Decatur Township

Decatur Township has not adopted a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance. Whether a residential dwelling can legally be rented short-term turns on the use rules in the underlying Zoning Ordinance ^[5] for the parcel’s district, plus the township’s Anti-Noise/Public Nuisance Ordinance ^[6] and Anti-Blight Ordinance ^[7].

The township’s published zoning chapters (17-25) cover Parking, Site Plan Review, Conditional Uses, Nonconformities, the Zoning Board of Appeals, Administration, Amendments, and Violations & Penalties ^[11]. Earlier district-specific chapters are not available as separate machine-readable PDFs on the township site, so by-district permission language must be confirmed with the Zoning Administrator for any specific parcel. For any property in the township, verify the zoning district and confirm whether short-term rental use is permitted in that district directly with the Zoning Administrator before listing.

Important jurisdictional note: Property inside the corporate limits of the Village of Decatur is subject to Village Ordinance 2025-003, which regulates STRs as a defined zoning use inside the village ^[4]. Property in unincorporated Decatur Township (outside village limits) is not subject to that ordinance.

No township-administered STR registration or permit program is currently in force. Decatur Township does not issue or collect short-term rental permits as of May 2026 ^[2][3]. There is no application form, fee schedule, or renewal cycle to file with the township for STR use.

Operators should still complete the standard items every Michigan STR needs:

• Zoning compliance permit for any change of use, accessory structures, or signage — call (269) 423-4621 x6 or email decaturtwpzoning@gmail.com ^[3].
• Septic verification through the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department for any property on private septic ^[10] — failed or undersized septic is the most common surprise on older rural and lakefront properties.
• Well water testing through Van Buren/Cass DHD if on private well ^[10].
• State sales/use tax registration with the Michigan Department of Treasury for stays under 30 days.
• Insurance rider covering short-term rental use.

Watch the township’s Public Notices and Agenda & Minutes pages for any future STR ordinance — once the township adopts one, registration is expected to be required.

Decatur Township does not publish a stand-alone STR fee schedule. The township board reviews and adopts ordinances at monthly meetings (second Thursday at 6:00 PM) ^[14] — if an STR ordinance is adopted later, fees will be added here.

The township does not run an STR-specific inspection program. Until a local STR ordinance is adopted, inspection requirements that affect short-term rentals are limited to the items every dwelling must meet:

• International Property Maintenance Code (2018 edition) — adopted by reference under Ord. 2019-1 ^[8]. Sets minimums for life safety, heating, plumbing, structural condition, and exterior maintenance. Enforced on complaint.
• Building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits for any modifications — issued by State of Michigan inspectors (Decatur Township is a state-inspected jurisdiction) ^[3]. Building inspector: Dave Rigozzi, (269) 348-4394.
• Septic system permits and inspections through the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department for any property on private septic ^[10]. Required for new installations, replacements, and (in many cases) at the time of property transfer.
• Driveway permit through the Van Buren County Road Commission for any new driveway access ^[3].
• Smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide alarms, and egress per Michigan Building Code minimums.

Standard township nuisance and noise rules apply to any rental — short-term or long-term — and are enforced by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office in Decatur Township (the township does not maintain its own police department).

• Anti-Noise / Public Nuisance: Ord. 2002-2 governs unreasonable noise, public nuisances, and disturbances ^[6]. Read it before drafting house rules — it’s the document that controls what guests can and can’t do at unreasonable hours.
• Anti-Blight: Ord. 2009-1 covers exterior conditions, junk vehicles, accumulated debris, and overgrown vegetation ^[7]. Important for absentee STR owners — inherited yard issues are a common citation source.
• Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs): Decatur Township adopted Ord. 2023-2 authorizing ORV operation on the shoulder of certain township roads ^[15]. Hosts of ATV-friendly STRs should review the ordinance for the specific roads where operation is permitted and the speed/operator-rule conditions.
• Trash: private hauler service is standard outside village limits.
• Parking: on-parcel only per Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17 ^[16]; do not block the public right-of-way or fire lanes.
• Septic capacity: short-term rental occupancy on private septic should not exceed the design capacity in the original health department permit.

The Village of Decatur and Decatur Township are two separate jurisdictions, each with its own ordinances and elected officials. The Village sits inside the township geographic area but is its own incorporated municipality. Confirm which jurisdiction your parcel falls in before relying on either set of rules.

• Inside Village of Decatur limits: Village Ordinance 2025-003 (Short-Term Rental Zoning Ordinance) regulates STRs as a defined dwelling-unit use ^[4]. The village ordinance defines STR activity as rentals of 30 days or less, sets out where STR units may operate by zoning district, and includes operating standards. Buyers and operators of property inside village limits must follow the village ordinance and contact the Village of Decatur (separate from Township Hall) for permits.
• Outside village limits (unincorporated Decatur Township): No township-adopted STR-specific ordinance applies as of May 2026 ^[2][3]. Standard township zoning, nuisance, and property-maintenance rules apply.

How to confirm your jurisdiction: use the Van Buren County Interactive Maps Portal to check the parcel record for the municipality field, or call the Township Clerk’s office.