Zeeland Charter Township

6582 Byron Road, Zeeland, MI 49464

Directions

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Township Website

www.zeelandtwp.org

Area Overview

Zeeland Charter Township wraps around the City of Zeeland in southeast Ottawa County, anchoring the rural and suburban-fringe corridor between Holland and Hudsonville. Originally settled in 1847 by Dutch immigrants seeking religious freedom, the township today is a mix of established farmsteads, single-family subdivisions, and a small commercial spine along Byron Road and Adams Street ^[1]. Most properties are on private well and Ottawa County-permitted septic, although the township also operates municipal sewer and water systems serving portions of the township under ordinances administered with the Zeeland Board of Public Works ^[2]^[3].

Zeeland Charter Township has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental ordinance or a standalone rental registration and inspection program. Rentals are governed by the township’s general Zoning Ordinance (most recently amended July 19, 2024) ^[4] together with the township’s Anti-Noise (Ord. 379) and Disorderly Conduct (Ord. 378) ordinances ^[5]^[6] and Ottawa County environmental health rules. Building permits, zoning compliance, and inspections are administered by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan (PCI), a contracted department based in Jenison ^[7]. For investors, the two structural facts that drive deal underwriting in this township are: (1) the absence of a township-level STR permit framework leaves whole-home short-term rentals exposed to zoning-district interpretation by the PCI Zoning Administrator, and (2) Ottawa County requires a Real Estate Transfer Evaluation of well and septic systems before ownership transfers, which on older rural parcels can be a material pre-closing line item ^[8].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals UNREGULATED

Zeeland Charter Township has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance and no STR registration, permit, or license program ^[4]. There is no township-issued STR application form, no online portal, and no annual STR renewal. Whether a whole-home short-term rental is permitted on a given parcel comes down to the underlying zoning district’s allowed uses under the Zoning Ordinance (amended July 19, 2024) ^[4]. Bed & Breakfast operations and rooms-for-rent within an owner-occupied dwelling are the only short-term lodging uses formally addressed by the Zoning Ordinance; for any whole-home STR strategy, confirm parcel-specific zoning interpretation in writing with the PCI Zoning Administrator before listing.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rentals (31+ day residential leases) are permitted by right wherever the underlying single-family, two-family, or multi-family dwelling use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance ^[4]. The township does not maintain a separate rental registration, license, or annual inspection program. Standard Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) controls leases, security deposits, repairs, and evictions ^[9].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Zeeland Charter Township has no short-term rental ordinance. There is no STR-specific use category in the township’s Zoning Ordinance, no STR permit application, and no separate STR registration program ^[4]. Whether a whole-home short-term rental is permitted on a specific parcel is a zoning-district interpretation made by the PCI Zoning Administrator under the use chart of the Zoning Ordinance (amended through July 19, 2024) ^[4].

The practical path for any investor STR (whole-home or otherwise):

Look up the parcel’s zoning district on the official Zoning Map (December 2021) ^[10].
Confirm in writing with the PCI Zoning Administrator that short-term/transient rental of the dwelling is permitted in that district before listing or accepting bookings.
If a Bed & Breakfast or rooms-for-rent operation is contemplated, the township’s Special Land Uses Ordinance (Ord. 138) and Home Occupation Ordinance (Ord. 170) may apply, including potential Special Land Use review by the Planning Commission ^[11]^[12].

Building and zoning questions are handled by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan (PCI), with office hours at the Zeeland Township office on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and at the PCI Jenison office (1913 Baldwin St, Jenison) during regular business hours ^[7].

Click the map to open the full Zoning Map PDF.

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

2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no STR registration or permit application to file at the township level. Zeeland Charter Township has not adopted a short-term rental registration program, license, or permit process ^[4]. There is no online portal and no paper application specific to STRs.

