Hopkins Township

Hopkins Township’s zoning ordinance (Chapter 157) 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 dwelling use as either a permitted use by right or as a special-use; the ordinance treats residential dwelling occupancy by category rather than by length of stay.

The township’s primary residential and rural districts include R-1 (Rural Estate), AG (Agricultural), and lower-density rural classifications, plus commercial (C-1, C-2), industrial (I-1), and the newer CI (Commercial-Industrial Mixed-Use) district added by Ordinance 2022-17 ^[11]. For any specific property, verify the zoning district on the current map and confirm with the supervisor or zoning administrator before listing.

Click to open the current Hopkins Township Zoning District Map (PDF). The full Chapter 157 zoning ordinance text is hosted on the American Legal Publishing Code Library.

There is no township-level short-term rental registration, license, or permit to file with Hopkins Township ^[3]. The township does not maintain an STR portal, an application form, or a rental license. The supervisor’s office is the appropriate contact to confirm zoning use in writing.

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 gross rental receipts.
• Building / mechanical / electrical / plumbing permits. Any improvements to the structure go through Professional Code Inspections of Michigan (PCI) at 1575 142nd Avenue, Dorr, MI 49323, (616) 877-2000 ^[5].
• Zoning compliance permit. A $50 zoning compliance permit (payable to Hopkins Township) is required for most new structures and changes of use; the PCI form and instructions are linked below ^[8].
• Zoning sign-off. Before listing, confirm in writing with the supervisor that the parcel’s zoning district permits the proposed rental use ^[6].

Hopkins 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, county, and zoning-compliance:

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

Hopkins Township does not run a periodic STR safety-inspection program. Inspections are triggered only by new construction, additions, alterations, or change-of-use that require a building permit and are performed by Professional Code Inspections of Michigan (PCI), the township’s contracted code-enforcement provider, at 1575 142nd Avenue, Dorr, MI 49323, (616) 877-2000 ^[5].

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; record requests and permits are handled by Allegan County Environmental Health ^[12].
• Well water permitted and (recommended) tested for safe drinking-water parameters if not on municipal water ^[12].
• Floodplain compliance. The township’s floodplain management ordinance (Ord. 2023-12) sets the local rules where a parcel falls within a FEMA-mapped floodplain along the Rabbit River or its tributaries ^[13].

Operating rules for rentals in Hopkins Township are governed by Chapter 157 (Zoning) plus a small set of standalone ordinances on outdoor gatherings, home occupations, and general nuisance / noise ^[3]. The township does not maintain a separate short-term-rental “Good Neighbor” policy.

• Outdoor gatherings. Ordinance No. 1-2014 (Outdoor Gathering Ordinance) sets thresholds, permit requirements, and conditions for large outdoor events on township property. STR hosts planning weddings, reunions, or large gatherings on a rental parcel should review this ordinance and contact the supervisor ^[14].
• Home occupations. Ordinance No. 2-2014 (Home Occupation Ordinance) regulates business activities run from a residence; relevant if a rental property is also used for a home-based business ^[15].
• Noise / nuisance. Disturbances after dark are handled under general nuisance law; the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office (911 emergency / non-emergency dispatch) handles after-hours noise complaints in unincorporated areas of the township.
• Fireworks. Michigan’s Fireworks Safety Act allows consumer-grade fireworks on certain days; townships can further restrict use between 11:30 PM and 8:00 AM on most days.
• Marihuana establishments are prohibited. Ordinance 03-2019 prohibits commercial marihuana establishments township-wide; relevant if a rental is being considered for a cannabis-tourism concept ^[16].
• Trash & parking. No township-wide curbside trash mandates beyond standard nuisance enforcement; on-road parking on township roads is regulated by the Allegan County Road Commission ^[17].

Hopkins Township has been actively amending its zoning framework over the past several years. None of these amendments create a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance, but they do affect what can be built or operated on specific parcels.

• Ordinance 2025-15 – Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (adopted 2025). Sets township standards for utility-scale solar and battery installations; a public hearing notice from 9/23/2025 preceded adoption ^[18].
• Ordinance 2024-13 – Zoning Map Amendment (May 2024). Map-level zoning amendment ^[19].
• Ordinance 2022-17 – New Commercial-Industrial Mixed-Use (CI) District (2022). Created a new zoning district to allow mixed commercial-industrial land use on certain parcels ^[11].
• Ordinance 2023-12 – Floodplain Management Ordinance (2023). Aligns local floodplain rules with state construction code requirements ^[13].
• Conditional Rezoning Application (parcel 10-001-018-00, March 2026). Pending application for a C-1 to C-2 rezoning at the Wolverine Building Group parcel – relevant to anyone investing along the township’s commercial corridor ^[20].