rentals. The only nightly-lodging use defined is owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast lodging, treated as a Special Use in specific districts ^[2]. Whole-home, non-hosted STRs aren’t expressly permitted or expressly prohibited, which makes them a parcel-by-parcel verification question with the Zoning Administrator before operating.

Use the township’s official zoning map (updated January 22, 2026) ^[7] to confirm the district for a specific parcel, then confirm whether residential use plus transient lodging is permitted there.

Click to open the official Zoning Map PDF (revised 2026-01-22).

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance PDF 📧 Ask Zoning Admin

2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no STR registration or permit program at the township level. Jamestown does not issue STR licenses, does not maintain a public STR portal, and does not require an annual short-term-rental fee ^[5].

If a property would operate as an owner-occupied Bed & Breakfast under the Zoning Ordinance definition, that use requires a Special Use Permit through the Planning Commission — separate from any rental license ^[8].

STR registrationNone required by township

B&B (owner-occupied)Special Use Permit required

SubmissionIn person or mail to Township Hall, 2380 Riley St., Hudsonville

State tax (any STR)Michigan 6% Use Tax on stays under 30 days (state-level, not township)

📋 Special Use Permit Application (PDF)📞 Call Township Office 📧 Email Planner

3 Fees & Penalties

No STR-specific fee exists. The fees below come from the 2026-2027 Fee Schedule ^[9] and apply to applications a prospective STR or B&B operator may file (zoning verification, Special Use Permit, building inspection if alterations are made).

Short-term rental registration fee$0 — no program

Special Use Permit applicationPer 2026-2027 Fee Schedule ^[9]

Zoning Board of Appeals applicationPer 2026-2027 Fee Schedule ^[9]

Municipal civil infractionPer Ordinance 06-006 (as amended by 07-002) ^[10]

The full schedule of fees by application type is published in the township’s adopted fee schedule, effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 ^[9]. If a zoning violation is documented (e.g., operating an unpermitted commercial use), the township proceeds under its Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance.

📄 2026-2027 Fee Schedule 📜 Civil Infractions Ordinance

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

The township does not run a short-term rental inspection program. Building inspections are required only when work is performed under a Building, Electrical, Mechanical, or Plumbing permit ^[11]. Inspections are handled by the township’s contracted code official, Professional Code Inspections (PCI) ^[12].

Michigan Residential Code applies to alterations and any change of use. Jamestown follows the Michigan Building, Electrical, and Mechanical Codes ^[13].
Smoke and CO alarms. State code requires functioning smoke alarms in every sleeping area and a carbon-monoxide alarm where fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage exist.
Septic systems. If the property is on private septic, Ottawa County’s Time of Sale evaluation is mandatory before any property transfer ^[6]. STR operators leasing a septic property should review system capacity against likely occupancy.

📄 Building Permit Application 📄 Ottawa County Well & Septic 📧 Email PCI Inspector

5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Parking)

STR operators in Jamestown are bound by the same noise, fireworks, parking, and nuisance ordinances that apply to any property.

Disorderly conduct. Ordinance 112 governs disorderly persons and is enforced by the Ottawa County Sheriff ^[14].
Fireworks. Under Ordinance 13-003 (as amended) ^[15], consumer fireworks are permitted only the day before, day of, and day after a national holiday — and only between 8 AM and 1 AM during those windows. A permit is required for fireworks outside those days ^[16].
Parking. Ordinance 09-004 (Parking) restricts on-street parking ^[17]. Verify driveway capacity will hold all guest vehicles; overflow on rural shoulders draws complaints.
Open burning. Ordinance 12-001 governs open burning ^[18]. Burn permits are issued through the Fire Department.
Trash & waste hauling. Waste haulers are licensed under Ordinance 123 (as amended by 06-012) ^[19]. STR operators should confirm pickup frequency with a licensed hauler matches expected turnover.
Law-enforcement contact. Non-emergency dispatch is (800) 249-0911; emergencies dial 9-1-1 ^[20].

📜 Disorderly Persons 📜 Fireworks Ordinance 📜 Parking Ordinance 📞 Non-Emergency Dispatch

6 Bed & Breakfast — The One Defined Nightly-Lodging Use

The Zoning Ordinance defines Bed & Breakfast lodging as a single-family residential structure occupied by the owner, in which bedrooms are rented to travelers on a nightly basis with breakfast included in the price ^[2]. This is the only nightly-lodging category Jamestown’s code explicitly addresses.

