Rental Investment Guide

Edwardsburg


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

Updated May 2026

Location: Edwardsburg (red outline) over OpenStreetMap. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Area Overview


The Village of Edwardsburg sits in southeastern Cass County, Michigan, on the Indiana border about 15 minutes north of South Bend. It is a compact charter-government village of roughly 1,300 residents covering one square mile, surrounded by Ontwa Township and within the Edwardsburg-area chain of glacial lakes (Eagle, Christiana, Pleasant, Garver, Birch) [1]. Housing stock is predominantly older single-family homes along a small downtown grid centered on U.S. 12, with newer subdivisions and lakefront cottages spilling into the surrounding township boundary.

Short-term rentals are permitted in the village under Ordinance 2024-01, adopted by the Village Council on January 29, 2024 โ€” but ONLY for single-family dwellings, with annual registration, $1,000,000 liability insurance, a local agent within 20 miles, and a strict cap of one rental term per calendar week [2]. The village does not maintain a separate long-term rental registration program; LTR landlord-tenant relationships fall under Michigan state law, and the village’s role is limited to its International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), zoning, blight, and noise ordinances [3].

Investors should note three distinctions specific to Edwardsburg: (1) lakefront properties on Eagle Lake, Christiana Lake, Pleasant Lake, and Garver Lake are typically located in Ontwa Township โ€” NOT inside the village’s one-square-mile boundary โ€” and follow a separate ordinance set; (2) the STR ordinance excludes accessory dwelling units and multi-family properties from short-term rental use entirely [2]; and (3) the STR registration fee is set by Village Council resolution rather than published in the ordinance itself, so confirm the current fee with the Village Clerk before underwriting [2].

Quick Status Summary


Short-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Permitted in single-family dwellings only with annual registration under Ordinance 2024-01 (adopted 1/29/2024) [2]. No permit cap, but strict operating rules apply: $1M liability insurance, local agent within 20 miles, max one rental term per calendar week, occupancy limits via IPMC, and 10 PMโ€“7 AM quiet hours. Accessory dwelling units and multi-family buildings cannot be used for STR. Registration fee is set by Council resolution โ€” confirm current amount with the Village Clerk.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Permitted with no village-level rental registration program. Long-term landlord-tenant relationships are governed by Michigan state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) [11]. Properties must still comply with the village’s adopted International Property Maintenance Code, zoning, blight, and noise ordinances [3]. Verify zoning district on the Zoning Map before purchase.

Rental Regulations


1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Edwardsburg Zoning Map

Short-term rentals are allowed only in single-family dwellings village-wide, subject to Ordinance 2024-01 [2] and the underlying zoning of each parcel under the Village Zoning Ordinance [6].

Ordinance 2024-01 explicitly excludes the use of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), multi-family properties, transitional houses, group homes, nursing homes, adult foster care, substance-abuse rehabilitation, mental-health facilities, and similar non-residential uses for short-term rental purposes [2]. “Single-family dwelling” follows the definition in the Village Zoning Ordinance [6].

Because the Edwardsburg Zoning Book is a scanned/older document, specific by-district permitted-use language must be read directly from the Zoning Book. For any specific property, verify the parcel’s zoning district on the map below, then confirm single-family dwelling use is permitted by right (or grandfathered) with the Zoning Administrator.

Village of Edwardsburg Zoning Ordinance Map

Click the map to open the full-size Zoning Ordinance Map.

2 Registration & Permit Process

STR registration is annual, via a paper form provided by the Village Clerk โ€” submit in person at Village Hall or by mail to PO Box 596, Edwardsburg, MI 49112 [2]. There is no online portal.

