Crockery Township

17431 112th Avenue, Nunica, MI 49448

Directions

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Township Website

crockerytownship.gov

Area Overview

Crockery Township is a rural township of roughly 4,572 residents in the northeast corner of Ottawa County, anchored by the unincorporated community of Nunica and bordered by the Grand River to the south and Muskegon County to the north ^[1]. The township sits along I-96 between Grand Rapids and Muskegon, roughly 15 miles east of Lake Michigan and Grand Haven. Land use is predominantly agricultural and low-density residential, with the township hall and most public services concentrated in Nunica at 17431 112th Avenue ^[2].

Crockery Township does regulate short-term rentals through its Zoning Ordinance. Section 3.39 of the Zoning Ordinance (most recently amended 1/7/2026) is dedicated to short-term rentals, and Section 2 (Definitions) defines a short-term rental as the rental or subletting of a single-family dwelling for compensation for a term of not more than 28 days, expressly excluding bed and breakfasts, motels, resorts, and campgrounds ^[3]. There is no separate STR application portal or licensing program documented on the township website, so STR compliance is enforced through the standard zoning permit and complaint-driven enforcement process ^[4].

Long-term rentals (31+ day leases) in Crockery Township are not subject to any township registration or inspection program. Tenancy is governed by Michigan state landlord-tenant law and, for any property on a private well or septic system (the majority of parcels in the township), by Ottawa County Environmental Health, which administers a county-wide Time-of-Sale septic and well evaluation requirement ^[5]. Practical takeaway for investors: confirm the STR rules in Section 3.39 with the Zoning Administrator before listing, and budget for a county septic evaluation at acquisition.

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals REGULATED BY ZONING

STRs are explicitly addressed in Section 3.39 of the Crockery Township Zoning Ordinance (amended 1/7/2026) and a Short-Term Rental is defined as renting a single-family dwelling for 28 days or fewer ^[3]. The full text of Section 3.39 is in the Zoning Ordinance PDF and should be read before listing any property. There is no separate STR portal or fee schedule on the township website — confirm permit requirements with Zoning Administrator Aaron Bigelow at zoning@crockerymi.org ^[2].

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term residential rentals (leases of 31 days or longer) are permitted in any zoning district where single-family or two-family dwelling use is allowed by right ^[3]. Crockery Township does not run a rental registration or inspection program. Landlord-tenant relationships follow Michigan state law ^[6]. Properties on private well or septic must comply with Ottawa County Environmental Health and the county Time-of-Sale evaluation ordinance ^[5].

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Short-term rentals are addressed directly in Section 3.39 of the Crockery Township Zoning Ordinance (amended 1/7/2026), and the use is defined in Section 2 as the rental or subletting of a single-family dwelling for compensation for 28 days or fewer ^[3]. Because the township hosts the ordinance only as a PDF and the specific by-district permissions, permit conditions, and operating standards live inside Section 3.39, the safest path for any specific parcel is to read Section 3.39 in the linked PDF and then confirm with the Zoning Administrator.

Crockery’s zoning districts include AG-1 (Agricultural & Open Space), AG-2 (Rural/Agricultural Preservation), R-1 (Low Density Single-Family Residential), R-1A (Rural Estate Residential), R-2 (Medium Density Residential), R-2A (Low Density Residential), commercial, and industrial districts ^[3]. Whether STRs are permitted by right, by special land use, or are limited to specific districts is set out in Section 3.39.

For any specific property: identify the parcel’s zoning district on the map below, then email the Zoning Administrator with the parcel ID and your intended STR use, and request a written determination before listing.

Click to open the full March 2026 Zoning Map (PDF).

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance (PDF, Section 3.39)📧 Ask Zoning Admin

2 Registration & Permit Process

There is no separate online STR portal or stand-alone STR permit application published on the Crockery Township website ^[4]. STR compliance is handled through Section 3.39 of the Zoning Ordinance and the standard township Zoning Permit Application, submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the Zoning Department at the township hall ^[7].

SubmissionIn person / mail to 17431 112th Ave, Nunica MI 49448; or email zoning@crockerymi.org

Zoning permit applicationZoning Permit Application (PDF)

Zoning permit checklistZoning Permit Check List (PDF)

Zoning office hoursWednesday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (or by appointment) ^[2]

State Use Tax6% on rentals of less than 30 days — state-level requirement ^[8]

Before you list: Email Aaron Bigelow (Zoning Administrator, Fresh Coast Planning) at zoning@crockerymi.org with the parcel ID and ask plainly whether your intended STR is permitted by right, by special land use, or prohibited under Section 3.39. Get the answer in writing.