Key consequences for investors:

Owner-occupancy is built into the definition. A non-hosted whole-home STR does not fit the B&B category — it is not authorized as a B&B and requires zoning verification on a different basis.
Special Use Permit required in any district where B&B is listed as a Special Use; complete the Special Use Permit Application ^[8] and present to the Planning Commission.
Planning contact: Gregory Ransford, Fresh Coast Planning — Thursdays 2:00pm-5:00pm at the Township Hall, or by mobile / email ^[21].

📋 Special Use Permit Application 📧 Email Planner 📄 Zoning Ordinance PDF

7 Recent Ordinance Activity

No STR-specific ordinance is on the township’s published 2026 agenda. The Planning Commission’s current focus is on growth-management items rather than rental regulation.

April 2026 — Ordinance 26-005 (Data Center Moratorium). Zoning text amendment imposing a moratorium on data-center development ^[3].
May 19, 2026 — Planning Commission public hearing. Proposed Section 17.1N (site-plan expiration after one year of inactivity) ^[4]. Not STR-related, but a signal that the township is tightening site-plan housekeeping.
October 2025 — Ordinance 25-010. Amended Sections 19.3A, 19.3E and 15.6 of the Zoning Ordinance ^[22].
July 2025 — Ordinance 25-007. Solar Energy Systems regulation and Section 2.65 (Front Lot Line) revision ^[23].
April 2025 — Ordinance 25-004. Added Section 6.4U — Special Uses, Event Barns ^[24]. Relevant if a rural parcel is being considered for event-venue use alongside any lodging component.

⚠ Investor takeaway: The absence of an STR ordinance is not the same as STRs being affirmatively allowed. Confirm whatever rental use you intend with the Zoning Administrator in writing before underwriting — Jamestown’s neighbors in Ottawa County (e.g., Park Township, Holland-area cities) have moved on STR regulation in recent cycles, and Jamestown could revisit the topic.

📜 Full Ordinances Page 📋 Planning Commission Minutes

1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals follow the underlying residential zoning. If a parcel is zoned R-1, R-2, or another residential district that permits dwelling use, a 31+ day lease is allowed without a separate township license ^[2]^[5].

Where verification matters: agriculturally-zoned parcels, commercial parcels with grandfathered residential use, and Planned Development parcels each carry their own use restrictions. For any non-standard residential parcel, confirm with the Zoning Administrator before signing a lease.

Click to open the official Zoning Map PDF (revised 2026-01-22).

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance PDF 📧 Ask Zoning Admin

2 Registration & Permit Process

Jamestown has no rental-registration program for long-term rentals. Landlords do not file with the township before leasing, do not pay an annual rental license fee, and are not on a township inspection cycle ^[5].

What landlords still must do:

Building permits for any electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or structural work — applied through the township’s contracted code office (PCI) ^[11]^[12].
Driveway approval for new driveways 300 feet or longer ^[25].
Water/sewer connections in subdivision-served areas use the township’s Water/Sewer Application ^[26]. Wyoming-system water restrictions (odd/even outdoor watering through June 15, 2026) currently apply to Jamestown customers ^[27].
Time of Sale septic evaluation at any property transfer — a countywide Ottawa County requirement, not optional ^[6].

LTR registrationNone required

LTR fee$0 — no program

Mandatory at saleOttawa County Time of Sale septic/well evaluation

📄 Real Estate Transfer Eval Program 📄 Building Permit Application 📞 Call Township Office

3 Fees & Penalties

There is no annual landlord fee and no LTR registration fee. Costs landlords may encounter come from one-off applications and from violations:

LTR registration fee$0 — no program

Building / Electrical / Mechanical / Plumbing permitPer 2026-2027 Fee Schedule ^[9]

Driveway approval (≥300 ft)Per 2026-2027 Fee Schedule ^[9]

Zoning violationsCivil infraction under Ordinance 06-006 ^[10]

Dangerous-buildings actionsCost-recovery under Ordinance 03-004 ^[28]

📄 2026-2027 Fee Schedule 📜 Civil Infractions Ordinance

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

No township-run rental-inspection cycle exists. Inspections occur only when work is permitted (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing) or when a complaint is filed ^[11]^[12].

Standards landlords should still meet:

Michigan Residential Code for any alterations and a change of use.
Smoke and CO alarms in every sleeping area; CO alarm where fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage exist.
Egress windows in basement sleeping rooms — verify before advertising any below-grade bedroom.
Septic capacity matched to tenant household size on any well/septic parcel. The Ottawa County Time of Sale program will catch a failing system at transfer ^[6], but in-tenancy failures are the landlord’s problem.
Lead-based paint disclosure for any pre-1978 home, required by federal law regardless of township ordinance.

