Rental Investment Guide

Montague Township

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

Updated May 2026
📞
Township Hall (Clerk)
231-894-4414
📧
Clerk Drew Roesler
droesler@montaguetownship.com
🗺
Directions
8915 Whitbeck Road, Montague, MI 49437
🌐
montaguetownship.com
www.montaguetownship.com

Area Overview

Montague Township is a rural community in the northwest corner of Muskegon County, wrapping around the City of Montague along the White River and the north shore of White Lake [1]. Housing stock is a mix of year-round single-family homes, farms, riverfront cottages, and wooded acreage, with most rental demand tied to the White Lake area’s summer tourism, boating, and proximity to Lake Michigan beaches.

Unlike the neighboring City of Montague, the township has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance and no township-level rental registration program. STR-style use is reached only indirectly, through the Bed and Breakfast definition in the 2002 Zoning Ordinance, which is a conditional use in every residential and agricultural district [2]. Long-term rentals operate under standard Michigan landlord-tenant law with no township license required. Investors should verify any specific parcel’s zoning district with the township’s part-time Zoning Administrator before underwriting a rental strategy [3].

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals UNKNOWN

There is no short-term rental ordinance in Montague Township. The Zoning Ordinance defines short-stay lodging only through Bed and Breakfast use, which requires an owner-occupied single-family dwelling and a Conditional Use Permit in every residential and agricultural district [2]. Unhosted whole-house STRs are not specifically authorized or prohibited; the Zoning Administrator should be consulted before listing a non-owner-occupied property [3].

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term rentals are permitted by-right wherever single-family dwellings are permitted [2]. There is no township-level rental registration, no annual landlord license, and no routine rental inspection program. Landlord-tenant rights and obligations are governed by Michigan’s Truth in Renting Act and related statutes [7].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Montague Township’s Zoning Ordinance does not contain a stand-alone short-term rental category. The only short-stay lodging type defined in the ordinance is a Bed and Breakfast, which is a conditional use in the AG (Agricultural), R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 residential districts [2].

The Bed and Breakfast definition limits the use to a single-family dwelling occupied by the owner or permanent tenant, with overnight lodging offered to transient guests; individual guestrooms may not contain kitchen facilities, and “Bed and Breakfast” expressly does not mean “hotel” or “motel” [2]. That means a true unhosted, whole-house Airbnb does not fit the B&B definition, and is not separately listed as a permitted or conditional use anywhere in the ordinance.

Because there is no by-right STR classification, investors should:

  1. Look up the parcel’s zoning district on the township’s Zoning Ordinance Maps PDF [4].
  2. Confirm allowable use directly with Zoning Administrator Rachael Novak before listing [3].
📄 Zoning Ordinance (PDF)📍 Zoning Maps (PDF)📞 Call Zoning Admin
2 Bed and Breakfast Conditional Use Process

A Conditional Use Permit application must be filed with the Planning Commission before any B&B operation begins. The township’s Conditional Use Permit Application is a fillable PDF that captures the property description, proposed use, site plan, and surrounding land-use context [5].

Steps:

  1. Contact Zoning Administrator Rachael Novak at 231-894-9088 to confirm the proposed use fits the application before filing [3].
  2. Submit the completed Conditional Use Permit Application and Site Plan Review Application with site plan to the township [5][6].
  3. Planning Commission reviews at a regularly scheduled meeting (second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 PM at the Township Hall) [1].
  4. A public hearing is required for conditional uses; notice is published per the Zoning Ordinance’s procedural rules.
📄 Conditional Use Permit App (PDF)📄 Site Plan Review App (PDF)📅 Planning Commission Meetings
3 Fees & Penalties

Montague Township does not publish a STR-specific fee schedule because no STR ordinance exists. Fees that may apply to a B&B-style operation depend on the path used:

Conditional Use PermitFee set by Planning Commission; confirm with Zoning Admin [3]
Site Plan ReviewFee set by Planning Commission; confirm with Zoning Admin [3]
Building / Electrical / Plumbing / Mechanical permits (if any work needed)State of Michigan schedule via township inspectors; contact Val Jensen 231-638-0529 (Building) [8]
County septic / well permitsPer Muskegon County Environmental Health Fees [9]

Operating short-stay lodging without an approved Conditional Use Permit where one is required could be cited as a zoning violation by the township. Always confirm any specific case with the Zoning Administrator before listing.

