Coloma Charter Township
Short-term & long-term rental regulations, fees, and investor resources for Berrien County, Michigan.
Area Overview
Coloma Charter Township sits in the northern part of Berrien County and wraps around the City of Coloma. The township includes the Paw Paw Lake and Little Paw Paw Lake shorelines, the unincorporated community of Lake Michigan Beach along the big-lake shore, and a mix of agricultural land, orchards, and residential neighborhoods. The lake frontage is the primary short-term rental driver — Paw Paw Lake is a major inland summer-recreation lake with established cottage culture.
Both short-term rentals (stays under one month) and long-term rentals (stays over one month) are permitted in the township with registration [1][2]. Inspections, registration, and enforcement are handled by the Ordinance Officer in the Building Department. Short-term rentals are governed by a stand-alone STR ordinance; long-term rentals use a separate Rental Property Registration form.
Quick Status Summary
Permitted with annual registration under the township Short-Term Rental Ordinance. STRs are defined as stays of less than one month. Renewals are due by December 31 each year [1].
Permitted with registration on the township Rental Property Registration Form. LTRs are defined as stays of more than one month [2]. Inspections are administered by the Ordinance Officer.
Rental Regulations
Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)
Short-term rentals are permitted township-wide with a valid STR registration, subject to underlying zoning and the standards in the Short-Term Rental Ordinance [1]. The operative restrictions come from the zoning district classification of the parcel (residential, agricultural, waterfront overlay, etc.) and from the ordinance’s occupancy, noise, parking, and trash standards — not from a separate cap or permit-count limit.
The township’s zoning ordinance is codified as Chapter 40 of the Coloma Charter Township Code of Ordinances [3]. Waterfront properties on Paw Paw Lake and Little Paw Paw Lake fall under the Waterfront Overlay district, which has its own setback, lot coverage, and accessory-use rules that interact with rental use [4].
For any specific property: confirm the zoning district on the official municipal zoning map below, then verify Commercial Lodging / short-term rental use with the Zoning Administrator before underwriting.
Registration & Permit Process
Submit the Short Term Rental Registration Packet to the Building Department at 4919 Paw Paw Lake Rd, Coloma, MI 49038, either in person or by mail [1]. The packet includes the application, affidavit, and the Good Neighbor Policy acknowledgment.
Fees & Penalties
Fees are set by the township’s Short Term Rental Fee Schedule, published as a separate PDF [5]. Current amounts should be confirmed from the published schedule before submitting — fees are reviewed and can be adjusted by the Township Board.
Specific dollar amounts aren’t reproduced here because the Fee Schedule PDF is updated independently of the STR Ordinance. Pull the current PDF below before you budget for acquisition costs.
Inspections & Safety Requirements
The Ordinance Officer is responsible for the administration, scheduling, and inspection of all rental properties in the township [2]. New STR registrations require an inspection before issuance; renewal inspections follow the schedule set in the STR Ordinance [1].
Standard items inspectors look for on residential rentals include working smoke and CO detectors, safe electrical service, safe heating, potable water / proper septic operation, egress windows in sleeping rooms, and compliance with the Michigan Residential Code for any building alterations. Pool fencing is required if a pool is on the property.
Operating Rules (Good Neighbor Policy)
STR operators must acknowledge and comply with the township’s Good Neighbor Policy [6], which sets expectations for renter conduct, noise, trash, parking, and occupancy. Noise and criminal violations must be reported to the Coloma Township Police Department (CTPD) while they are occurring [7].
- Noise. Compliance with the township nuisance/noise standards is required at all times; loud disturbances during overnight hours are the typical trigger for complaints.
- Trash. Owners are responsible for adequate refuse service so that renter turnovers do not generate overflow or attract wildlife.
- Parking. On-site parking must accommodate the occupancy the property is rented for; street parking that blocks drives or hydrants is an enforcement issue.
- Occupancy. Advertised occupancy must match what the property can lawfully accommodate under the STR Ordinance and building code.
Renewal & Annual Deadlines
STR registrations run on a calendar-year cycle. Renewals are due by December 31 each year [1]. Properties not renewed by year-end cannot be legally operated as STRs in the following year until registration is reinstated.
Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)
Long-term rentals (leases of more than one month) are allowed in any district where residential dwelling use is permitted under Chapter 40 (Zoning) [3]. No separate Commercial Lodging classification applies to LTRs — if a parcel’s zoning district allows a single-family or multi-family residence, it may be rented on a long-term basis with the standard Rental Property Registration [2].
Where verification matters: for parcels zoned agricultural, commercial, or mixed-use, confirm that residential dwelling use is a permitted use (or a legally grandfathered use) on the specific parcel. Waterfront Overlay parcels on Paw Paw Lake have overlay rules that supplement the base district — lot coverage, setbacks, and accessory structures are the typical flash points [4].
