Ferrysburg

Short-term rentals are not restricted to a specific zoning district by ordinance – the city’s annual rental registration program applies citywide and treats STRs as rentals subject to the same zoning rules that govern the underlying dwelling. Ferrysburg has eleven zoning districts including four residential categories (Low Density Dune, Low Density, Medium Density, High Density), Mobile Home Park, four commercial/service categories, and three light-industrial categories, plus an Inland Lakefront Overlay ^[4].

If a parcel is zoned for residential use, both LTR and STR operations are typically permitted (subject to registration). Bed-and-breakfast operations are separately regulated under Chapter 110 of the Code of Ordinances ^[5]. For any specific parcel, verify the zoning district on the map below and confirm permitted use with the Zoning Administrator before underwriting.

Click the banner to open the official Zoning Map PDF (adopted 2008, amended through 2019).

Submit the 2026 Rental Registration Form by mail (with check) or in person at City Hall: 17520 Ridge Avenue, PO Box 38, Ferrysburg, MI 49409. The form must accompany payment. One form per rental unit ^[2].

Fee schedule per the 2026 Rental Registration Form ^[2]. Re-inspection fee per the Rental Permit Checklist ^[7]. Enforcement procedure per the Code Enforcer page ^[6].

Every rental unit is inspected on a 3-year cycle. Inspections in 2026 must be completed and approved by April 1 or the unit may not be occupied ^[2]. Failed-item re-inspections cost $75 ^[7].

Key inspection items (non-exclusive list per the Rental Permit Checklist ^[7]):

• Smoke alarms in each sleeping area, outside each sleeping area in the vicinity, and on each floor level.
• Carbon monoxide detector required.
• Street numbers 4 inches tall, visible from the street.
• Graspable handrails on all stairs with 4 or more risers; guardrails 30-38 inches high on porches/balconies/stairs more than 30 inches above grade, with rails spaced so a 4-inch sphere cannot pass through.
• Bedroom electrical: at least 2 duplex outlets on opposite walls in each bedroom, living room, and dining room. Bathroom outlets must be GFCI-protected.
• Bathroom ventilation via operable window or vent fan.
• Sleeping in the basement is prohibited unless code-compliant egress is present.
• Minimum ceiling height 7 feet.
• Heat: each room must have adequate heat – portable heaters are not allowed.
• All ground-floor windows must have locks; all exterior doors must have locks.

STR operators in Ferrysburg are bound by the citywide rental ordinance plus general nuisance, noise, parks, and burning ordinances ^[5][8]. Key recurring rules:

• Tenant notice of ordinances. Owners must provide each renter, every stay, with a copy of the city’s rental ordinance and any restrictive covenants for the property ^[2].
• Parking. Required parking spaces must be inside a garage or on a paved surface on the subject premises – not in the public right-of-way ^[2].
• Landline phone. A landline phone in the rental dwelling is required for STRs (7-27 day stays) ^[2].
• Occupancy. Maximum number of occupants is set at inspection and noted on the file; advertising or hosting beyond that count is a violation ^[2].
• Nuisance & burning. Chapters 91 (Nuisances), 92 (Burning), and 93 (Solid Waste) of the Code of Ordinances apply ^[5].
• Marine safety. Spring Lake and Grand River frontage parcels are subject to Chapter 95 (Marine Safety) ^[5].

If the property owner does not live in the rental unit or in the Ferrysburg area, they must designate a Property Manager or Local Agent on the rental registration form ^[2]. The form captures the agent’s company name, contact person, address, phone, and email – and rental correspondence from the city can be routed to either the owner or the property manager.

Public-facing complaint and verification channels:

• Short-Term Rental Complaint Hotline: 616-879-6856 (operated through Host Compliance / Granicus) ^[3]
• Code Enforcer: cbessinger@ferrysburg.org ^[6]
• Ottawa County Sheriff (non-emergency): 616-738-5000 ^[1]

Ferrysburg has not capped STRs but has materially strengthened compliance monitoring.

• July 8, 2025: City launched new short-term rental management software (Host Compliance / Granicus) to scan listing sites, identify unregistered STRs, and triage complaints. A dedicated complaint hotline was published: 616-879-6856 ^[3].
• Annual fee schedule (2026): $215 STR / $75 LTR, due by the first business day of February ^[2].
• Inspection cycle: Every 3 years, on or before April 1 in the inspection year ^[2].
• No moratorium, no cap. New STR applications continue to be accepted year-round; properties become ‘compliant’ the moment a complete registration and applicable inspection are on file.

Underwriting takeaway: Ferrysburg is one of the more straightforward Tri-Cities STR markets to enter – there is no cap and no portal lottery – but listings are now actively scanned and an unregistered listing will quickly draw a courtesy letter and, if unresolved, a civil infraction.