Nottawa Township

Short-term rentals operate as a residential use in Nottawa Township’s residential zoning districts (AR, R-1, R-2, R-3). The Zoning Ordinance, last revised April 2025, contains no definition of “short-term rental,” “vacation rental,” “tourist home,” or “bed and breakfast,” and no by-district use chart entry that singles out rentals by duration. ^[2] Under Michigan’s default rule, where the local zoning ordinance is silent, residential rental of a single-family dwelling is generally treated as part of the residential use and is permitted in any district where single-family dwellings are permitted by right.

What this means in practice: on a parcel zoned AR, R-1, R-2, or R-3 with a permitted single-family dwelling, the dwelling can be rented short-term without a township-issued STR permit. Hotels, motels, and motor hotels (commercial lodging) are a separate use that requires a special-use permit in the C (Commercial) district only. ^[2]

📍 Open Nottawa Township Zoning Map (2017 PDF)

There is no township-issued STR permit, registration, or licensing program in Nottawa Township. The Zoning Ordinance (rev April 2025) and the consolidated General Ordinances (Nov 2023) do not require an STR-specific application, fee, or annual renewal. ^{[2] [3]} No portal or paper form has been published by the township for this purpose. Operators do not pre-register a rental with the township before listing.

What operators DO need to confirm with the township before listing:

• Zoning compliance for the parcel. Confirm the dwelling is a permitted use in the parcel’s zoning district. Verify with the Zoning Administrator (Matt Jorgensen, Southwest Michigan Zoning).
• Septic capacity and well water. A short-term rental that materially increases overnight occupancy beyond the design capacity of an on-site septic system may require an evaluation through the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. ^[7]
• Building permits for any modifications. Adding bedrooms, finishing a basement, or converting an accessory structure to sleeping use requires building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits as applicable. ^[5]

What operators also need to handle directly with the State of Michigan or third parties:

• Michigan Use Tax / Transient Lodging. Stays of fewer than 30 days are subject to Michigan’s 6% use tax on accommodations; collection is typically handled via the listing platform or filed directly with Treasury.
• St. Joseph County 5% accommodations tax. Confirm current obligations with the county treasurer; rates and remitter rules change.

No STR permit fee. No STR penalty schedule. Because Nottawa Township has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance, there is no STR-specific fee or fine structure on the books. ^{[2] [3]}

STR operators are still exposed to general civil-infraction penalties under the consolidated General Ordinances when conduct on the property violates other rules:

Fire-response cost recovery is also possible. Under Part 191 of the General Ordinances the township may bill responsible parties for fire-suppression equipment, labor, and supplies actually incurred. ^[3]

No township rental inspection program. Nottawa Township does not perform recurring rental inspections; there is no annual life-safety check tied to renting. ^{[2] [3]} Inspections happen only when triggered by a permit (building / electrical / plumbing / mechanical), a complaint that escalates under the Dangerous Buildings Ordinance, or a septic evaluation request through Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. ^[7]

Practical safety baseline operators should still meet (state code minimums and prudent practice for transient occupancy):

• Working smoke alarms on every level and in each sleeping area; CO alarms near sleeping areas if any fuel-fired appliance or attached garage.
• Fire extinguisher in the kitchen; unobstructed egress windows in every bedroom that meet the Michigan Residential Code minimums (typically 5.7 sq ft openable area, ≤ 44″ sill height).
• Posted occupancy limit consistent with bedroom count and septic design capacity (overloading a residential septic with transient occupancy is the single biggest enforcement risk in rural townships).
• House numbers visible from the road for emergency response; Lake Templene area properties often need reflective signage given long driveways.
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work that triggers permits must use the township’s contract inspectors (Joe Wickey, Ron Bellaire, John Dobberteen). ^[4]

With no STR-specific ordinance, day-to-day operating rules in Nottawa Township come from the General Ordinances (Nov 2023 compilation) and state law. ^[3] The areas that most often trip up short-term rental operators here are noise in or near township parks, junk-vehicle / trash accumulation, and Lake Templene watercraft use.

• Park noise (§ 120.208). No loud or disturbing noise in any township park; sound audible at 50 yards from the source is presumptively a violation. The same standard is a useful benchmark for late-night noise on private parcels near park boundaries.
• Reduced-noise hours on the water (§ 121.204 / § 221.204). Reduced-noise watercraft operation between 5:00 AM and (per ordinance hours) on the Prairie River / Lake Templene access; nuisance and waterfront-resident disturbance are explicit enforcement concerns.
• Junk vehicles & accumulation (Part 140). Junk, trash, abandoned vehicles, or junk motor vehicles cannot accumulate on a parcel for more than 10 days unless inside an enclosed structure. Public nuisance abatement is available to the Supervisor with 48 hours’ notice.
• Dangerous Buildings (Part 190). Structures with unsafe conditions, attractive-nuisance status, or open access to the elements can be ordered repaired or demolished.
• Fishing tournaments on Prairie River / Lake Templene. Organized tournaments require a township permit ($25 + $5 per watercraft) submitted at least 14 days in advance; this affects Lake Templene STR operators marketing the property for tournament use.

Not required by ordinance — strongly recommended in practice. Nottawa Township has not adopted a local-agent or 24-hour-contact mandate for STR operators. ^{[2] [3]} However, because zoning administration, building inspection, and electrical/plumbing/mechanical inspection are split among independent contractors, having a designated local point of contact reachable around the clock is the practical way to keep neighbor complaints from escalating to municipal civil infractions or sheriff dispatches.

Useful day-to-day contacts for operators and guests:

• Township Hall (Mon-Fri business hours): 269-467-7835
• Township Supervisor (Dave Peterson): 269-547-8340 cell, supervisor.nottawatownship@gmail.com ^[4]
• Zoning Administrator (Matt Jorgensen, SW Michigan Zoning): 269-386-1110, swmizoning@gmail.com ^[4]
• Building Inspector (Joe Wickey): 269-816-4951 ^[4]
• St. Joseph County Sheriff non-emergency dispatch: 269-467-1091