Registration & Permit Process
Submit the Rental Property Registration Form to the Building Department at 4919 Paw Paw Lake Rd, Coloma, MI 49038, in person or by mail [2]. A Rental Inspection Form is used to document inspection findings.
Fees & Penalties
LTR registration and inspection fees are set by township policy and are collected when the Rental Property Registration Form is submitted. The township Office publishes its current fee amounts; confirm the current fee with Code Enforcement before submitting so your check matches the posted amount.
LTR fees are not published as a separate public PDF the way the STR Fee Schedule is — call Code Enforcement to confirm the current amount.
Inspections & Safety Requirements
LTR inspections follow the same Rental Inspection Form used for short-term rentals [2]. The Ordinance Officer administers, schedules, and performs the inspection. Typical items include working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, safe electrical service and panel, safe heating, properly operating plumbing and septic, egress windows in all sleeping rooms, and pool fencing where applicable.
Buyers of older cottages around Paw Paw Lake or in the Waterfront Overlay should pay special attention to septic system age and drainfield condition — failed systems are a common and expensive surprise. Berrien County Health Department is the source for septic inspection records [8].
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 of Michigan 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 Coloma Charter Township and are not modified by local ordinance.
Special Regulations
Coloma Charter Township has two inland recreation lakes (Paw Paw Lake, Little Paw Paw Lake) and frontage along Lake Michigan through the Lake Michigan Beach community. Waterfront properties layer additional rules on top of the base rental framework.
Waterfront Overlay District
Lakefront parcels on Paw Paw Lake, Little Paw Paw Lake, and along the Lake Michigan shoreline fall under the township’s Waterfront Overlay district [4]. The overlay modifies setbacks, lot coverage, and accessory-structure rules. Two distinct zoning compliance permits apply within the overlay — one for the principal home and one for accessory uses (decks, sheds, boat houses, detached garages).
- Home in Waterfront Overlay — separate zoning compliance permit required for new construction or substantial alteration.
- Accessory use in Waterfront Overlay — separate permit for accessory structures and certain site improvements.
Investors renovating for rental use should price the Waterfront Overlay permit review into the project timeline.
Septic, Sewer & Paw Paw Lake
Coloma Township maintains a municipal sanitary sewer system for portions of the township; other areas rely on private septic systems. Paw Paw Lake is an eutrophic inland lake and is sensitive to septic failures — the Berrien County Health Department tracks on-site septic system records for the county [8]. Older cottages with undersized drainfields are common around the lake and are a leading cause of failed home inspections.
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.
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Thinking about an investment in Coloma Charter Township?
I help investors evaluate short-term and long-term rental opportunities across Southwest Michigan, including the Paw Paw Lake and Lake Michigan Beach waterfront markets.
Sources & Downloads
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1Coloma Charter Township — Short Term Rentals program pagehttps://www.colomatownship.org/building-department/page/short-term-rentalsSTR definition (stays < 1 month), renewal deadline December 31, complaint channel, linked Registration Packet / Fee Schedule / Good Neighbor Policy / Ordinance PDFsVerified: 2026-04-20
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2Coloma Charter Township — Rental Applications & Forms pagehttps://www.colomatownship.org/building-department/page/rental-applications-formsLTR definition (stays > 1 month), Ordinance Officer administers inspections, links to Rental Property Registration Form and Rental Inspection FormVerified: 2026-04-20
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3Municode — Coloma Charter Township Code of Ordinances, Chapter 40 (Zoning)https://library.municode.com/mi/coloma_charter_township,_(berrien_co.)/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORCOCHTOMI_CH40ZOZoning ordinance governing residential use by districtVerified: 2026-04-20
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4Coloma Charter Township — Zoning Compliance Applications pagehttps://www.colomatownship.org/building-department/page/zoning-compliance-applicationsWaterfront Overlay district permits (Home + Accessory Use) listed as separate compliance forms, confirming the overlay is a live, regulated districtVerified: 2026-04-20
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5Coloma Charter Township — Short Term Rental Fee Schedule (PDF)https://www.colomatownship.org/media/741Current STR fee schedule, updated independently of the STR OrdinanceVerified: 2026-04-20
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6Coloma Charter Township — Good Neighbor Policy (PDF)https://www.colomatownship.org/media/751Operator conduct expectations acknowledged as part of the STR registration packetVerified: 2026-04-20
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7Coloma Charter Township Police Departmenthttps://www.colomatownship.org/coloma-twp-police-departmentPrimary contact for noise and criminal complaints while they are occurringVerified: 2026-04-20
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8Berrien County Health Department — On-Site Septic programhttps://www.berriencounty.org/760/On-Site-SepticSeptic system records and inspections for parcels not served by municipal sewerVerified: 2026-04-20
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9Michigan Legislature — A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlordshttps://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdfStatewide landlord-tenant law, leases, eviction processVerified: 2026-04-20