📄 County Environmental Health Fees (PDF)📧 Email Clerk
4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

There is no recurring rental-inspection program at the township level. Any inspections tied to a Bed and Breakfast operation come from three places:

  • Site plan review by the Planning Commission as part of the Conditional Use Permit [6].
  • Building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits if remodeling or change-of-use construction is needed; inspections handled by the township’s contracted inspectors. Building Inspector Val Jensen holds office hours Fridays 2-5 PM [8].
  • Septic and well evaluations through Muskegon County Public Health when a new system is installed, an existing system is altered, or a property transfer evaluation is requested by a buyer [10].

Because most of the township is on private septic and well, an existing-system evaluation through the county is the standard tool buyers use to confirm capacity before increasing occupancy through rental use.

📄 Township Permit Notes (PDF)🏠 County Septic Permits📞 County Env. Health 231-724-6208
5 Operating Rules (Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Signs)

The township has no STR-specific operating rules. The constraints a B&B or short-stay host needs to read are spread across three documents:

  • Bed and Breakfast definition. Owner or permanent-tenant occupancy required; guestrooms may not contain cooking facilities; guest stays are short-term [2].
  • Sign permits. Any on-site advertising sign needs a Sign Permit Application reviewed by the Zoning Administrator [11].
  • Trash and recycling. Service is provided through White Lake Area Solid Waste Authority (WLASWA); fees are set per the township’s posted schedule [12]. Hosts must ensure containers are not left out beyond the allowed window.

The township does not have a published noise ordinance, fireworks ordinance, or short-term-rental Good Neighbor Policy at this time. Loud-party and nuisance complaints route to Muskegon County Sheriff Non-Emergency Dispatch.

📄 Sign Permit Application (PDF)📄 Trash & Recycling Fees (PDF)📞 Zoning Admin 231-894-9088
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (leases of 30 days or more) are permitted wherever single-family dwellings are permitted, which means by-right in every R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and AG district in the township [2]. Duplex dwellings are a conditional use in R-2 and R-3 only, and multiple-family dwellings are a conditional use in R-3 only [2].

There is no separate “rental dwelling” classification and no overlay district that limits where landlords may operate. The same zoning map and ordinance that govern owner-occupied homes govern LTRs.

Open the Zoning Maps PDF to confirm the district of any specific parcel, then verify the use with the Zoning Administrator if you have any doubt [3].

📄 Zoning Ordinance (PDF)📍 Zoning Maps (PDF)📞 Call Zoning Admin
2 Registration & Permit Process

Montague Township does not require landlords to register long-term rentals, obtain a township rental license, or pay an annual landlord fee. A property in any residential or agricultural district may be leased on a 30+ day lease without township approval, provided the dwelling is a permitted use in that district [2].

This is the typical pattern for small Muskegon County townships and contrasts with the City of Montague and other nearby cities, which do operate landlord registration programs. If you are converting a use (for example, dividing a single-family home into a duplex in an R-2 district), a Conditional Use Permit is required first [2][5].

📄 All Township Forms📧 Email Clerk
3 Inspections & Safety Requirements

There is no routine rental inspection cycle at the township level. Practical inspection touchpoints for LTR landlords:

  • Building / electrical / plumbing / mechanical permits for any remodel work, handled by the township’s contracted inspectors [8].
  • Property-transfer septic and well evaluation recommended through Muskegon County Public Health when buying a property on private septic or well, to confirm capacity for the intended occupancy [10].
  • State of Michigan smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm requirements apply to all residential dwellings, including rentals.
🏠 County Septic Permits💧 County Well Permits📄 Permit Notes (PDF)
4 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Because there is no township-level landlord-tenant program, all tenant rights and eviction procedures default to Michigan state law. The most relevant statutes:

  • Michigan Truth in Renting Act (1978 PA 454) governs what may and may not appear in a residential lease [7].
  • Michigan Security Deposit Act caps a security deposit at 1.5 months’ rent and sets the 30-day return timeline.
  • Summary proceedings (eviction) are filed in the 60th District Court, which serves all of Muskegon County [13].

For self-help guidance, Michigan Legal Help offers free packet builders, sample notices, and step-by-step instructions on rental issues [14].