The application form is not posted on the village website; owners must request the form directly from the Village Clerk at (269) 663-8484 or voe_clerk@comcast.net. Per Ordinance 2024-01 ยง3 [2], the application requires the following information certified as true on a form provided by the Village:

  • Owner name, address, and telephone; local agent details (required if owner does not reside within 20 miles of the property)
  • Street address of the rental dwelling and number/location of bedrooms
  • Number of off-street parking spaces, with a drawing showing locations
  • Maximum intended occupancy (must be reflected in rental agreement and all advertising)
  • Number of rental days at a time and months of the year planned
  • The rental agreement to be used for the dwelling
  • Certification that each bedroom has a working smoke alarm and each floor has a working CO detector, both checked at least every 90 days
  • Certification that the owner consents to Village inspections on 48-hour notice
  • Proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance
SubmissionIn person at Village Hall or by mail (PO Box 596)
TermAnnual โ€” must register for each calendar year of operation
Online portalNone โ€” paper only
Effective date of ordinance30 days after publication of Jan 29, 2024 adoption
3 Fees & Penalties

The annual STR registration fee is set by resolution of the Village Council โ€” not published in the ordinance itself โ€” so the current dollar amount must be confirmed by calling the Village Clerk at (269) 663-8484 [2].

Penalties for ordinance violations are spelled out in Ordinance 2024-01 ยง5 [2] and treat each violation as a municipal civil infraction (each day a violation continues counts as a separate violation):

Annual STR registration feeSet by Village Council resolution โ€” call Clerk
Operating an unregistered STR (1st violation)$25
Operating an unregistered STR (each subsequent day)$100 per day
Other ordinance violationsSame schedule as Village’s adopted IPMC penalties
Registration revocation triggerTwo separate-day violations within a calendar year (with finding of responsibility)
Revocation periodOne year โ€” dwelling cannot be re-registered as STR for 12 months

Revocation requires a hearing before the Village Council with at least 14 days’ written notice to the owner; owner may present evidence of extenuating circumstances [2].

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

STRs are subject to Village inspections on 48-hour notice, and owners must consent to inspections as a condition of registration [2]. Specific safety requirements per Ordinance 2024-01 ยง4 [2]:

  • Smoke detectors in each bedroom โ€” tested per manufacturer’s guidelines at least every 90 days.
  • One operational fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
  • Carbon monoxide detector on each floor โ€” tested at least every 90 days.
  • Street address visible from the road, AND posted in at least two prominent interior locations (near kitchen and near any telephone or pool) so renters can direct emergency services.
  • $1,000,000 liability insurance with the unit insured as rented property; proof of insurance must be provided at each annual registration.
  • Attics and basements cannot be counted toward maximum occupancy unless the owner has consented in writing to a Village inspection verifying egress compliance with the Michigan Construction Code, Michigan Residential Code, and applicable fire codes.

Maximum occupancy is set by the Village’s adopted International Property Maintenance Code [7]. Daytime visitors (allowed 8 AMโ€“11 PM only) plus occupants together cannot exceed 2ร— the IPMC maximum overnight occupancy.

5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Parking)

STR operators in Edwardsburg are bound by Ordinance 2024-01 ยง4 plus the Village Noise Ordinance (2010-0816.001) [8] and the Fireworks Ordinance (2019-03) [9]. Key operating limits:

  • One rental term per calendar week (Sunโ€“Sat). Multiple back-to-back stays starting in the same week are prohibited.
  • Quiet hours: 10:00 PM โ€“ 7:00 AM. Noise must not disturb a reasonable person of normal sensitivities and must comply with Ordinance 2010-0816.001.
  • Daytime visitors (in addition to overnight occupants) allowed only between 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM, and total people on-site (occupants + visitors) cannot exceed 2ร— the IPMC overnight maximum.
  • Parking: minimum 2 off-street spaces per unit (up to 6 occupants); +1 space for every 3 occupants over six. Parking on grass, lawn areas, or the street is prohibited.
  • No camping arrangements: campers, tents, floors, couches, or similar may not be used to create extra occupancy.
  • Trash: adequate, closed-container trash receptacles required, with pickup on a regular weekly schedule.
  • Exterior appearance: dwelling must remain residential in character โ€” cannot be altered to look commercial, multi-family, or institutional, and cannot have excessive impermeable surfaces, signage, or lighting that is out of character with neighbors.

