Village of Grand Beach

STRs are permitted village-wide under Ordinance 2022-104, subject to annual registration and inspection ^[1][2]. The Village of Grand Beach has only residential zoning districts — Low Density Residential (LDR) and Medium Density Residential (MDR) — and no commercial zoning district anywhere within village boundaries ^[3]. STRs therefore operate exclusively in residentially zoned single-family properties.

Zoning controls on building footprint, lot coverage, and setbacks (e.g., minimum lot width at the setback line and maximum lot coverage in the primary residential district) apply to every STR property and are enforced by the Building Inspector / Zoning Administrator ^[4]. Short-term rental use itself is not regulated under the zoning ordinance — it is governed separately by Ordinance 2022-104 ^[2].

Every home used as a short-term rental must be registered annually with the Village through the Grand Beach–Michiana Police Department, which administers the application and conducts the required inspection ^[1][5]. Grand Beach does not use a third-party online portal (Deckard, Host Compliance, Granicus) — all records are handled directly by the Village.

The annual short-term rental registration fee is $300 per bedroom, and that fee covers the required annual inspection ^[12]. The amount is set in Ordinance 2022-104, Section 3(11). A three-bedroom cottage registers at $900 per year, a four-bedroom at $1,200.

Ordinance 2025-115 (effective 12/31/2025) replaced Section 7(1), Offenses Warranting Revocation, and sets the current procedure for suspending or revoking a registration ^[13].

Every STR registration requires an inspection by the Code Enforcement Official (Police Chief or designee) before the permit is issued, and maximum occupancy is calculated on the initial registration and confirmed at inspection ^[1][5].

Life-safety requirements established or revised by recent amendments ^[2]:

• Kitchen fire extinguisher. Added by Ordinance 2024-114 — every STR must have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Egress. Any bedroom counted toward maximum occupancy must meet egress requirements under the Michigan Residential Building Code (per Ordinance 2025-115).
• Liability insurance and landline telephone. Ordinance 2024-114 eliminated the prior liability-insurance and landline-telephone requirements that appeared in the original 2022-104 text.
• Smoke & CO detectors. Expected standard life-safety complement; verified at inspection.

Occupancy is the tightest operating rule — revised downward by Ordinance 2025-115 effective 12/31/2025 ^[2]. The number of occupants during an STR stay shall not exceed the lesser of:

• 16 total occupants, including children; or
• 2 adult occupants per bedroom that meets Michigan Residential Building Code egress requirements.

Additional operating rules:

• No hotel use. The 16-person cap reflects the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code threshold — occupancy above 16 is considered hotel use and is not permitted in the village.
• No owner’s-story bonus. A prior provision allowing additional adult occupants per finished story was removed in 2025.
• Trash (Ordinance 2022-103). Residential trash receptacles must be removed from the curb or edge of the street after collection; they cannot be left at the curb between pickups.
• Parking & noise. Governed by general village ordinances. STR operators are responsible for communicating rules to guests and remain liable for guest violations.

Enforcement and the local point-of-contact function are handled jointly by the Grand Beach / Michiana Police Department — a shared department that patrols both villages ^[5]. The Police Chief serves as the Code Enforcement Official for the rental ordinance.

• Police Chief (STR contact): Ryan Layman — rlayman@michianavillage.org
• Police Department page: michianavillage.org/police
• Village Office: 48200 Perkins Boulevard, Grand Beach, MI 49117 · (269) 469-3141
• Berrien County Non-Emergency Dispatch: 866-630-7679

Operators managing a property remotely should designate a responsive local agent so the Police Department can reach someone promptly about complaints, occupancy violations, or emergencies.

Grand Beach’s STR framework has been amended twice since its original 2023 adoption ^[2].

• Ordinance 2022-104 — “An ordinance to provide for the registration and regulation of rental properties for the benefit of the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.” Adopted 2022; effective January 1, 2023. Established the annual registration framework, inspection requirement, and Exhibit A application form.
• Ordinance 2024-114 — Amendment to 2022-104. Added the kitchen fire-extinguisher requirement; eliminated the liability-insurance and landline-telephone requirements.
• Ordinance 2025-115 (effective December 31, 2025). Clarifies the definition of “Dwelling,” adds a 28-day owner-occupancy requirement for STR eligibility ^[13], sets maximum occupancy at the lesser of 16 total persons or 2 adults per bedroom meeting Michigan Residential Building Code egress, and replaces Section 7(1) (“Offenses Warranting Revocation”) to establish current revocation terms and procedures.