Rental Investment Guide

Whitehall

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

Updated May 2026
📞
City Hall
231-894-4048
📧
City Clerk
cityclerk@cityofwhitehall.org
🗺
Directions
405 E. Colby Street, Whitehall, MI 49461
🌐
City Website
cityofwhitehall.org

Area Overview

The City of Whitehall sits at the northern shoulder of White Lake in Muskegon County, directly across the channel from sister-city Montague and roughly 60 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. The housing mix runs from year-round single-family homes along Colby Street and Slocum Street to lake-adjacent cottages on the White Lake shoreline, with the Hart-Montague Bicycle Trail State Park, Goodrich Park, and the White Lake Community Library all driving steady seasonal interest from second-home buyers and visitors.

Long-term rentals are subject to mandatory city registration under Code Chapter 67 (Ord. 18-08, adopted December 18, 2018, with seven amendments through 2023) [1]. Registration is $75 per building (one-time, plus $25 for each building beyond five), and the program adopts the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments [1]. Day-to-day administration is contracted out to Muskegon Charter Township at 1990 E. Apple Ave [2].

Whitehall does NOT yet have a standalone short-term rental ordinance. As of the September 9, 2025 City Council work session, council reached consensus to draft mandatory STR registration with annual safety inspections, neighbor notification within 300 feet, a 24/7 local-contact requirement, no-fireworks/quiet-hour rules, and possibly a permit cap [3] — but no ordinance has been adopted. In the meantime, transient-guest residential use is treated as a Bed & Breakfast under the 2025 Zoning Ordinance, allowed only as a Special Use (Planning Commission site-plan approval required) in R1, R2, R3, RC1, B1, and B2 districts, and the dwelling must be the operator/owner’s principal residence [4].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals NOT ALLOWED

Whitehall has no standalone STR ordinance. The 2025 Zoning Ordinance treats overnight transient-guest use the same as a Bed & Breakfast, which is permitted only as a Special Use (Planning Commission approval) in R1, R2, R3, RC1, B1, and B2, and the dwelling must be the operator/owner’s principal residence [4]. Investor-owned, non-owner-occupied whole-home STRs are not currently authorized as a use. A draft STR ordinance was discussed in council on September 9, 2025 [3] but no ordinance has been adopted. Stays of 30 days or less are also subject to the 5% Muskegon County Accommodation Tax [5].

Long-Term Rentals REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Long-term rentals are permitted citywide in residential districts with mandatory rental registration under Code Chapter 67 (Ord. 18-08) [1]. Fee is $75 per building (one-time, plus $25 each for buildings 6+), with re-registration required within 30 days of an ownership change [1]. The City has adopted the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments and contracts inspections through Muskegon Charter Township; council policy targets a 3-year inspection cycle [3]. Civil infractions for non-compliance run up to $500/day [1].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Whitehall has no stand-alone short-term rental category in its zoning code. The 2025 Zoning Ordinance defines a Bed & Breakfast as “an accessory use to a single family detached dwelling in which transient guests are provided a sleeping room or food for payment” and explicitly says “Air bed and breakfast operations shall be treated the same as bed and breakfast operations regardless of whether food is provided or not” [4]. That definition means Airbnb/VRBO-style use is regulated as a B&B.

B&B is allowed only as a Special Use (requiring Planning Commission site-plan approval) in R1, R2, R3, RC1, B1, and B2 districts [4]. The Lakefront Recreation (LR) district along White Lake does not list B&B as either a permitted or special use [4]. The dwelling must be the operator/owner’s principal residence — non-owner-occupied whole-home STRs are not authorized.

📄 Open the City of Whitehall Zoning Map (PDF)

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 2025 Zoning Ordinance📧 Ask Zoning Admin
2 Registration & Permit Process (Special Use Permit)

The current path is a Bed & Breakfast Special Use Permit through the Planning Commission, not a standalone STR registration [4]. Submit a Special Use Permit application plus a Residential Site Plan to City Hall, 405 E. Colby Street, addressed to the Zoning Administrator [6][7]. The Planning Commission then reviews the application at a public hearing under Article 23 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Submission pathIn person or by mail to City Hall, 405 E. Colby St [6]
Required formsSpecial Use Permit Application + Residential Site Plan [6][7]
Decision bodyPlanning Commission (public hearing) [4]
Owner-occupancy requiredYes — dwelling must be operator/owner’s principal residence [4]
STR-specific ordinanceNone adopted; council discussed a draft on Sept 9, 2025 [3]

If the City Council adopts the draft STR ordinance in 2026, expect a separate STR registration step (with annual safety inspection, 24/7 local contact, neighbor notification within 300 feet) layered on top of — or instead of — the B&B Special Use process [3]. Confirm the latest ordinance status with the Zoning Administrator before applying.