If a property contemplates a Bed & Breakfast or Home Occupation use of the dwelling, the path is a Special Land Use application reviewed by the Planning Commission and (if approved) recorded as a Special Land Use on the property ^[11]:

Application formSpecial Land Use Application (PDF)

Reviewed byPlanning Commission

SubmissionIn person or by mail to Township Office, 6582 Byron Road, Zeeland

Zoning compliance checkZoning Compliance Application (PDF)

For investors: Special Land Use approval runs with the property and is conditioned on the use described in the application. It is not a substitute for a routine STR permit and is poorly suited to absentee-owner whole-home short-term rental models in residential districts. If your strategy depends on STR cash flow, get the zoning interpretation in writing from PCI before closing.

📄 Special Land Use Application 📞 Call Township Office 📧 Email Zoning Administrator

3 Fees & Penalties

Because Zeeland Charter Township does not license or register short-term rentals, there are no STR-specific fees or rental penalties at the township level.

STR registration fee$0 (not required)

Annual STR renewalNone

Special Land Use application feePer township fee schedule ^[13]

Building permit (residential work)Per Building Permit Fee Schedule ^[14]

Anti-Noise violationMunicipal civil infraction per Ord. 379 ^[5]

Disorderly Conduct violationPenalty per Ord. 378, enforced by Ottawa County Sheriff ^[6]

Zoning violationMunicipal civil infraction per Ord. 229; enforcement by PCI Zoning Administrator ^[15]

State of Michigan and Ottawa County fees still apply: building/trade permit inspection fees, county septic transfer evaluation fees, recording fees, and the 6% Michigan Use Tax on transient (under 30-day) lodging collected at the state level.

📄 Building Permit Fee Schedule 📄 2022 Township Fee Schedule

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Zeeland Charter Township does not operate a short-term rental inspection program. There is no rolling STR safety inspection conducted by the township ^[4]. Safety obligations on any rental property come from state law, the Michigan Building and Residential Codes (administered locally by PCI), and Ottawa County environmental health rules:

Michigan Building / Residential Code: permits required for structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work; inspections by PCI for building work, by Gord Bosch for electrical, and by Gary Hoover for mechanical/plumbing ^[7].
Ottawa County Environmental Health Code: well and septic systems must be evaluated at every property transfer (Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program) ^[8].
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: required in all dwellings under the Michigan Residential Code; STR operators should verify functional alarms in every sleeping area and on every level.
Swimming pools: must be fenced in accordance with Section 3.14 of the Zoning Ordinance (Swimming Pool Ordinance) ^[16].

Building inspectionsPCI – (616) 667-8803

Electrical inspectionsGord Bosch – (616) 396-1448

Mechanical / Plumbing inspectionsGary Hoover – (616) 772-6465

📄 Building Permit Application 📄 Septic Transfer Evaluation 📄 Swimming Pool Ordinance

5 Operating Rules (Noise, Disorderly Conduct, Burning, Parking)

Any rental in Zeeland Charter Township is bound by the township’s general operating ordinances regardless of whether a short-term rental ordinance exists:

Anti-Noise Ordinance (Ord. 379): prohibits loud or unreasonable noise that disturbs the peace; enforceable by municipal civil infraction ^[5].
Disorderly Conduct Ordinance (Ord. 378): prohibits public disturbance, public intoxication, and similar conduct on private property; enforced by the Ottawa County Sheriff in coordination with the township ^[6].
Burning Ordinance (Ord. 199): regulates open burning of yard waste and other materials; a burn permit through the Township Fire Department is required for most burns ^[17].
Junk & Inoperable Vehicle Ordinance (Ord. 352): bars storage of unlicensed/inoperable vehicles on residential property; common complaint trigger from neighbors of investor properties ^[18].
Marijuana Ordinance (Ord. 397): prohibits marijuana establishments in the township; personal-use possession is governed by state law ^[19].
Pools: required to be fenced per the Swimming Pool Ordinance (Section 3.14 of the Zoning Ordinance) ^[16].

Practical note for STR operators: The most common complaint vector in Zeeland Charter Township is noise after 10:00 PM. Setting a clear "quiet hours" rule in the listing and the house manual, plus a 24-hour local agent phone number, significantly reduces the risk of sheriff dispatch and downstream zoning attention.

