Heath Township

Heath Township’s zoning ordinance does not separately define or regulate “short-term rental,” “transient rental,” or “vacation rental” uses ^[3]. Whether a given parcel can be operated as an STR depends on whether the parcel’s zoning district permits the underlying single-family dwelling use – the ordinance treats residential occupancy by category and accessory use rather than by length of stay.

The township’s primary residential and rural districts are AG (Agricultural), R-1 (Rural Estate), R-1a, R-2, R-3, and R-4 (manufactured home park) ^[3]. Two overlay districts apply along the Rabbit River corridor (NR Natural River Overlay) ^[3] and within state-game lands (SGA State Game Area District) ^[3]. Commercial (C-1) and Industrial (I-1) districts have their own dwelling-use rules. For any specific property, verify the zoning district on the current map and confirm with the zoning administrator before listing.

Click the link below to open the current zoning map PDF.

There is no township-level short-term rental registration or permit to file with Heath Township ^[3]. The township does not maintain an STR portal, a permit application, or a rental license. The township office is open Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at 3440 M-40 in Hamilton ^[2].

What investors and operators still need to handle independently of the township:

• Michigan Treasury – Use Tax on Accommodations. Operators of rentals under 30 days must register with the Michigan Department of Treasury and remit the 6% Use Tax on accommodations on the gross rental receipts.
• Building / mechanical / electrical / plumbing permits. Any improvements to the structure go through Professional Code Inspections (PCI) at 1575 142nd Ave., Dorr, MI 49323, (616) 877-2000 ^[7].
• Zoning sign-off. Before listing, confirm in writing (email is fine) with the township office that the parcel’s zoning district permits the proposed rental use ^[2].
• Septic permit / records. If the property is on a private septic system, request inspection records from the Allegan County Health Department, 2233 33rd St., Allegan, MI 49010, (269) 673-5411 ^[8].

Heath Township does not charge a township-level short-term rental fee or annual rental registration fee as of May 2026 ^[3]. There is no township STR permit to renew. The costs to budget for instead are state and county:

If the township enacts a short-term rental ordinance in the future, this section will be updated and the new fee schedule added here.

Heath Township does not run an STR safety-inspection program. Building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and zoning inspections triggered by new construction, additions, or alterations are handled by Professional Code Inspections (PCI), the township’s contracted code-enforcement provider, at 1575 142nd Ave., Dorr, MI 49323, (616) 877-2000 or toll-free (800) 628-3335 ^[7].

For any STR or LTR property, standard Michigan habitability and safety expectations still apply:

• Smoke and CO detectors meeting Michigan Residential Code on each habitable level and outside each sleeping area.
• Egress windows in any bedroom – every sleeping room must have at least one operable emergency escape opening.
• Functioning utilities (water, electricity, heat capable of maintaining 68°F).
• Septic system in working order if not on municipal sewer – Heath is rural and most parcels are on private septic; permits and records are handled by the Allegan County Health Department ^[8].
• Well water permitted and (recommended) tested for safe drinking-water parameters at change of ownership and before a high-turnover rental use ^[8].

Operating rules for rentals in Heath Township are set by the Public Nuisance and Anti-Noise Ordinance No. 51 and state law – not by a separate STR good-neighbor policy ^[4].

• Quiet hours. Loud radios, instruments, or vocal noise that disturbs neighbors is prohibited generally; specific prohibitions on amplified sound and yelling between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM apply at any time of year (Ord. 51 §IV.C, IV.D) ^[4].
• Residential dB(A) limits. 55 dB(A) measured at the property line 7 AM – 10 PM, dropping to 50 dB(A) from 10 PM to 7 AM (Ord. 51 §V.A) ^[4]. Harmonic / pure tones are limited 5 dB(A) lower.
• Construction noise. Building or excavation work prohibited on Sundays, and outside 7 AM – 10 PM on other days (Ord. 51 §IV.I) ^[4].
• Fireworks. Michigan’s Fireworks Safety Act allows consumer-grade fireworks on certain days; the township enforces general nuisance limits between 11:30 PM and 8:00 AM on most days.
• Open burning. Heath’s Ordinance 57 (as amended by Ord. 62) regulates open burning; burn permits run on an automated line at (269) 751-4444 ^[2].
• Penalties. Civil infractions starting at $75 (1st offense within a 3-year period) and rising to $500 maximum (4th+ offense) (Ord. 51 §VII) ^[4].

Bed and Breakfast establishments are explicitly permitted in all Heath Township zoning districts EXCEPT the I-1 Industrial District, subject to the standards in Zoning Ordinance Section 16.13 ^[5]. A B&B is the only “transient guest” use the township specifically authorizes by name. It is a meaningful difference between Heath and townships that simply have nothing on the books.

Section 16.13 standards (all must be met) ^[5]:

• Owner-occupied. The structure must remain a single-family dwelling and the premises must be the principal residence of the operator while the establishment is active.
• Subordinate use. Transient quarters limited to not more than 50% of the dwelling structure – the B&B is a subordinate accessory to the principal residential use.
• Meal service. Meals offered only during normal breakfast hours, only to registered lodgers.
• Parking. Two off-street spaces for the owner/operator, plus one off-street space per guest room offered.
• Signs. Subject to the sign regulations of the underlying zoning district.

A transient guest, as defined in Chapter 3, is a person who rents a room “for fewer than thirty (30) consecutive days” ^[11]. Note that this definition formally applies inside the B&B framework – it is not a general STR-licensing standard. Operating an entire non-owner-occupied dwelling as a transient rental would not fit Section 16.13 and would need to be evaluated against the underlying zoning district directly with the Zoning Administrator.