📄 Special Use Permit Application📄 Residential Site Plan📧 Zoning Administrator
3 Fees & Penalties
Special Use Permit feeSet by City Council fee resolution — confirm current amount with Clerk [8]
Building/zoning permit feesPer published Permit Fee Schedule (Oct 2025) [8]
5% Muskegon County Accommodation TaxStays ≤30 nights — filed monthly by the 15th [5]
Late-tax penalty5% per month up to 25%, plus 1% monthly interest [5]
Operating without zoning approvalMunicipal civil infraction under the Zoning Ordinance [4]

Whitehall does not publish a fixed STR permit fee because the program does not yet exist as a separate ordinance. The 5% county accommodation tax applies regardless of city status — Visit Muskegon administers collection (transitioning to the Granicus filing system) [9].

📄 Permit Fee Schedule (Oct 2025)🔗 Visit Muskegon — STR Tax📧 City Clerk
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

The City does not yet require dedicated annual STR inspections (the September 2025 council discussion proposed annual safety inspections in the draft STR ordinance, but it has not been adopted) [3]. In the meantime, two inspection regimes apply to any rental-style use of a Whitehall dwelling:

Building/electrical/mechanical/plumbingRequired for any construction or alteration — inspected by City inspectors (Bldg: Robert Tufts; Elec: Jeff Johnson; Plumb/Mech: Jim Callender) [10]
Property Maintenance Code2015 International Property Maintenance Code adopted with local amendments under Chapter 67 [1]
Septic/well (if applicable)Muskegon County Health Dept Environmental Health [11]

Most parcels inside Whitehall city limits are on municipal water and sanitary sewer, but properties on the city edges may use private septic or well systems. The Muskegon County Health Department permits and inspects these — request an existing-system evaluation before purchase [11].

📄 Building Department🔗 Septic Permits & Evaluations📞 Health Dept (231-724-6208)
5 Operating Rules (Owner-Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Parking, Tax)

Until a stand-alone STR ordinance is adopted, the operating rules come from the existing Bed & Breakfast Special Use framework plus city-wide nuisance/noise ordinances [4]:

  • Owner principal-residence required. The dwelling must be the operator/owner’s principal residence [4]. This is the most consequential rule — it blocks classic investor whole-home STRs.
  • Site-plan compliance. Parking, screening, and signage must conform to the Special Use site plan approved by the Planning Commission [4].
  • City-wide nuisance/noise rules apply regardless of rental status (Code of Ordinances enforcement falls to City police; quiet-hour and excessive-noise complaints can result in civil infractions) [12].
  • Septic/well systems on the parcel must remain in compliance — failures can be cited by the Muskegon County Health Department [11].
  • 5% Muskegon County Accommodation Tax on stays ≤30 nights, filed monthly by the 15th to Visit Muskegon [5].

If the draft STR ordinance is adopted in 2026, expect additional layered rules including a 24/7 local-contact requirement, no-fireworks clause, neighbor notification within 300 feet, and a possible city-wide cap [3]. Confirm with the Clerk before relying on the draft.

📄 2025 Zoning Ordinance📰 Sept 9, 2025 STR Council Recap🔗 5% Accommodation Tax
6 Pending STR Ordinance — What's Being Drafted

At the September 9, 2025 work session, City Council reached consensus on the structural elements of a forthcoming STR ordinance [3]. None of these are law yet — they are likely directional, not binding. As of this guide’s verification date, no STR ordinance has been adopted by the City Council [3].

