Rental Investment Guide

Casco Township

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

Updated May 2026
📞
STR / Deputy Clerk
269-637-4441 ext. 5
📧
STR Office (Deputy Clerk)
deputyclerk@cascotownship.org
🗺
Directions
7104 107th Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090
🌐
Township Website
www.cascotownship.info

Area Overview

Casco Township occupies the northwestern corner of Allegan County, fronting Lake Michigan immediately north of South Haven [1]. The township is largely rural and agricultural inland, with a high concentration of lakefront second homes and short-term rentals along the shoreline. Most properties share a South Haven mailing address (49090), but the township is separately governed and has its own rental rules distinct from the City of South Haven [1].

Short-term rentals are permitted township-wide subject to a structured annual registration program codified in the Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance (originally adopted 2018, amended 2019) [2][3]. There is no permit cap, but the township enforces hard limits on occupancy, minimum stay length, and turnover frequency, plus a $1,000,000 liability insurance requirement and a mandatory local agent who can respond on-site within one hour [4]. Long-term rentals (30+ days) are not subject to a separate township registration program and follow ordinary residential zoning [2].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Permitted township-wide under the Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance with annual registration [2][3]. $325 annual fee [4]. No cap. 3-night minimum stay, one turnover per week, max 12 occupants (or 2 per bedroom + 2 per finished floor, whichever is less) [4]. $1,000,000 liability insurance and local agent (1-hour on-site response) required.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rentals (30+ days) are permitted in residential zoning districts with no separate township registration program. Standard Casco Township zoning applies; tenant-landlord matters fall under Michigan state law.

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Short-term rentals are permitted township-wide under the Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance, subject to annual registration [2][4]. The ordinance applies to any rental of less than 30 days [2]. Whether a specific parcel’s underlying zoning district permits residential dwelling use is governed by the Zoning Ordinance, which establishes districts AG (Agricultural), RR (Rural Residential), LDR, MDR, LR-A and LR-B (Lakeshore Residential A/B), C-1, C-2, PUD, I-1, and FP (Floodplain Overlay) [5].

For any specific property, verify the zoning district on the map below and confirm residential use with the Zoning Administrator before relying on STR economics.

Casco Township Zoning Map

Click the map to open the full-resolution PDF.

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

Register online through the Casco STR self-service portal at cascomi-self.govplatform.com, or by mailing the 2026 Short-Term Rental Registration Form with payment to the Clerk’s Office at 7104 107th Avenue, South Haven, MI 49090 [4].

Online portalcascomi-self.govplatform.com
Paper form2026 STR Registration Form (PDF)
Payable toCasco Township (check) or credit card via portal
Required documents$1M liability insurance proof; septic inspection if no public sewer; emergency street number sign
TermAnnual

Registration steps per the township checklist [4]:

  1. Review the Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance.
  2. Complete the 2026 Registration Form (mail/deliver) or use the online portal.
  3. Pay the $325 fee.
  4. Contact SHAES at 269-637-1813 to arrange an emergency street number sign ($15 sign + $5 post) if you don’t have one.
  5. If no public sewer: contact Allegan County Health Department at 269-673-5411 to schedule a Hook-to-Existing septic inspection (Residential section only). Required only every 3 years.
  6. Provide $1,000,000 liability insurance proof.
  7. Post the Good Neighbor Policy inside the rental upon receiving the registration packet.
  8. Ensure all advertising complies with the ordinance.
For investors: All requirements must be completed before a registration permit is issued. Plan for the septic-inspection lead time (often 14 business days) when underwriting close-and-rent scenarios.
🔗 Online STR Portal📄 2026 Registration Form📞 Call Clerk’s Office
3 Fees & Penalties

STR registration is a flat $325 annual fee, due each year [4]. Additional one-time costs apply for emergency street signage and (where applicable) septic inspection through Allegan County.

STR annual registration fee$325
Emergency street number sign (SHAES)$15 sign + $5 post (one-time)
Allegan County septic inspectionRequired if no public sewer; every 3 years
$1M liability insuranceRequired; carried by owner
Operating without registrationSubject to enforcement under Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance [6]
Registration revocationPermitted by township after multiple violations of the rental ordinance [4]

Credit-card payment is supported through the township’s online portal. See the Paying STR Registration by Credit Card instructions for steps.