🔗 Michigan Legal Help (Housing)⚖️ 60th District Court📄 Truth in Renting Act

Official Resources

Ordinances
📜
Montague Township Zoning Ordinance (2002, re-issued 2015)
Full text – defines AG and R-1/R-2/R-3/R-4 districts; B&Bs are a conditional use
📑
Zoning Ordinance – Table of Contents
Navigation aid for the full ordinance PDF
📑
Zoning Ordinance – Conditional Uses Section
Excerpt covering the Conditional Use Permit procedure
📑
Zoning Ordinance – Site Plan Review Section
Excerpt covering site plan review standards
📑
Muskegon County Sanitary Code Regulations
Countywide minimum standards for septic, wells, and other environmental health systems
⚡
Montague Township Solar Ordinance (2023)
Background reference for any solar work tied to rental upgrades
⏸️
Moratorium on Crypto Mining / AI Data Centers (Dec 2025)
Context on township's recent regulatory posture
Forms & Applications
📝
Conditional Use Permit Application
Required for a Bed and Breakfast in any residential or agricultural district
📝
Site Plan Review Application
Filed alongside the Conditional Use Permit when a B&B is proposed
📝
Zoning Permit Application
Standard zoning permit for permitted uses and minor site work
📝
Zoning Permit Application – Instructions
Pre-application instructions and required attachments
📝
Building Permit Application
Township's standard building permit form
📝
Sign Permit Application
Required for on-site advertising signage including B&B signs
🧾
Township Permit Notes & Info
Overview of which permits go to which inspector
💧
Muskegon County Well / Septic Permit Application
Required for new or replacement septic systems and drinking water wells
💧
Muskegon County Septic Evaluation Application
Recommended pre-purchase evaluation for properties on private septic
Maps
🗺️
Township Zoning Maps
All township zoning districts in a single PDF
🛰️
Muskegon County Property Information Viewer
Parcels, ownership, tax records, aerials
Portals & Lookups
📅
Planning Commission & Board Meetings
Schedules, agendas, and minutes
Contact & Directions
📞
Zoning Administrator – Rachael Novak
Call before filing any zoning-related application
📞
Building Inspector – Val Jensen
Office hours Fridays 2-5 PM
📧
Township Clerk – Drew Roesler
First stop for general inquiries
Other Resources
🏛️
Main Municipal Site
Montague Township homepage

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 — Muskegon County

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

I help investors and homeowners navigate the gray-area rental rules in small Muskegon County townships – including whether your property qualifies for a Bed and Breakfast Conditional Use Permit, how the City of Montague's stricter rules differ, and where long-term rental returns make the most sense around White Lake.

Schedule a Consultation Call (269) 235-9910

Sources & Downloads

  1. 1
    Montague Township homepage (board meetings, contact info) http://www.montaguetownship.com/
    Board meets 2nd Tuesday monthly, 7:00 PM, 8915 Whitbeck Road
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  2. 2
    Montague Township Zoning Ordinance (2002, re-issued 11/17/2015) http://www.montaguetownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MT_Zoning_Ordinance_2002_20151117.pdf
    B&Bs are conditional uses in AG and all R districts; defines B&B as owner/permanent-tenant single-family with short-term transient guest stays
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  3. 3
    Montague Township Contact page – Officials & Inspectors http://www.montaguetownship.com/contact/
    Zoning Admin Rachael Novak 231-894-9088; Clerk Drew Roesler 231-894-4414
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  4. 4
    Montague Township Zoning Ordinance Maps http://www.montaguetownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MT_Zoning_Ordinance_Maps_20151130.pdf
    All township zoning districts in a single PDF
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  5. 5
    Montague Township Conditional Use Permit Application http://www.montaguetownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MT_Conditional_Use_Permit.pdf
    Required for Bed & Breakfast operation
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  6. 6
    Montague Township Site Plan Review Application http://www.montaguetownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/MT_Site_Plan_Review_app.pdf
    Filed alongside CUP for any new commercial-style use
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  7. 7
    Michigan Truth in Renting Act (1978 PA 454) https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-Act-454-of-1978
    Statewide governing law for residential leases
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  8. 8
    Montague Township Links & Forms (full document library) http://www.montaguetownship.com/links-forms/
    Lists building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical inspectors and all forms
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  9. 9
    Muskegon County Environmental Health Program Fees https://co.muskegon.mi.us/DocumentCenter/View/1682
    Fee schedule for septic and well permits and evaluations
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  10. 10
    Muskegon County Septic Permits & Evaluations https://co.muskegon.mi.us/1042/Septic-Permits-Evaluations
    Permits required for new, replacement, or expanded systems; pre-purchase evaluations available
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  11. 11
    Montague Township Sign Permit Application http://www.montaguetownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MT_Sign_Permit_App.pdf
    Required for on-site advertising signs
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  12. 12
    White Lake Area Solid Waste Authority Fee Schedule http://www.montaguetownship.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WLASWA_FEES_20191121.pdf
    Trash and recycling rates for the township
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  13. 13
    60th District Court (Muskegon County) https://co.muskegon.mi.us/601/60th-District-Court
    Handles summary proceedings (evictions) for all Muskegon County
    Verified: 2026-05-16
  14. 14
    Michigan Legal Help – Housing https://michiganlegalhelp.org/self-help-tools/housing
    Self-help tools, packet builders, sample notices for tenant and landlord issues
    Verified: 2026-05-16
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.