Sullivan Township

The Sullivan Township Zoning Ordinance does not mention short-term rentals (Airbnb / Vrbo / whole-house vacation rentals) as either a permitted use or a prohibited use. Because the ordinance is silent, the use is treated on a parcel-by-parcel basis by the Zoning Administrator and may be considered an extension of single-family residential use, or alternatively as an un-classified use that requires a use determination ^[2].

The township does formally regulate Bed and Breakfast Establishments as a Special Land Use (owner-occupied, max 9 guest rooms, paved-road access, approved water and sewer) in the R-A Rural Residential/Agricultural, R-R Rural Residential, and R-1 Low Density Residential districts ^[3]. A whole-house STR with no owner on premises is not a B&B under this definition and is not covered by the B&B standards.

For any specific property, verify the zoning district on the Sullivan Township Zoning Viewer below, then confirm permitted use directly with the township office before purchasing or listing.

Click the image to open the live Sullivan Township Zoning Viewer.

Bed-and-breakfast establishments are the only short-term-style lodging use the ordinance explicitly addresses. They require Special Land Use approval from the Planning Commission in R-A, R-R, or R-1 districts ^[3] and must meet all of the following conditions:

• Owner-occupied: the establishment must contain the principal residence of the operator.
• Detached single-family dwelling only.
• Water and sewer: served by approved water and sanitary sewer services (county septic permit if on-site) ^[9].
• Road access: direct access to a paved public street.
• Guest rooms: maximum 5 guest rooms, plus 1 additional per 10,000 sq ft over 1 acre, not to exceed 9 total.
• Accessory uses prohibited: no gift shops, antique shops, bakeries, or similar accessory retail.
• Meals: served only to the operator’s family and registered overnight guests.
• Signage: one identification sign, max 16 sq ft, max 4 ft tall, indirect lighting only.

Application is filed using the Special Land Use Application and reviewed at a Planning Commission public hearing.

Sullivan Township does not operate a short-term rental registration or permit program. The township does not issue STR licenses, charge per-night occupancy fees, or maintain a public STR portal. There is no online STR application system.

If you intend to operate a B&B-style accommodation, the path is a Special Land Use approval ^[3] filed in person or by mail at the township office. If you intend to operate a whole-house STR not covered by the B&B definition, contact the township office before listing to obtain a written use determination from the Zoning Administrator.

Sullivan Township does not perform routine rental inspections. The township has adopted the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code ^[7] as its baseline standard for habitability and minimum maintenance, enforced on a complaint basis. The IPMC covers structural safety, sanitation, light, ventilation, heating, plumbing, and electrical minimums.

For B&B Special Land Use applications, the Planning Commission reviews proposed water and sanitary facilities; on-site septic systems must be permitted and evaluated by the Muskegon County Environmental Health Division ^[9]. The Muskegon County Sanitary Code requires evaluation when a property changes use or expands ^[11].

Whether or not a property is a permitted rental, all properties in Sullivan Township are subject to the township’s general nuisance ordinances. The two most likely to come up for vacation-rental operators are the Anti-Noise Ordinance (2023) ^[4] and the township’s regulations on outdoor recreational vehicles and golf carts ^[5][6].

• Anti-Noise Ordinance: prohibits unreasonable noise audible at the property line during the regulated hours; enforced by the Muskegon County Sheriff and the township.
• ORV / golf-cart use: the township’s 2022 ORV ordinance ^[5] and 2023 golf-cart resolution ^[6] limit where motorized recreational vehicles can be operated on township roads.
• Outdoor wood boilers and outdoor storage: governed by Sections 3.19 and 3.33 of the Zoning Ordinance ^[2].
• Marijuana: the township has opted out of commercial marijuana facilities ^[8]; personal home use under state law is unaffected.

Even where Sullivan Township does not impose a local STR permit, Michigan state law still applies to short-term rental income ^[10]:

• 6% state Use Tax applies to rentals of less than 30 days; the operator collects from guests and remits to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
• Registration with the Michigan Department of Treasury is required before collecting tax. Hosts must register for a Sales, Use & Withholding (SUW) account.
• Stays of 31 days or longer (long-term rentals) are exempt from use tax.
• Federal income tax applies to all rental income; Schedule E (or Schedule C for hotel-like services) reporting is the host’s responsibility.

Major listing platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) collect and remit Michigan state use tax on the host’s behalf, but the host remains responsible for verifying compliance and for any non-platform bookings.