💳 Credit Card Instructions📄 Permit Fee Schedule
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Septic inspection is mandatory for any property without public water and public sanitary sewer before registration is approved, and renewed every 3 years [4]. Inspection is performed by the Allegan County Health Department under their Hook-to-Existing program; only the Residential section of the form needs to be completed [4][7].

Properties on public sewer are not required to repeat the inspection, but must still meet the township’s emergency signage and insurance requirements before issuance.

Septic inspectorAllegan County Health Department, (269) 673-5411
Inspection formHook to Existing Septic Inspection Application (PDF)
FrequencyEvery 3 years
Emergency street number signRequired if absent; arranged through SHAES, 269-637-1813
Liability insurance$1,000,000 minimum, owner-carried
📄 Septic Inspection Form🏛 ACHD Field Services📞 Call ACHD
5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Minimum Stay, Quiet Hours)

The Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance sets the following operating limits, supplemented by the Anti-Noise and Public Nuisance Ordinance and the Good Neighbor Policy posted in every registered rental [4][8][9]:

  • Minimum stay: 3 nights, with no more than 1 rental turnover per week [4].
  • Maximum occupancy: the lesser of 12 total occupants, or 2 occupants per bedroom plus 2 per finished floor [4].
  • Liability insurance: $1,000,000 minimum, owner-carried, evidence required at registration [4].
  • Advertising: All advertising must comply with the ordinance’s occupancy and minimum-stay limits [4].
  • Good Neighbor Policy: Must be posted inside the rental dwelling once the registration packet is received [4][9].
  • Noise / nuisance: Governed by the township’s 2025 Anti-Noise and Public Nuisance Ordinance [8].
  • Fireworks: Governed by the Fireworks Ordinance (2019) [10]. Discharge windows align with state law on holidays; otherwise prohibited.
📄 Good Neighbor Policy📄 Anti-Noise Ordinance📄 Fireworks Ordinance
6 Local Agent / 24-Hour Contact Requirement

If the property owner cannot be on-site within one hour of being contacted about a rental issue, the owner must designate a local agent who can [4]. This requirement is aimed squarely at investor-owned and out-of-area-owned properties, including Chicago- and Detroit-based owners who use Casco as a vacation-rental market.

Casco Township publishes a dedicated Short-Term Rental hotline for guest, neighbor, and emergency complaints, separate from the township office line:

Investor takeaway: Out-of-area owners should budget for a local property manager or co-host with verifiable 1-hour response capacity. Failure to designate one is grounds for registration revocation.
📞 STR Hotline📝 Complaint Form📧 Email Deputy Clerk
7 Current Registration List & Recent Changes

Casco Township publishes a current STR registration list as a public PDF, last updated 9/30/2025 [11]. Investors evaluating a property can confirm whether the seller currently holds an active STR registration here.

Ordinance history:

  • 2018: Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance originally adopted [2].
  • 2019: STR Ordinance amended [3].
  • 2022: Zoning Ordinance text amended (Ord. #011822-1, effective February 7, 2022) [12].
  • 2025: Anti-Noise and Public Nuisance Ordinance adopted [8].
Important: STR registrations are tied to the owner and property combination. Confirm permit status directly with the Deputy Clerk before underwriting any STR-based valuation on a property change of hands.
📄 Current Registration List (9/30/2025)📄 STR Ordinance (2019 amend)
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (30+ day leases) are permitted in any zoning district that allows residential dwelling use as a permitted or special use [2][5]. The township does not maintain a separate LTR registration or licensing program — the Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance applies only to rentals of less than 30 days [2].

Where verification matters: for parcels in C-1, C-2, I-1, or PUD districts, residential dwelling use may not be automatic — verify the parcel’s district on the map below and confirm permitted residential use with the Zoning Administrator before relying on rental income.

Casco Township Zoning Map

Click the map to open the full-resolution PDF.