Council consensus items (per the published recap) [3]:

  • Mandatory city registration for STR units
  • Annual safety inspections (vs the 3-year cycle the city uses for long-term rentals)
  • Required neighbor notification within 300 feet of a licensed STR
  • Required 24/7 local contact person
  • Explicit quiet-hour rules and a no-fireworks clause
  • Possible numeric cap on total STRs (Suttons Bay model cited)
  • Possible by-district zoning limits
  • Possible owner-occupied preference vs investor whole-home STRs
  • Build a single registry covering both LTR and STR
⚠ For investors: Underwrite Whitehall STR purchases conservatively. The city has clearly signaled it intends to regulate STRs more tightly, and the existing zoning already requires owner-occupancy under the B&B framework. If your investment thesis depends on a non-owner-occupied STR, confirm in writing with the Zoning Administrator before closing.
📰 Council Work Session Recap📄 City Council Page📧 Ask Zoning Admin
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals follow standard residential zoning. If a parcel is zoned for residential dwelling use under the 2025 Zoning Ordinance, LTRs are permitted with rental registration under Code Chapter 67 — no separate use classification applies [1][4].

Whitehall’s residential districts are R1 (Single Family), R2 (Moderate Density Residential), and R3 (Multiple Family Residential) [4]. The Lakefront Recreation (LR) district along White Lake is commercial-recreation-focused and does not list standard residential dwelling as a permitted use — verify any waterfront LR-zoned parcel separately [4]. For commercial, industrial, or mixed-use parcels, the underlying residential dwelling use must be permitted by right or grandfathered.

📄 Open the City of Whitehall Zoning Map (PDF)

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 2025 Zoning Ordinance📧 Ask Zoning Admin
2 Registration & Permit Process

Submit the Whitehall Rental Registration Form (RR-1) — the city contracts day-to-day rental administration to Muskegon Charter Township, so the completed form goes to 1990 E. Apple Ave, Muskegon MI 49442 (phone 231-777-2555 ext. 1131; fax 231-777-4912) [2].

Submission pathMail or fax to Muskegon Charter Township [2]
Fee$75 per building (one-time), plus $25 per building for 6+ [2]
Registration termOne-time per building (no biennial renewal of registration itself) [2]
Ownership changeNew owner must re-register within 30 days [1]
STR exemptionUnits inspected by a state/national STR association are excluded from Chapter 67 [1][2]

Required information: rental address, number of units, owner contact details, property manager / agent details if applicable, and certification that all City taxes, utilities, and fees are current [1].

📄 Rental Registration Form RR-1📄 Chapter 67 (Title 6 PDF)📞 Muskegon Twp (231-777-2555)
3 Fees & Penalties
Registration fee$75 per building, one-time (plus $25 each for buildings 6+) [2]
Re-registration on ownership changeWithin 30 days of taking ownership [1]
Inspection feeSet by City Council resolution; constitutes a lien if unpaid [1]
Failure to register / Chapter 67 violationsCivil infraction up to $500 per day, each day a separate offense [1]
Right to rentMay be revoked for unpaid taxes, utilities, or zoning violations [1]

The current rental inspection fee is set by Council resolution rather than printed in Chapter 67. The published Permit Fee Schedule lists building/zoning fees but not the rental inspection fee specifically [8] — confirm the current rental inspection fee with the City Clerk or Muskegon Township rental program before estimating turnover costs.

📄 Chapter 67 (Title 6)📄 Permit Fee Schedule📧 City Clerk
4 Inspections & Property Maintenance

Whitehall has adopted the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code as its Property Maintenance Code, with local amendments codified in Chapter 67 § 67.06 [1]. Inspections are performed by Muskegon Charter Township under the inter-municipal services contract [2].

Code adopted2015 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments [1]
Inspection cycle (council statement)3 years for long-term rentals [3]
ScopeAll non-owner-occupied dwellings (single, two-family, multi-family) [1]
ExcludedState-licensed hotels/motels, hospitals, nursing/foster homes, STRs inspected by state/national associations [1]

The 3-year cycle is sourced from a City Council statement rather than the Chapter 67 text itself (the ordinance delegates frequency “as established from time to time by the City Council”) [1][3]. Treat the cycle as policy, not a hardcoded ordinance term, and confirm the current schedule with the rental inspector before underwriting.

📄 Chapter 67 — Rental Property📄 Building Department📞 Muskegon Twp Rental Program
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 booklet, A Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords, covering leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process [13]. These rules apply equally in Whitehall and are not modified by city ordinance.

