Stevensville
Short-term & long-term rental regulations, fees, and investor resources for Berrien County, Michigan.
Area Overview
The Village of Stevensville is a small Lake-Michigan-adjacent village on Red Arrow Highway between Bridgman and Saint Joseph, surrounded by (but separate from) Lincoln Charter Township. Housing stock is a mix of modest single-family homes, a compact Central Business (C2) downtown, and a commercial corridor zoned C1. The village is roughly 10 minutes from the I-94 / St. Joseph / Benton Harbor core and draws a blend of lake-day visitors and local service-worker long-term renters.
All rental units — short-term and long-term — must be registered with the Village and pass an initial inspection, with renewal inspections every two years [1]. Short-term rentals are allowed under two categories: owner-occupied STRs (allowed anywhere in the Village, with a Michigan Principal Residence Exemption required) and investor-owned STRs (allowed only in non-conforming dwelling units within the C1 and C2 commercial districts) [1][2].
Quick Status Summary
Allowed in two categories, each with meaningful limits. Owner-occupied STRs (owner's primary residence, at least 6 months/year) are allowed anywhere in the Village and require a Michigan Principal Residence Exemption. Investor-owned STRs (owner does not reside at the property) are allowed only in C1 and C2 commercial-zoned non-conforming dwelling units — the residential corridor is effectively off-limits for non-owner-occupied short-term rental. $100 (owner-occupied) or $300 (investor-owned) application fee every 2 years, plus a $35 inspection fee.
Permitted in the Village wherever residential dwelling use is allowed by the zoning ordinance. Registration is required: submit the Rental Application plus a $35 inspection fee, pass the Village Clerk-scheduled inspection, and receive a Certificate of Compliance valid for 2 years. No STR-style per-category application fee applies to long-term rentals.
Rental Regulations
Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)
Short-term rentals in Stevensville fall into two categories, with different geographic rules [1][2]:
- Personal Owner-Occupied STR — the property is the owner’s primary residence (at least 6 months/year). Allowed anywhere in the Village. A Michigan Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) is required.
- Investor-Owned STR — the owner does not reside at the property at least half the year (and no PRE on file). Allowed only in C1 (General Commercial) and C2 (Central Business) zones, and only in pre-existing non-conforming dwelling units within those districts.
In practical terms, the residential R1 / R2 / R3 / R4 corridors are closed to pure investor STRs — those properties can only run an STR if the owner lives there half the year with a PRE on file.
Click through to the official Zoning Map PDF to confirm a specific parcel’s district.
Registration & Permit Process
Submit the Rental Application, all required documents, the $35 inspection fee, and the applicable STR application fee by mail or in person to Village Hall at 5768 Saint Joseph Avenue. The Village Clerk will then call to schedule the inspection [1].
Fees & Penalties
Fee schedule as published on the Village Rental Unit Registration page [1]. The Village re-uses the same month/day when reissuing a Certificate of Compliance regardless of when the renewal inspection actually occurs, so late renewals do not “reset” the cycle in the operator’s favor.
Inspections & Safety Requirements
Every initial rental permit and every 2-year renewal triggers a Village inspection of the unit against the Village’s rental inspection checklist [3]. The checklist covers smoke/CO alarms, egress windows, electrical, plumbing, heat, and general property-maintenance conditions. The Certificate of Compliance is not issued until the inspection is passed.
The Village Clerk schedules the inspection after the application and fees are received — there is no self-service online scheduling.
Operating Rules (Good Neighbor Guide)
Every short-term rental is required to post a copy of the Village’s Good Neighbor Guide in the unit [1][4]. The Guide sets the baseline house rules a guest sees on arrival:
- Quiet hours: 10:00 PM – 8:00 AM.
- Trash & recycling: Place containers curbside per Village schedule; do not overfill.
- Parking: Off-street parking required — no street parking overnight.
- Fire pits: Wood only; no accelerants; attend at all times.
- Occupancy: Respect posted occupancy limits from the Certificate of Compliance.
Expiration & Renewal
Certificates of Compliance are valid for 2 years. It is the owner’s (or agent’s) responsibility to renew the certificate and schedule the inspection at least 30 days before expiration [1]. When a certificate is reissued, the new expiration uses the same month and day as the previous certificate regardless of the date the new one is actually issued.
Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)
Long-term rentals (leases of 30+ days) are permitted in the Village wherever residential dwelling use is allowed under the zoning ordinance [2]. The village’s residential districts — R1 Single-Family, R2 Duplex, R3 Multi-family, and R4 Mobile Home Park — all permit residential occupancy by right, whether owner-occupied or leased long-term.
Unlike short-term rentals, LTRs are not restricted to commercial zones and there is no separate owner-occupied vs. investor-owned category for long-term leases.
Click through to the official Zoning Map PDF to confirm a specific parcel’s district.
Registration & Permit Process
LTR registration follows the same paper process as STRs — submit the Rental Application and $35 inspection fee to Village Hall, the Village Clerk schedules the inspection, and a 2-year Certificate of Compliance is issued upon passing [1]. The STR-specific $100 / $300 application fees do not apply to long-term rentals.
Fees & Inspections
The Village inspects every LTR on the same 2-year cycle as STRs, against the same inspection checklist [3].
Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources
Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) and the summary-proceedings act govern leases, security deposits, repairs, and eviction in Stevensville — the Village does not modify these by ordinance. Evictions are filed in Berrien County District Court. The State Bar of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords covering leases, deposits, repairs, and the eviction process [5].
Official Resources
Property Tax Treatment
Explore Rental Guides — Berrien County
All 39 municipalities in Berrien County. Click any to view its rental guide — or request one if it’s not yet live.
- Bainbridge TownshipTownshipSTRs Capped/Limited
- BarodaVillageSTRs Allowed
- Baroda TownshipTownshipSTRs Restricted
- Benton Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Benton HarborCitySTRs Restricted
- Berrien SpringsVillageSTRs Allowed
- Berrien TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Bertrand TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- BridgmanCitySTRs Restricted
- BuchananCitySTRs Restricted
- Buchanan TownshipTownshipSTRs Restricted
- Chikaming TownshipTownshipSTRs Capped/Limited
- ColomaCitySTRs Allowed
- Coloma Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Eau ClaireVillageSTRs Allowed
- GalienVillageSTRs Allowed
- Galien TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Grand BeachVillageSTRs Allowed
- Hagar TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Lake Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Lincoln Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- MichianaVillageSTRs Capped/Limited
- New BuffaloCitySTRs Restricted
- New Buffalo TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- NilesCitySTRs Allowed
- Niles Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Restricted
- Oronoko Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Pipestone TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Royalton TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Saint JosephCitySTRs Restricted
- Saint Joseph Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Restricted
- ShorehamVillageSTRs Allowed
- Sodus TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- StevensvilleVillageSTRs Restricted
- Three OaksVillageSTRs Capped/Limited
- Three Oaks TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- WatervlietCitySTRs Allowed
- Watervliet Charter TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
- Weesaw TownshipTownshipSTRs Allowed
Thinking about an investment in the Village of Stevensville?
The split between C1/C2-only investor STRs and anywhere-in-Village owner-occupied STRs changes the math on specific parcels. I help investors evaluate short-term and long-term rental opportunities across Southwest Michigan and compare Stevensville to neighboring Bridgman, Lincoln Township, and St. Joseph.
Sources & Downloads
-
1Village of Stevensville — Rental Unit Registrationhttps://www.villageofstevensville.us/pview.aspx?catid=463&id=35842Authoritative page: process steps, $35 inspection fee, $100 / $300 STR application fees, 2-year Certificate of Compliance, owner-occupied vs. investor-owned STR categories, renewal rules.Verified: 2026-04-20
-
2Village of Stevensville — Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinancehttps://www.villageofstevensville.us/docview.aspx?docid=46090STR zoning rules: owner-occupied allowed anywhere; investor-owned limited to non-conforming dwellings in C1 and C2 districts.Verified: 2026-04-20
-
3Village of Stevensville — Rental Inspection Checklisthttps://www.villageofstevensville.us/docview.aspx?docid=46033Items inspected at initial issuance and every 2-year renewal.Verified: 2026-04-20
-
4Village of Stevensville — Good Neighbor Guidehttps://www.villageofstevensville.us/docview.aspx?docid=46095Required posting in every STR. Quiet hours 10pm–8am, trash, parking, fire pit, and occupancy rules.Verified: 2026-04-20
-
5Michigan Legislature — A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlordshttps://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdfStatewide landlord-tenant law, leases, deposits, evictions.Verified: 2026-04-20