Lockport Township
Short-term & long-term rental regulations, fees, and investor resources for St. Joseph County, Michigan.
Area Overview
Lockport Township is a rural St. Joseph County township that wraps around the City of Three Rivers, where the Rocky, Portage, and St. Joseph rivers meet.[12] The 2020 Census put the township’s population at 3,729 across about 29.6 square miles of land, making it a low-density mix of single-family neighborhoods along South River Road, M-86, and Holtom Road, with substantial agricultural and lightly-zoned commercial frontage along US-131 and M-60.[12]
From a rental-rules standpoint, Lockport Township is one of the most lightly-regulated jurisdictions in St. Joseph County. The township’s current 2023 Zoning Ordinance does not define or regulate short-term rentals, vacation rentals, or ‘tourist homes’ as a use category, and the township does not operate a long-term rental registration or inspection program.[1] In practice, that means STR and LTR operators in Lockport Township are governed by the same baseline that applies anywhere in Michigan: the township’s zoning use-classifications, county septic/well rules through the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency,[7] state landlord-tenant law (MCL 554), and Michigan’s 6% Use Tax on transient lodging.
Recent ordinance activity has focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and a 38-acre annexation request into the City of Three Rivers for an affordable-housing development,[6] not on rentals. That can change at any monthly Township Board meeting (2nd Monday at 6 p.m.) or quarterly Planning Commission meeting (1st Thursday of January, April, July, and October at 7 p.m.),[4] so investors should confirm current rules directly with the Zoning Administrator before purchasing or listing a rental property here.
Quick Status Summary
Lockport Township has no short-term rental ordinance, no STR permit requirement, no permit cap, and no occupancy or operating rules adopted at the township level as of May 2026.[1] Hosts still must comply with St. Joseph County septic/well rules and Michigan’s 6% Use Tax on transient lodging.
Lockport Township does not require long-term rental registration, landlord licensing, or routine rental inspections at the township level.[1] Long-term rentals are governed by Michigan landlord-tenant law (MCL 554) and county environmental health rules.
Rental Regulations
Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)
Short-term rentals are not defined or separately regulated by Lockport Township’s 2023 Zoning Ordinance, so the practical answer is that an STR is treated the same as any other residential occupancy of the underlying dwelling.[1] Single-family detached dwellings are a permitted use in the Agricultural-Residential district (Sec. 95.300 et seq.), the Single-Family Residential district (Sec. 95.400 et seq.), and the Multiple-Family Residential district (Sec. 95.500 et seq.).[1]
Because the ordinance contains no ‘short-term rental,’ ‘vacation rental,’ or ‘tourist home’ use class, the Zoning Administrator’s interpretation of how an STR fits an existing use category controls. Confirm at the parcel level before listing.
Registration & Permit Process
No township-level STR permit, registration, or application exists in Lockport Township.[1][3] The ‘Short Term Rental’ link in the township website’s main navigation currently resolves to a 404, which is consistent with the fact that no STR framework has been adopted. Operators do not file paperwork with the township to begin operating a short-term rental.
Operators still have to handle (a) Michigan Use Tax registration and 6% remittance on transient lodging, (b) any platform-level registrations required by Airbnb, VRBO, or similar, and (c) county septic/well permits through BHSJ if making physical changes to the home’s sewage or water system.[7][8]
Fees & Penalties
There are no township STR registration fees, renewal fees, or per-night surcharges in Lockport Township because no STR ordinance exists.[1] The only fees an STR operator typically encounters at the local level are (a) building/electrical/mechanical permit fees if making physical upgrades to the dwelling,[3] and (b) BHSJ septic or well permit fees if the system is altered or replaced.[7]
If an STR causes a documented zoning, nuisance, or noise issue, enforcement falls under general zoning violations rather than an STR-specific penalty schedule. Persistent violations can be referred to the Code Compliance Officer.[11]
Inspections & Safety Requirements
Lockport Township does not require routine STR safety inspections, certificates of occupancy for rental use, or smoke/CO detector verification at the township level.[1] STR properties using on-site septic and private wells are still subject to BHSJ Environmental Health Code Articles V (sewage) and IX (water wells), which govern construction, replacement, and mortgage-related evaluations.[9]
Operators should still keep working smoke alarms in each sleeping area and a CO alarm near sleeping areas (Michigan building code applies to new construction and major remodels), and maintain a current septic pump record if BHSJ asks for it during a complaint investigation.
