Sturgis

Sturgis has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance, so STRs are governed by the city’s underlying residential and business zoning districts and the citywide Property Maintenance Program.^[6] The city’s zoning is laid out in Appendix A of the code (Article III, Designation of Districts), and the current districts include R-1 Rural Residential, R-2 Subdivision, R-3 Residential, R-4 Apartment, R-5 Residential, plus business districts B-C, B-H1, B-H2, B-N, B-OS, manufacturing (M), and three Planned Development Districts.^[7]

Whether a specific parcel can be operated as an STR depends on its district and any associated special-use conditions. Confirm the zoning of any property on the city’s current zoning map before listing, and call the Community Development Department for a written zoning determination if there is any doubt.^[5]

Apply through the city’s OnCamino online permitting portal at app.oncamino.com/sturgis-mi, or submit by mail or in person to the Community Development Department at 130 N Nottawa St, Sturgis, MI 49091.^[4] Required information on the rental registration form includes the rental address, owner name and address, name and address of anyone authorized to collect rent, the local responsible agent (must be reachable within 30 minutes by motor vehicle), the number of units in each building, and the lienholder’s contact info if applicable.^[2]

Registration is effective for one year and must be renewed on the first day of the month immediately preceding the expiration date.^[2] Any change to ownership or registration information must be reported within 30 days, or the unit can be cited as a ‘rental without compliance.’^[2]

Per the City of Sturgis 2025 Community Development Fee Schedule:^[8]

• Rental Registration Fee: $25.00 per unit
• Rental Inspection Fee: $50.00 per unit (waived if the property earns Premier Status with an inspection score under 20 points)^[2]
• Rental Inspection No-show Fee: $100.00
• Rental Request for Copies: $10.00
• Rental without Compliance Fee: $250.00
• Unregistered Rental Initial Registration Fee: $250.00 per unit
• Late Payment Fee: $25.00

If payment is not received within 60 days of the registration due date, the unit is treated as unregistered and is cited as a rental without compliance.^[2]

Every registered rental must hold a current Certificate of Compliance issued by the city after a property maintenance inspection.^[2] Inspections are scheduled at the time of application and are conducted under the city’s Property Maintenance Code, which is adapted from the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments.^[9]

Sturgis uses a Performance-Based Property Maintenance Program with three status tiers based on inspection scores: Premier Status (score under 20 points, inspection fee waived), Compliant Status (the standard tier, two-year certificate), and Monitored Status (50+ points, annual recertification with the standard inspection fee charged each year).^[2] Category I violations (immediate threat to life, health, or safety) automatically put the unit into Monitored Status and mark it unfit for habitation until cleared.^[2]

Re-inspections are charged separately when violations are not corrected by the deadline.^[2] The city must give at least nine days’ written notice before an inspection unless there is an unreasonable threat to occupant health and safety.^[2]

Standard rental units are recertified every two years.^[2] The city is divided into four wards: Wards 1 and 3 are recertified in odd years, Wards 2 and 4 in even years.^[2] At least 30 days before a Certificate of Compliance expires, the city notifies the owner to apply for renewal and arrange the compliance inspection. It is the owner’s or local agent’s responsibility to apply before the existing certificate expires.^[2]

Monitored Status properties recertify annually rather than every two years. A unit is removed from Monitored Status once it passes two consecutive Monitored Status certification inspections, each with a score below 50 points.^[2]

Every registered rental in Sturgis must designate a Responsible Local Agent.^[2] The agent must live or do business within 30 minutes’ drive of the City of Sturgis, must accept legal notices and service of process on the owner’s behalf, must provide access for any inspection required under the Property Maintenance Code, and must maintain a current list of occupant names and counts for each unit they are responsible for.^[2] The Certificate of Compliance, plus the local agent’s name, address, and phone, must be kept on site in each rental unit or building at all times.^[2]

If a rental unit changes ownership and a current Certificate of Compliance is in place, the standard compliance inspection is waived; the new owner may optionally request a Special Transfer Inspection to reset the property’s score and status.^[2] If there is no current Certificate of Compliance at the time of transfer, the city will inspect the property and issue any violations to both the current owner and the prospective buyer.^[2]

New owners must update the rental registration within 10 days of transfer, or the registration and Certificate of Compliance are treated as expired 60 days after the transfer date.^[2]