📄 Anti-Noise Ordinance 📄 Disorderly Conduct Ord.📄 Burning Ordinance

6 Complaints & Enforcement

Complaints about a rental property in Zeeland Charter Township are routed in two channels:

Zoning & ordinance violations (illegal use, signs, pool fencing, junk, burn complaints): contact the PCI Zoning Administrator at kscharphornjr@pcimi.com or call PCI at (616) 667-8803 ^[7].
Criminal Code, Motor Vehicle Code, noise/disorder at the time it occurs: contact the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department; Zeeland Charter Township is patrolled by Ottawa County Sheriff Community Policing ^[20].
General township matters and 24-hour public records: township office at (616) 772-6701; meeting minutes and agendas are posted to the township’s Documents on Demand portal ^[21].

Ottawa County Sheriff non-emergency(616) 738-5000

Township Zoning Administrator (PCI)kscharphornjr@pcimi.com

Township Managerjosh.eggleston@zeelandtwp.org · (616) 772-6701 x115

📧 Zoning Admin Email 🏫 Sheriff Community Policing 📁 Documents on Demand

7 Septic, Well & Property Transfer Evaluation

Many Zeeland Charter Township properties are served by private well and septic; others are on municipal sewer or water under the township’s sewer and water ordinances. Verify which utilities serve a parcel before underwriting, and budget for the Ottawa County Environmental Health Code’s Real Estate Transfer Evaluation, which requires the on-site well and septic to be evaluated before ownership transfers ^[8].

County requirementSeptic & well evaluation prior to property transfer (Ottawa County Environmental Health Code)

Issued byOttawa County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division

Application portalmiottawa.org/HealthSuite

Township sewer/waterOrd. 387 (Sewer Usage) + Ord. 431 (2024 amendment); Ord. 392 (Water System) + Ord. 430 (2024 amendment) ^[2]^[3]

County health line(616) 393-5645

📄 Real Estate Transfer Evaluation (PDF)🌐 Well & Septic Permits 🔗 Apply Online (HealthSuite)

1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (31+ day leases) are permitted by right wherever the underlying dwelling use is permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. Single-family, two-family, and multi-family dwellings are permitted in their respective residential districts under the Zoning Ordinance (amended July 19, 2024) ^[4]. An LTR does not change the dwelling’s use classification, so no separate use approval is needed.

Where verification matters: If a parcel is zoned Agricultural, Commercial, or Industrial, residential dwelling use itself may be limited or only permitted accessory to another use. For any specific parcel, look up the zoning district on the map below and confirm dwelling use is permitted by right with the PCI Zoning Administrator.

Click the map to open the full Zoning Map PDF.

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

2 Registration & Permit Process

Zeeland Charter Township does not require landlords to register long-term rentals, obtain a rental license, or schedule a rental-specific inspection. No rental application packet, no annual renewal, and no rental fee schedule has been adopted ^[4]. A landlord can simply lease a permitted dwelling under standard Michigan landlord-tenant law.

The only township touchpoints for a typical LTR are general property standards (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing permits for any work the landlord performs, administered by PCI and the township’s trade inspectors) and the township’s Anti-Noise and Disorderly Conduct ordinances, which apply to all occupants ^[5]^[6].

Rental registration required?No

Annual inspection required?No (township does not operate a rental-inspection program)

Rental license feeNone

Tenant security-deposit cap (state law)1.5 months’ rent (MCL 554.602)

📄 Building Permit Application 📄 MI Landlord-Tenant Guide (PDF)📞 Call Township Office

3 Fees & Penalties

Because Zeeland Charter Township does not license or register rentals, there are no rental fees or rental-specific penalties at the township level.

LTR registration fee$0 (not required)

Annual rental renewalNone

Building permit (residential work)Per the Township Building Permit Fee Schedule (2022) ^[14]

Anti-Noise violationMunicipal civil infraction per Ord. 379 ^[5]

Zoning violationMunicipal civil infraction per Ord. 229; enforcement by PCI Zoning Administrator ^[15]

State of Michigan and Ottawa County fees still apply: building/trade permit inspection fees, county septic transfer evaluation fees, recording fees, etc.