Michigan Legal Help also maintains the do-it-yourself eviction and tenant-rights toolkits used by district courts statewide [14]. Whitehall summary-proceedings cases are heard at the 60th District Court in Muskegon.

📄 Tenant/Landlord Practical Guide (PDF)🔗 Michigan Legal Help — Housing

Special Regulations

Whitehall properties along White Lake or near the Lake Michigan channel may sit in flood, septic, well, or wellhead-protection zones that affect what you can buy and how you can rent. Investors should review these in addition to the rental rules.

★ Wellhead Protection Overlay (Zoning Article 14)

Whitehall enforces a Wellhead Protection Overlay District covering land that drains toward the city’s municipal water-supply wells [4]. The overlay restricts certain land uses (especially commercial uses involving regulated chemicals or large-scale septic) to protect drinking water. It does NOT prohibit residential rentals, but property owners should verify whether parcels in the overlay are subject to any extra site-plan conditions before approving improvements.

📄 Zoning Ordinance (Article 14)📧 Zoning Admin
★ Lakefront Recreation District (LR) — White Lake Frontage

The Lakefront Recreation (LR) district covers Whitehall’s White Lake shoreline and is structured for commercial-recreation use — marinas, hotels/motels (by Special Use), boat storage, eating/drinking establishments, and RV parks/campgrounds (by Special Use) [4]. Standard single-family residential dwellings and Bed & Breakfasts are NOT listed as either permitted or special uses in LR [4]. Buyers of waterfront parcels must verify the parcel’s zoning district before assuming residential or rental use is allowed.

📄 Zoning Article 11 (LR District)🗺 Zoning Map
★ Septic & Wells (Muskegon County Health Department)

Most parcels inside Whitehall city limits are on municipal water and sanitary sewer, but some older parcels and edge-of-city lots use private septic and well systems. The Muskegon County Health Department’s Environmental Health program permits and inspects on-site septic and private wells [11].

Existing-system evaluations are available for a fee and are recommended for any buyer of a property using septic or well water — failed or undersized septic systems are a common surprise on older waterfront cottages and can be expensive to remediate.

🔗 Septic Permits & Evaluations🔗 Well Permits & Evaluations📞 Health Dept (231-724-6208)

Official Resources

Ordinances
📜
Title 6 — Building Regulations (Chapter 67 Rental Property)
Adopted Ord. 18-08 (12/18/2018), 7 amendments through 2023
📜
2025 Zoning Ordinance (Revised)
March 2025 — 28 articles, supersedes 2022
📜
City Code — Ordinances Library
All Title PDFs hosted by the City
📜
City Code — Table of Contents
PDF index of every Title and Chapter
Forms & Applications
📋
Rental Registration Form (RR-1)
$75 per building, sent to Muskegon Twp
📋
Special Use Permit Application
Required for B&B / transient-guest use
📋
Residential Site Plan
Required attachment for SUP applications
📋
Zoning Variance Application
ZBA petition
📋
Building Permit Application (2026)
Current building permit form
📋
Electrical Permit (2026)
Inspector: Jeff Johnson
📋
Mechanical Permit (2026)
Inspector: Jim Callender
📋
Plumbing Permit (2026)
Inspector: Jim Callender
📋
Permit Fee Schedule (Oct 2025)
Building/zoning permit fee tiers
📋
Accessory Buildings & Structures Regulations
Sheds, garages, ADU-adjacent structures
📋
Fence Regulations
Site-plan compliance reference
📋
Lot Split Application
For parcel subdivision
Maps
🗺
City of Whitehall Zoning Map (March 2025)
Official 11×17 district map
🗺
Muskegon County Property Information Viewer
Parcels, utilities, sewer, tax info (ESRI)
🗺
Muskegon County GIS Portal
Hub of all county GIS apps
Portals & Lookups
🔍
BS&A Online — Whitehall Tax & Assessment
Property tax/assessment lookup
🔍
Visit Muskegon — STR Tax Resources
5% county accommodation tax filing
🔍
Visit Muskegon — Local Licensing Requirements
Per-municipality STR registration list
Contact & Directions
📞
City Hall
231-894-4048
📧
City Clerk (Brenda Bourdon)
cityclerk@cityofwhitehall.org
📧
Zoning Administrator (Chris Mahoney)
christopher.mahoney@mcd911.net
📧
City Manager (Dan Tavernier)
tavernier@cityofwhitehall.org
📞
Muskegon Twp Rental Program
231-777-2555 ext. 1131
🗺
Directions to City Hall
405 E. Colby St, Whitehall
🏥
Muskegon County Health Dept (Septic/Well)
231-724-6208
🌐
City of Whitehall 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 — Muskegon County