Renters must be given written notice covering this ordinance, the Village zoning provisions, trash pickup, parking, occupancy and visitor limits, common areas available for use, quiet hours, and (where applicable) lake-use rules [2].

6 Local Agent / 24-Hour Contact Requirement

If the property owner does not personally live within 20 miles of the rental dwelling, Ordinance 2024-01 ยง2 [2] requires the owner to designate a Local Agent who does. The agent must:

  • Live or maintain a physical place of business within 20 miles of the rental property.
  • Be available to take phone calls at all times the unit is rented.
  • Hold a key to the unit and be capable of being physically present within 30 minutes when contacted by the Village or law enforcement to address issues (a substitute may be arranged for the same response window).

For investor-owned properties managed by an out-of-area owner, this is the operative requirement โ€” your management contract must commit your local agent (property manager, family member, or local representative) to a 30-minute on-site response standard. Confirm the agent’s name and contact details on the annual registration form.

7 Permit Caps, Moratoriums & Recent Changes

Edwardsburg has no permit cap, no moratorium, and no waiting list. The current STR framework is Ordinance 2024-01, adopted by the Village Council on Monday, January 29, 2024, and effective 30 days after publication [2].

  • 2024-01-29: Ordinance 2024-01 adopted (5โ€“0 vote: Garwood, Stoner, Bidwell, Penny, Hughes โ€” yea; Van Hulle absent) [2].
  • ~2024-03: Ordinance took effect 30 days after publication (publication date controls).
  • 2024: Ordinance 2024-02 adopted, replacing the prior loitering ordinance [3].
  • No moratorium or cap: registrations are processed on a rolling basis; there is no documented cap on the number of STRs the Village will register.
โš  Investor takeaway: STR registration in Edwardsburg is not transferable on a property sale because the registration is tied to the owner-of-record application, including their certification of insurance, local agent, and inspection consent. A buyer must submit a new application under their own name. Confirm the current fee schedule with the Clerk before underwriting.
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Edwardsburg Zoning Map

Long-term rentals (rentals of 30+ consecutive nights) follow standard residential zoning under the Village of Edwardsburg Zoning Ordinance [6] โ€” there is no separate village-level LTR registration ordinance.

If a parcel is zoned for residential dwelling use (single-family or, where allowed, multi-family) and the dwelling complies with the Village’s adopted International Property Maintenance Code, the unit can be operated as a long-term rental. Unlike short-term rentals, LTRs are NOT restricted to single-family dwellings only.

Where verification matters: The Edwardsburg Zoning Book and Zoning Map are the authoritative documents โ€” use the map below to identify the parcel’s district, then verify the permitted residential use language directly with the Zoning Administrator before closing.

Village of Edwardsburg Zoning Ordinance Map

Click the map to open the full-size Zoning Ordinance Map.

2 Registration & Permit Process

The Village of Edwardsburg does not maintain a long-term rental registration program. A search of the published Village ordinance index returns no LTR-specific registration, inspection, or licensing ordinance [3]. Long-term landlords are subject only to:

  • Michigan state landlord-tenant law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) [11];
  • The Village’s adopted International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) [7];
  • Standard zoning, blight, noise, and fireworks ordinances [3].

For investors moving from STR to LTR (e.g., to capture longer guaranteed-income tenancies and avoid the STR registration burden), no village paperwork is required to begin operating an LTR โ€” but Cass County property tax classification, homestead exemption, and the building’s IPMC compliance status should be verified independently.

3 Fees & Penalties

There is no village LTR registration fee in Edwardsburg โ€” the village does not register or license long-term rentals [3].