📄 Ottawa County Well & Septic 📄 Building Permit Application 📧 Email PCI Inspector

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 Bar publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords covering leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process ^[29]. Jamestown does not modify these rules at the local level.

Eviction filings for Jamestown properties go through the 58th District Court, which serves all of Ottawa County ^[30].

📄 Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords (PDF)🏛 58th District Court 📞 Legal Self-Help Center

Special Regulations

Two countywide rules can surprise Jamestown landlords and investors at closing: the Ottawa County Time of Sale septic/well ordinance, and the Wyoming-water-system odd/even outdoor watering restriction currently in effect through June 15, 2026.

★ Ottawa County Time of Sale Septic & Well Evaluation

Ottawa County enacted a countywide Time of Sale / Time of Transfer ordinance requiring local inspection of well and septic systems before any property using them is sold ^[6]. The Department of Public Health’s Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program documents how the evaluation works, what fees apply, and what corrective actions are required when a system fails ^[31].

For LTR and STR investors specifically: an evaluation failure can force major repair costs back onto the seller or, if assigned, onto the buyer at closing — verify status before underwriting an offer.

📄 Real Estate Transfer Program (PDF)📄 Well & Septic Permits 📞 OCDPH Environmental Health

★ City of Wyoming Outdoor Water Restrictions (through June 15, 2026)

Jamestown is on the City of Wyoming water system and is currently subject to odd/even outdoor watering restrictions while Wyoming completes its third transmission main ^[27]. Restrictions are expected to last through June 15, 2026, and apply to all lawn-sprinkling and pool-filling on the system. Hand watering with a hose, private-well watering, and indoor use are not restricted.

STR operators with irrigation should program controllers to the odd/even pattern — guests cited for violating the rule reflect back on the property.

📄 Township News & Restrictions Detail 📋 Township Utilities Page

Official Resources

Ordinances

Zoning Ordinance Restatement (2023-04-05)

Controlling zoning text — defines B&B; STRs not separately addressed

Ordinance 26-005 — Data Center Moratorium

Zoning text amendment, April 2026

Ordinance 25-004 — Event Barns (Section 6.4U)

Adds Special Uses for event barns, April 2025

Ordinance 13-003 — Fireworks (compiled, as amended)

Holiday-day rules + permit requirement

Ordinance 09-004 — Parking

Restricts on-street parking

Ordinance 112 — Disorderly Persons

Enforced by Ottawa County Sheriff

Ordinance 12-001 — Open Burning

Fire Department permits required

Ordinance 06-006 — Municipal Civil Infractions

How zoning violations are enforced

Ordinance 03-004 — Dangerous Buildings

Township remedies for substandard housing

Forms & Applications

Special Use Permit Application

Required for B&B and other special uses

Building Permit Application

Required for any structural work

Electrical Permit Application

PCI-administered

Plumbing Permit Application

PCI-administered

Mechanical Permit Application

PCI-administered

Driveway Approval Application (≥300 ft)

Required for long rural driveways

Site Plan Review Application

Multi-family or commercial site plans

Zoning Board of Appeals Application

Variances and zoning interpretations

All application & permit fees

2026-2027 Fee Schedule

Maps

Jamestown Zoning Map (2026-01-22)

District boundaries — current

Master Plan Map

Future-land-use overlay

Land-use planning context

Master Plan 2026 (Draft)

Restricted-route map (Nov 2016)

Truck Routes Map

Ottawa County GIS Property Mapping

Parcels, utilities, tax info

Portals & Lookups

🔍

BS&A Property Data Lookup

Tax bills, owner history, assessed values

🔍

Ottawa County Property Search

Tax + delinquency lookup

🔍

Ottawa County HealthSuite — Apply & Pay

Well, septic, real-estate evaluations

Contact & Directions

Township Office Email

info@twp.jamestown.mi.us

📧

Township Clerk — Candy DeHaan

cdehaan@twp.jamestown.mi.us

📧

Building & Zoning — Kirk Scharphorn, Jr. (PCI)

kscharphornjr@pcimi.com

📧

Planner — Gregory Ransford (Fresh Coast Planning)

greg@freshcoastplanning.com

📞

Ottawa County Sheriff — Non-Emergency

800-249-0911

📞

Ottawa County Health — Environmental

616-393-5645 (septic & well)