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

I help investors and homeowners navigate Whitehall's existing LTR registration program and the still-evolving short-term rental rules — plus the rest of the rental landscape across Muskegon County and southwest Michigan. Let's talk through your White Lake property before you underwrite or list.

Schedule a Consultation Call (269) 235-9910

Sources & Downloads

  1. 1
    City of Whitehall — Title 6 Building Regulations (Chapter 67 Rental Property) https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TITLE-6-FINAL.pdf
    Adopted Ord. 18-08 (12/18/2018) with amendments 19-01, 20-04, 21-01, 22-01, 22-05, 23-01 — defines registration, fees, IPMC adoption, civil-infraction penalty
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  2. 2
    City of Whitehall — Rental Registration Form RR-1 (2023 rev) https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Whitehall-Rental-Registration-RR-1_2023-1.pdf
    $75/building one-time fee ($25 each for 6+), Muskegon Twp administration address, STR-association exemption
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  3. 3
    CatchMark Community — City of Whitehall Discusses Short-Term Rentals (Sept 9, 2025) https://catchmarkcommunity.com/city-of-whitehall-discusses-short-term-rentals/
    Council work-session recap — consensus on STR registration, annual inspections, neighbor notification, 24/7 contact, 3-year LTR cycle reference
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  4. 4
    City of Whitehall — 2025 Revised Zoning Ordinance (PDF) https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Revised-Ordinances-FINAL.pdf
    March 2025, 28 articles — B&B definition, district list (R1/R2/R3/RC1/B1/B2/LR/AG/OS), Wellhead Protection Overlay, Lakefront Recreation district
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  5. 5
    Muskegon County — Accommodation Tax Resources (Visit Muskegon) https://www.visitmuskegon.org/accommodation-tax-resources/
    5% county tax on stays ≤30 nights, monthly filing by the 15th, late penalty 5%/mo to 25% + 1% interest, county Ordinance No. 2013-406
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  6. 6
    City of Whitehall — Special Use Permit Application (PDF) https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Special-Use-Permit1-2.pdf
    Form used for B&B / transient-guest residential SUP applications heard by Planning Commission
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  7. 7
    City of Whitehall — Residential Site Plan (PDF) https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Site-Plan-Residential-1.pdf
    Required attachment for residential SUP and similar zoning applications
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  8. 8
    City of Whitehall — Permit Fee Schedule (Oct 2025) https://cityofwhitehall.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Permit-Fee-Schedule.pdf
    Building/zoning permit fee tiers; rental inspection fee set separately by Council resolution
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  9. 9
    Visit Muskegon — STR Resources (filing/Granicus transition) https://www.visitmuskegon.org/partner-resources/short-term-rentals/
    Centralized STR partner resources including tax filing system transition
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  10. 10
    City of Whitehall — Building Department https://cityofwhitehall.org/city-hall/building/
    Department contacts (Tufts, Johnson, Callender) and inspection coordination
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  11. 11
    Muskegon County — Septic Permits & Evaluations https://co.muskegon.mi.us/1042/Septic-Permits-Evaluations
    County Environmental Health septic permitting and evaluations program
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  12. 12
    City of Whitehall — Code of Ordinances Library https://cityofwhitehall.org/city-hall/city-council/ordinances/
    Whitehall code is hosted as PDFs by the city; not on Municode or eCode360
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  13. 13
    Michigan Legislature — A Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords (PDF) https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf
    Statewide tenant-landlord reference (leases, deposits, evictions)
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  14. 14
    Michigan Legal Help — Housing Resources https://michiganlegalhelp.org/resources/housing
    DIY eviction defense and tenant-rights toolkits used in Michigan district courts
    Verified: 2026-05-16
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.