Fees a long-term landlord may still encounter:

LTR village registration feeNone โ€” no village program
Building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits (when needed)Per the Village fee schedule โ€” see Permit Fees PDF
Blight, noise, IPMC violationsMunicipal civil infraction โ€” fine schedule per IPMC adopting ordinance
Property taxNon-homestead millage if not owner-occupied โ€” administered by Cass County
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

The Village does not run a routine LTR inspection program; LTR units are inspected only on complaint or when a building permit triggers an inspection. Even without a registration program, all Edwardsburg dwellings (including LTRs) must comply with the Village’s adopted International Property Maintenance Code [7] and the smoke alarm requirements in Ordinance 126 [3].

Practical compliance checklist for landlords:

  • Smoke alarms in each bedroom and on each floor โ€” working batteries / hardwired interconnect per the Smoke Alarm Ordinance [3].
  • Carbon monoxide detectors on each floor with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages.
  • Operable egress from each bedroom; basements/attics not counted as bedrooms unless egress meets the Michigan Construction/Residential Code.
  • Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems in working order โ€” any work requires the corresponding Village permit.
  • Yard/exterior must remain in compliance with the Blight Ordinance (Ord. 125) and the Noxious Weeds & Grass Ordinance (Ord. 2002-01) [3].
  • Pools must comply with Ordinance 106 (Swimming Pools) and amendments [3] โ€” fence, gate, and barrier requirements apply.
5 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 covering leases, security deposits (capped at 1.5ร— monthly rent under MCL 554.602), repair-and-deduct, and the eviction process [11]. These rules apply equally in Edwardsburg and are not modified by local ordinance.

Cass County summary proceedings (eviction filings) are filed at the Cass County 4th District Court in Cassopolis. For landlords on private wells or septic systems (most properties just outside the village limits), the Van Buren / Cass County District Health Department investigates failing septic and unsafe water complaints [10].

Official Resources


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 โ€” these are not opinions, they are starting points for your own tax research.

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Sources & Downloads


  1. 1
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Information https://villageofedwardsburg.org/info
    Geography, ~1,300 residents, charter government, one-square-mile area
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  2. 2
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Ordinance 2024-01 (Short-Term Rental) https://villageofedwardsburg.org/s/Ordinance-2024-01-Short-Term-Rental.pdf
    Full STR ordinance text โ€” adopted 1/29/2024, effective 30 days after publication. Establishes annual registration, $1M insurance, local-agent rule, fee set by Council resolution, $25/$100/day fines.
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  3. 3
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Ordinances https://villageofedwardsburg.org/ordinances
    Full ordinance index. No long-term rental ordinance is listed as of verification date; loitering ordinance is 2024-02.
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  4. 4
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Officials https://villageofedwardsburg.org/officials
    Zoning Administrator: Dawn Bolock (574) 220-1249, dabolock@gmail.com. Building Inspector: Wayne Hardin (269) 699-5689. Clerk: Sarah Overgaard.
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  5. 5
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Forms & Resources https://villageofedwardsburg.org/forms-resources
    Master forms / permits index for the Village
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  6. 6
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Zoning Book (PDF) https://villageofedwardsburg.org/s/Zoning-Book.pdf
    Full text Village Zoning Ordinance
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  7. 7
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” IPMC Amendment Draft https://villageofedwardsburg.org/s/IPMC-Amendment-Draft.pdf
    Village's adopted International Property Maintenance Code amendments
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  8. 8
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Noise Control Ordinance (2010-0816.001) https://villageofedwardsburg.org/s/Ordinance-2010-0816001-Noise-Control.pdf
    Quiet hours & noise standards referenced by STR ordinance
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  9. 9
    Village of Edwardsburg โ€” Fireworks Ordinance (2019-03) https://villageofedwardsburg.org/s/Ordinance-2019-03-Fireworks.pdf
    Consumer fireworks rules
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  10. 10
    Van Buren / Cass County District Health Department โ€” Environmental Health https://vbcassdhd.org/environmental-health/
    Septic / well / water testing for Cass County properties
    Verified: 2026-05-08
  11. 11
    Michigan Legislature โ€” A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf
    Statewide landlord-tenant law, leases, eviction process
    Verified: 2026-05-08
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 โ€” 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.