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

No township-level registration is required for long-term rentals (30+ days) in Casco Township. The Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance applies only to rentals under 30 days [2], and the township does not maintain a separate landlord licensing or annual LTR registration program.

Landlords are still subject to:

  • Standard Casco Township zoning and building requirements [5].
  • Allegan County Health Department septic standards (Field Services) if the property is on a private septic system [7].
  • Michigan Truth in Renting Act and the Michigan Landlord-Tenant Relationship Act.
  • Local nuisance and noise ordinances [8].
Verify with the township directly before relying on the absence of a registration requirement for any specific property — multi-unit and converted-use properties can trigger separate permitting under the Zoning Ordinance.
📞 Call Township Office📧 Email Clerk
3 Fees & Penalties

There is no recurring LTR registration fee at the township level. Fees apply only where work triggers a separate permit:

LTR registration feeNone (no program)
Building / electrical / mechanical / plumbing permitsPer Casco Township Permit Fee Schedule [13]
Zoning permit (new use, addition, accessory dwelling)Per Permit Fee Schedule [13]
Septic inspection (point-of-transfer / repair)Allegan County Health Department fees [7]
Nuisance enforcementMunicipal Civil Infractions Ordinance [6]
📄 Permit Fee Schedule📄 Municipal Civil Infractions
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

No routine LTR inspection program is operated by Casco Township. Inspections are triggered by building permits, zoning permits, or — for non-public-sewer properties — Allegan County Health Department septic evaluations at point of sale or system repair [7].

Landlords should still meet Michigan’s general habitability standards (smoke alarms, CO detectors, structural integrity, functional plumbing/heating). For multi-unit properties, the State of Michigan handles plumbing permits and certain mechanical permits directly [14].

🏛 ACHD Field Services📧 Email Building Inspector📞 Building Inspector Cell
5 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Casco Township does not have local tenant-protection ordinances beyond statewide Michigan law. Tenants and landlords should refer to:

  • Michigan Truth in Renting Act (MCL 554.631 et seq.) — required lease disclosures, prohibited lease terms.
  • Michigan Landlord-Tenant Relationship Act (MCL 554.601 et seq.) — security deposit rules, return timing, itemization.
  • Allegan County 57th District Court — handles landlord-tenant filings (summary proceedings, possession actions).
  • Allegan County Legal Assistance Center (ACLAC) — free help for self-represented parties.
  • Michigan Legal Help — statewide self-help portal with eviction toolkits.
⚖ 57th District Court📚 ACLAC🔗 MichiganLegalHelp.org

Official Resources

Ordinances
📄
Short-Term Rental Regulatory Ordinance
Original 2018 STR ordinance (current text)
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STR Ordinance — 2019 Amendment
Amended provisions to the STR ordinance
📄
Zoning Ordinance (Municode)
Codified Casco Township Zoning Ordinance, searchable
📄
Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment #011822-1
Effective February 7, 2022
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Anti-Noise and Public Nuisance Ordinance
2025 — governs noise and nuisance enforcement
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Fireworks Ordinance
2019 — discharge windows and prohibitions
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Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance
2007 — enforcement mechanism for ordinance violations
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Outdoor Gathering Ordinance
2009 — large events / gatherings
Forms & Applications
📄
2026 Short-Term Rental Registration Form
Current STR application (PDF)
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Paying STR Registration by Credit Card
Credit-card payment instructions (PDF)
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Good Neighbor Policy
Required to be posted in every STR (PDF)
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Current STR Registration List
Active registrations as of 9/30/2025 (PDF)
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Hook to Existing Septic Inspection Form
Allegan County Health Department application
📝
Rental Complaint Form
Casco Township STR complaint intake page
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Building Permit Application
Township building permit form
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Zoning Permit Application
Township zoning permit form
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Permit Fee Schedule
All township permit fees in one document
Maps
🗺
Casco Township Zoning Map
Full-resolution zoning map PDF
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Casco Township Zoning Map Details
Detail sheet for zoning areas
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Allegan County Parcel Viewer
Parcels, utilities, tax info — county-wide GIS
Portals & Lookups
🔗
Casco STR Registration Portal
Online STR registration & renewals (GovPlatform)
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Casco Township on BS&A Online
Tax & assessing records lookup
Contact & Directions
📞
Casco Township STR Hotline
Dedicated STR complaint line
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Deputy Clerk (STR Program)
Kathy Stanton — STR registration and complaints
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Zoning Administrator
Tasha Smalley, Michigan Township Services
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Building Inspector
Eric Davis
Other Resources
🏛
Main Municipal Site
Casco Township official website
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Allegan County Environmental Health
Septic & well services, county-wide