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Zeeland Charter Township does not operate a rental-inspection program. There is no rolling LTR safety inspection conducted by the township ^[4]. Landlord safety obligations are governed by state law, the Michigan Building and Residential Codes (administered locally by PCI), and Ottawa County environmental health rules:

Michigan Building / Residential Code: permits required for structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work; inspections by PCI for building, Gord Bosch for electrical, Gary Hoover for mechanical/plumbing ^[7].
Ottawa County Environmental Health Code: well and septic systems must be evaluated at every property transfer (Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program) ^[8].
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: required in all dwellings under the Michigan Residential Code; landlords must verify functional alarms at the start of each tenancy.
Lead paint: federal Title X disclosure required for any rental built before 1978.
Swimming pools: must be fenced per Section 3.14 of the Zoning Ordinance ^[16].

📄 Building Permit Application 📄 Septic Transfer Evaluation 🌐 Ottawa County Well & Septic

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 that covers leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process ^[9]. These rules apply equally in Zeeland Charter Township and are not modified by local ordinance.

For tenants facing eviction or landlord disputes in Ottawa County, the 58th District Court handles summary proceedings, and the county’s Legal Self Help Center provides free forms and procedural guidance ^[22].

📄 MI Landlord-Tenant Guide (PDF)⚖️ Ottawa Legal Self Help Center 🏛️ 58th District Court

Official Resources

Ordinances

Zeeland Charter Township Zoning Ordinance

Amended July 19, 2024

Anti-Noise Ordinance (Ord. 379)

Township ordinance

Disorderly Conduct Ordinance (Ord. 378)

Township ordinance

Burning Ordinance (Ord. 199)

Open-burn rules; burn permit required

Home Occupation Ordinance (Ord. 170)

Limits on business uses within a dwelling

Special Land Uses Ordinance (Ord. 138)

Planning Commission special-use review

Junk & Inoperable Vehicle Ordinance (Ord. 352)

Township ordinance

Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance (Ord. 229)

Penalty structure for ordinance violations

Swimming Pool Ordinance (Zoning Sec. 3.14)

Pool fencing requirements

Marijuana Ordinance (Ord. 397)

Prohibits marijuana establishments

Sewer Usage Ordinance (Ord. 387 / 391)

Municipal sewer service areas

Sewer Ordinance Amendment 2024 (Ord. 431)

Most recent sewer amendment

Water System Ordinance (Ord. 392)

Municipal water service rules

Master Plan (2019)

Long-range land-use plan

Forms & Applications

Building Permit Application

PCI – submit to PCI Jenison office

Building Permit Fee Schedule (2022)

Township fee schedule

Zoning Compliance Application

Pre-construction zoning check

Special Land Use Application

Required for B&B, home occupation special uses

Site Plan Review Application

Planning Commission site review

Variance Application (ZBA)

Zoning Board of Appeals

Rezoning / Zoning Amendment Application

Request a zoning district change

Township Schedule of Fees (2022)

All fees in one document

Maps

Zeeland Charter Township Zoning Map

December 2021 edition (PDF)

Ottawa County Property Mapping (GIS)

Parcels, utilities, sewer, tax info

Ottawa County Property Search

Owner, parcel, assessed value

Portals & Lookups

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Ottawa County HealthSuite

Apply for septic, well & transfer evals

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BS&A Online – Zeeland Charter Township

Tax & assessment lookup

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Documents on Demand (Township Records)

Agendas, minutes, packets, notices

Contact & Directions

PCI Building & Zoning

(616) 667-8803

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Township Manager Email

Josh Eggleston – josh.eggleston@zeelandtwp.org

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Zoning Administrator Email (PCI)

kscharphornjr@pcimi.com

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Assessor Email

Tyler Tacoma – assessor@zeelandtwp.org