Operating Rules (Occupancy, Quiet Hours, Parking)
Lockport Township has not adopted occupancy caps, quiet hours, or off-street parking minimums specific to short-term rentals.[1] The general off-street parking schedule in Sec. 95.1207 of the Zoning Ordinance does set minimums for hotels, motels, and lodging houses, but those categories do not automatically apply to a single-family home being used as an STR.[1]
Practical guidance: post a house-rules sheet that aligns with neighborhood norms (typical quiet hours 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., occupancy keyed to the number of bedrooms, parking limited to the driveway), and remember that disorderly-conduct and noise complaints route to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office for response rather than to a township ordinance officer.
Local Agent / 24-Hour Contact Requirement
No township ordinance requires an STR operator to designate a local contact, responsible party, or 24-hour contact in Lockport Township.[1] This is in contrast to several Berrien and Allegan County tourist municipalities, which do require an in-county responsible party.
For investor-owned STRs operated from out of state, it is still good practice to retain a local property manager or cleaner who can respond to a guest emergency, septic alarm, or weather event the same day. There is no public-facing list of approved local agents because the township does not maintain one.
Recent Changes & What To Watch
As of May 2026, Lockport Township has not introduced, debated, or noticed any short-term rental ordinance. Recent ordinance activity has focused on a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) text amendment (Planning Commission hearing October 2025) and a 38-acre annexation request into the City of Three Rivers for a 95-home affordable-housing development.[6] Neither matter touched rental rules.
Where rental rules could change: monthly Township Board meetings (2nd Monday at 6 p.m.) and quarterly Planning Commission meetings (1st Thursday of January, April, July, and October at 7 p.m.) at the Township Hall.[4] Agendas and committee reports are posted under the General Information section of the township site.
Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)
Long-term rental of a single-family dwelling is allowed in every residential district in Lockport Township as a permitted accessory use of the dwelling itself.[1] Specifically, single-family detached dwellings are permitted in Agricultural-Residential (Sec. 95.300 et seq.), Single-Family Residential (Sec. 95.400 et seq.), and Multiple-Family Residential (Sec. 95.500 et seq.).[1] The Multi-Family district also allows two-family and multi-family structures as permitted uses, subject to lot-area-per-unit minimums.
Lockport Township does not impose a separate use permit for renting an existing legal dwelling to a long-term tenant. Density, setbacks, and parking are still governed by the underlying district standards.
Registration & Permit Process
There is no rental registration, landlord licensing, or annual inspection program at the township level.[1][3] A landlord does not file a rental application or registration form with Lockport Township before leasing a property here. This contrasts with several Kalamazoo County urban municipalities, which require annual rental registration and inspection cycles.
Landlord obligations that still apply: comply with Michigan’s Truth in Renting Act (MCL 554.631 et seq.), provide a written lease for tenancies of more than 12 months, return security deposits within 30 days of the tenant vacating (MCL 554.602 et seq.), and handle evictions through the St. Joseph County District Court rather than self-help lockouts.
Fees & Penalties
No annual rental registration fee, no landlord license fee, and no per-unit inspection fee are charged by Lockport Township.[1] The only township fees a landlord encounters are (a) electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or building permit fees for physical work on the structure,[3] and (b) zoning/site-plan/ZBA application fees for changes requiring zoning approval (set by separate fee schedule, contact the Zoning Administrator).[11]
Penalties for zoning violations follow the general enforcement procedures in the Zoning Ordinance. There is no STR- or LTR-specific penalty schedule.
Inspections & Safety Requirements
Lockport Township does not perform routine LTR safety inspections. There is no certificate-of-compliance, certificate-of-occupancy renewal, or interior inspection cycle for rentals at the township level.[1] Inspections do occur (a) when new construction or a major remodel triggers building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permits, and (b) when BHSJ inspects a septic system for a mortgage-related evaluation or following a complaint.[9]
Landlords are still responsible for keeping the dwelling fit for the use intended under Michigan’s Truth in Renting Act and the implied warranty of habitability, including functioning heat, plumbing, electrical, and weather-tight envelope.
Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources
Landlord-tenant relationships in Lockport Township are governed by Michigan state law, not by a township ordinance. The core statutes are MCL 554.601 et seq. (security deposits, 30-day return rule, itemized damage statements), MCL 554.631 et seq. (Truth in Renting prohibited clauses), and MCL 600.5701 et seq. (summary proceedings to recover possession).
Evictions are filed in St. Joseph County District Court (45th Circuit / 3-B District) in Centreville. Tenants can access Michigan Legal Help (michiganlegalhelp.org) for free guides to summary proceedings, security-deposit disputes, and habitability claims. The township does not maintain a tenant complaint hotline.
Official Resources
Property Tax Treatment
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Buying, selling, or investing in Lockport Township?
Lockport's light-touch rental rules look investor-friendly on paper, but parcel-by-parcel zoning, septic capacity, and Three Rivers annexation pressure can still make or break a deal. I help investors and homeowners navigate short-term and long-term rental rules across St. Joseph County and the rest of southwest Michigan.
Sources & Downloads
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1Lockport Township Zoning Ordinance (2023, complete) https://lockporttwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Zoning-Ord-Complete-2023C.pdfCodified 2023 zoning ordinance. No short-term rental, vacation rental, or tourist home use category. Section 95.300 et seq. (Ag-Residential), 95.400 et seq. (Single-Family Residential), 95.500 et seq. (Multi-Family).Verified: 2026-05-18
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2Lockport Township Zoning Map (2012) https://lockporttwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Lockport-Zoning-Map-2012.pdfOfficial zoning districts map currently published on the township site.Verified: 2026-05-18
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3Lockport Township — Building, Ordinances and Zoning https://lockporttwp.com/building-ordinances-and-zoning/Township page listing permit applications and the absence of any rental application or registration form.Verified: 2026-05-18
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4Lockport Township — Boards & Meeting Schedule https://lockporttwp.com/boards/Confirms Township Board meets 2nd Monday at 6 p.m. and Planning Commission meets 1st Thursday of January, April, July, and October at 7 p.m.Verified: 2026-05-18
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5Lockport Township — Contact Page https://lockporttwp.com/contact/Township Hall address (58982 Holtom Rd, Three Rivers, MI 49093) and elected-official roster with phones and emails.Verified: 2026-05-18
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6Lockport Township annexation hearing held in Three Rivers (Watershed Voice, Oct 18 2024) https://watershedvoice.com/2024/10/18/lockport-township-annexation-hearing-held-in-three-rivers/38-acre annexation request from Lockport Township into the City of Three Rivers for a 95-home affordable-housing development. Most significant recent land-use story in the township.Verified: 2026-05-18
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7BHSJ Sewage Disposal Systems https://bhsj.org/programs/36St. Joseph County on-site septic permit page. Permit required for any new or replacement on-site sewage system.Verified: 2026-05-18
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8BHSJ Water Wells and Water Testing https://bhsj.org/programs/35Private well permits and water testing program for St. Joseph County.Verified: 2026-05-18
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9BHSJ Environmental Health Code https://bhsj.org/uploads/resource/attachment/113/EnvironmentalHealthCode91.pdfCodified environmental health regulations governing septic (Article V) and water wells (Article IX) across the BHSJ three-county district.Verified: 2026-05-18
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10St. Joseph County GIS — FetchGIS Parcel Viewer https://app.fetchgis.com/?currentMap=stjoAuthoritative parcel viewer for St. Joseph County (FetchGIS, not Beacon).Verified: 2026-05-18
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11Lockport Zoning & Building Contact List https://www.lockporttwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Lockport-20.pdfNames and phones for Zoning Administrator, Building Inspector, Plumbing/Mechanical Inspector, and Electrical Inspector serving Lockport Township.Verified: 2026-05-18
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12Lockport Township, Michigan — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockport_Township,_Michigan2020 Census population 3,729; 31.3 sq mi total area; township wraps around the City of Three Rivers at the confluence of the Rocky, Portage, and St. Joseph rivers.Verified: 2026-05-18