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 — Allegan County

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

I help investors and homeowners navigate short-term and long-term rental rules across Allegan County and the rest of southwest Michigan — including the local nuances that decide whether a property pencils out.

Schedule a Consultation Call (269) 235-9910

Sources & Downloads

  1. 1
    Casco Township — Home / Hours & Contact https://www.cascotownship.info/hours—contact-information.html
    Township office address, phone extensions, and staff directory.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  2. 2
    Casco Township — Short-Term Rentals Service Page https://www.cascotownship.info/short-term-rentals.html
    Registration requirement for any rental under 30 days, registration steps, and links to the regulatory ordinance.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  3. 3
    Casco Township — STR Ordinance 2019 Amendment https://nebula.wsimg.com/2fe3c6226691a6c6ea759e15c12140bf?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Amended provisions to the original 2018 STR ordinance.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  4. 4
    Casco Township — STR Registration Steps & Highlights https://www.cascotownship.info/short-term-rentals.html
    8-step registration checklist; $325 fee; $1M liability insurance; 3-night minimum; max 12 occupants / 2 per bedroom + 2 per floor; 1-hour local-agent response.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  5. 5
    Casco Township — Building & Zoning Page https://www.cascotownship.info/building—zoning.html
    Zoning districts (AG, RR, LDR, MDR, LR-A, LR-B, C-1, C-2, PUD, I-1, FP), zoning map, current ordinance, building/zoning permits.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  6. 6
    Casco Township — Municipal Civil Infractions Ordinance (2007) https://nebula.wsimg.com/a0487edecc02777e32c8d3903fc1abbe?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Mechanism for enforcing ordinance violations as municipal civil infractions.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  7. 7
    Allegan County Environmental Health — Field Services https://www.allegancounty.org/health/environmental-health/field
    Septic evaluations and well services for unincorporated Allegan County properties.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  8. 8
    Casco Township — Anti-Noise and Public Nuisance Ordinance (2025) https://nebula.wsimg.com/9905bf64f9f2b3649df0ecf4d27b37bd?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Township noise and public-nuisance regulations.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  9. 9
    Casco Township — Good Neighbor Policy https://nebula.wsimg.com/da06d1df4e567785196c9cf94532a804?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Document required to be posted inside every registered short-term rental.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  10. 10
    Casco Township — Fireworks Ordinance (2019) https://nebula.wsimg.com/af164ba4e51405a0ae62e18130b77eaf?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Local fireworks discharge regulation.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  11. 11
    Casco Township — Current STR Registration List (9/30/2025) https://nebula.wsimg.com/32faa0d4aadc9bb8cc6e600ded4a4f89?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Public list of currently registered short-term rentals.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  12. 12
    Casco Township — Ordinance #011822-1 (Zoning Ordinance Amendment) https://nebula.wsimg.com/4ab16609de4ccd6a70b48e7568f4f68f?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Zoning ordinance text changes effective February 7, 2022.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  13. 13
    Casco Township — Permit Fee Schedule https://nebula.wsimg.com/d89006c99f0ca04847db8ee1a5e5d521?AccessKeyId=9C448DD09956C4684B98&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
    Township-wide permit fees (building, zoning, electrical, etc.).
    Verified: 2026-05-11
  14. 14
    Casco Township — Building & Zoning (State plumbing/mechanical note) https://www.cascotownship.info/building—zoning.html
    Plumbing permits handled by State of Michigan; mechanical permits handled by Michigan Township Services.
    Verified: 2026-05-11
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.