📧 Email Zoning Admin 📞 Township Hall: 616-837-6868 🗺 Directions to Township Hall

3 Fees & Penalties

Crockery Township has not published a stand-alone STR application fee. The fees below come from the official Zoning Fee Schedule (revised 2/13/2024) and apply to the underlying zoning approvals an STR may need ^[9]:

Zoning Application (new construction > 200 sf)$50

Zoning Application (200 sf or less, misc.)$25

Special Land Use (with site plan review)$600 application + $2,500 escrow

Site Plan Review (stand-alone)$250 + $5,000 escrow

Variances & Appeals (ZBA)$500 + $1,000 escrow

Other Zoning or Land Use$100 (escrow determined by Zoning Administrator)

Zoning ordinance violationCivil infraction / misdemeanor under Ordinance 2023-01 (Penalties & Enforcement) ^[10]

Which fee actually applies to an STR depends on the determination under Section 3.39 (permitted by right vs. special land use). Confirm both the path and the fee in writing with the Zoning Administrator before submitting.

💵 Full Zoning Fee Schedule (PDF)📄 Ordinance 2023-01 (Penalties)

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Crockery Township does not operate a routine rental inspection program ^[4]. Inspections are triggered when building permits are pulled, when a complaint is filed, or when the Section 3.39 process requires it. Day-to-day building work is overseen by Building Official Rick Sparks and a team of state-licensed inspectors (Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing) operating out of the township hall ^[11].

Safety requirements that still apply to any rental property in Crockery Township:

Michigan Residential Code & Building Code — enforced via the township Building Department for permitted work ^[11].
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors — required by state code in all dwelling units.
Ottawa County Environmental Health — well and septic systems must be permitted and, on sale, evaluated under the county’s Time-of-Sale Septic Ordinance ^[5].
Crockery Township Fire Department — recommends posted addresses (the township sells reflective green address signs for $20) and unobstructed driveway access for emergency response ^[12].

📄 Building Department 📄 Building Permit Application 🏥 County Well & Septic

5 Operating Rules (Noise, Nuisance, Trash, Firearms)

Beyond Section 3.39, STR operators are bound by Crockery Township’s nuisance ordinances enforced by the Zoning Enforcer and, for emergencies, by the Ottawa County Sheriff ^[4]:

Noise Control — Ordinance 2011-06. Prohibits unreasonable noise; enforced township-wide ^[13].
Junk, Vehicles, Outdoor Storage — Ordinance 2023-03. Limits accumulation of junk and inoperable vehicles, which is a common neighbor-complaint trigger for STRs ^[14].
Discharge of Firearms on Township Property — Ordinance 2021-01. Hunting and firearm discharge are prohibited on township-owned property; off-property hunting follows state law ^[15].
Penalties & Enforcement — Ordinance 2023-01. Sets the civil infraction and misdemeanor framework for township ordinance violations ^[10].

Enforcement model: Crockery’s zoning and ordinance enforcement is complaint-driven and the enforcement officer works only a few hours per week ^[4]. That makes neighbor relationships a real operating risk for STRs — a single bad weekend can trigger a complaint that escalates quickly.

📄 Noise Ordinance (2011-06)📄 Junk Ordinance (2023-03)📝 Submit a Complaint

6 Local Agent & 24-Hour Contact

Crockery Township’s Zoning Ordinance Section 3.39 should be consulted for any specific 24-hour local-agent requirement (the township has not published a separate STR rules summary). At minimum, an out-of-area owner should designate a local contact who can respond to noise, parking, or trash complaints, since complaints are the primary enforcement trigger ^[4].

Township Zoning Office: 616-837-6868 (Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM); Zoning office hours Wednesdays.
Zoning Enforcer (Dave Bonthuis): dbonthuis@crockerymi.org
Ottawa County Sheriff (non-emergency): 616-738-1303
Emergency: 911

📞 Township Hall 📧 Zoning Enforcer 📄 Enforcement Page

1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (31+ day leases) are permitted in any Crockery Township zoning district where single-family or two-family dwelling use is allowed by right ^[3]. There is no separate "rental dwelling" classification — a parcel zoned for residential use can be lived in by an owner or by a tenant under a lease.

Districts that permit single-family dwellings by right include AG-1, AG-2, R-1, R-1A, R-2, and R-2A. For commercial, industrial, or mixed-use-zoned property, the residential dwelling itself must first be permitted (or grandfathered) before a lease can be advertised — verify with the Zoning Administrator.

Click to open the full March 2026 Zoning Map (PDF).

🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📄 Zoning Ordinance (PDF)📧 Ask Zoning Admin

2 Registration & Permit Process

Crockery Township does not require a long-term rental registration, license, or annual inspection ^[4]. A landlord may sign a lease and place a tenant in a residentially-zoned dwelling without filing anything with the township, provided the property is in compliance with the zoning ordinance, building codes, and any county environmental health requirements.

What does still apply:

Lease compliance with Michigan law. Michigan requires written leases for tenancies over 12 months and regulates security deposits, lease termination, and eviction. See the State Bar of Michigan’s free landlord-tenant guide ^[6].
Smoke and CO detectors. Required by state code in every dwelling unit.
Well and septic compliance. Most Crockery parcels are on private well and septic; properties must be permitted with Ottawa County Environmental Health, and a county septic and well evaluation is required at the time of any property sale ^[5].
Address signage. The Crockery Township Fire Department sells reflective green address signs for $20 — recommended for any rental, particularly down a private drive ^[12].

📄 MI Tenant & Landlord Guide 🏥 County Well & Septic 📞 Township Hall

3 Fees & Penalties

LTR registration feeNone — no program exists ^[4]

Annual LTR renewalNone — no program exists ^[4]

County septic evaluation (at sale)Set by Ottawa County Environmental Health ^[5]

Zoning ordinance violationCivil infraction / misdemeanor under Ordinance 2023-01 ^[10]

Landlords still bear cost exposure on building permits if work is done on the property, civil-infraction fines if the property triggers a junk/noise complaint, and county fees if the well or septic must be repaired or replaced.

💵 Zoning Fee Schedule 📄 County EH Fees

4 Inspections & Safety Requirements

Routine inspections of long-term rentals are not performed by Crockery Township ^[4]. Inspections happen only when:

A building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permit is pulled — the work is inspected by the assigned township inspector ^[11].
A complaint is filed and the Zoning Enforcer determines an inspection is warranted ^[4].
The property changes ownership — Ottawa County requires a Time-of-Sale septic and well evaluation prior to deed transfer if the property is on a private system ^[5].

Best-practice items landlords should still document at the start of every tenancy: working smoke and CO detectors on every level, GFCI outlets in kitchens and baths, weatherproof exterior outlets, secure handrails on stairs, and a known location for the septic tank lid and well head.

📄 Building Department 📄 County Real Estate Transfer Eval (PDF)📞 County EH: 616-393-5645

5 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Michigan landlord-tenant relationships are governed by state law (MCL 554.601 et seq. for security deposits and MCL 600.5701 et seq. for summary proceedings / evictions). The State Bar of Michigan publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords that walks through leases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process ^[6]. These rules apply equally in Crockery Township and are not modified by local ordinance.

Eviction filings for the 58th District Court (which covers Ottawa County) are processed at the Grand Haven and Hudsonville courthouses; landlords filing summary proceedings should consult the court’s self-help resources or a Michigan attorney.

📄 MI Tenant & Landlord Guide 🏛 58th District Court

Official Resources

Ordinances

Zoning Ordinance (amended 1/7/2026)

Section 3.39 governs short-term rentals

Noise Control – Ordinance 2011-06

Township-wide noise rules

Junk, Vehicles & Outdoor Storage – Ord. 2023-03

Common neighbor-complaint trigger

Penalties & Enforcement – Ord. 2023-01

Civil infraction / misdemeanor framework

Firearms on Township Property – Ord. 2021-01

Hunting / discharge on township property

Shipping Containers – Ord. 2023-04

Accessory-structure standards

Forms & Applications

Zoning Permit Application

PDF – submit to Zoning Dept

Zoning Permit Checklist

Required documents

Application fees & escrow amounts

Zoning Fee Schedule

Building Permit Application

Township Building Department

Building Permit Application Checklist

What to submit with application

Zoning / Ordinance Complaint Form

File a neighbor complaint

Maps

Crockery Township Zoning Map (March 2026)

District boundaries

Ottawa County Property Mapping (GIS)

Parcels, ownership, tax info

Ottawa County Property Lookup

Parcel ID & tax records

Portals & Lookups

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BS&A Online – Tax & Utility Payments

Pay taxes / water online

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Township Forms & Documents Page

All township forms

Contact & Directions

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Township Hall

616-837-6868 (Mon-Thu 9 AM-5 PM)

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Zoning Administrator (Aaron Bigelow)

zoning@crockerymi.org

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Zoning Enforcer (Dave Bonthuis)

dbonthuis@crockerymi.org

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Office Manager (Shelby Chatman)

schatman@crockerymi.org