Porter Township

STRs are permitted township-wide on Single-Family Dwellings, subject to annual registration under Ordinance 2022-1 ^[2] AND compliance with the Porter Township Zoning Ordinance. Section 5(a) of the STR ordinance specifies that nothing in Ordinance 2022-1 excuses compliance with the underlying zoning ordinance ^[2], so a parcel’s zoning district still has to permit the residential dwelling use in the first place.

The full zoning ordinance is codified through Municode and should be reviewed at the parcel level. For any specific property, confirm the zoning district on the Van Buren County Parcel Viewer, then verify residential use with the Zoning Administrator before underwriting.

Submit the Short Term Rental Application by mail or in person to Porter Township at 88040 M-40 Highway, Lawton, MI 49065, along with a $150 annual fee ^[3]. Online submission is not currently offered. The Building Official must certify compliance before the registration is issued ^[3].

Required with the application ^[2][3]:

• Owner name, address, telephone, and email.
• If owner lives more than 30 minutes from the dwelling, designation of a local agent who can be on-site within one hour of being contacted by the Township or law enforcement.
• Property address and parcel/tax number.
• Number of off-street parking spaces (all parking must fit within the lot boundary).
• Maximum number of occupants and visitors.
• Number of bedrooms and their location.
• Type of trash receptacle.
• Date range / months of intended rental.
• Copy of the rental agreement and any online or other advertising.
• Survey or drawing showing building location and parking areas.

All ordinance violations are classified as municipal civil infractions ^[2]. Fines and fees are subject to approval by the Township Clerk and Attorney ^[2].

The Building Official must certify the dwelling complies with the Ordinance and all other Township ordinances before the registration is approved ^[3]. Each STR application carries a signature line for the Building Official’s certification.

Operational requirements under Ordinance 2022-1 ^[2]:

• Insurance. The dwelling must carry insurance that covers short-term-rental perils.
• Parking. All parking must fit within the boundary of the lot; off-street parking count must be disclosed on the application and in rental advertising.
• Trash. The trash receptacle must be appropriately sized for the occupancy level of the unit.
• Compliance certification. Owner certifies the dwelling complies with the STR ordinance and all other township ordinances.

Lakefront or lake-area properties on Gravel, Cedar, or Bankson Lakes that operate on private well and septic should also pursue a Short-Term Rental Inspection through the Van Buren / Cass District Health Department ^[7].

Porter Township STR operations are governed by Ordinance 2022-1 ^[2]:

• Minimum rental period: 7 consecutive days. Nightly and weekend-only stays are prohibited.
• Quiet hours: 11 PM to 7 AM. Yelling, shouting, singing, and outdoor music are prohibited during these hours; at any time, sound that unreasonably upsets the quiet of others is prohibited.
• Occupancy advertising. Maximum occupants and visitors must be stated on the application AND in the rental agreement and any advertising. Owners cannot advertise occupancy above the registered figure.
• Parking. All parking must fit on the lot itself — no street or right-of-way overflow. The off-street parking count must appear in the rental agreement and any advertising.
• Single-Family Dwellings only. The STR ordinance applies only to Single-Family Dwellings; multi-family or duplex STRs are outside its scope.

If the owner resides more than 30 minutes from the rental dwelling, the owner must designate a local agent in writing on the registration application ^[2]. The owner, the local agent, or a designee of either must be able to be on-site within one hour of being contacted by the Township or law enforcement concerning the rental.

Complaint and enforcement contacts:

• Zoning Admin (questions about STRs): Bob Angle — (269) 303-9876 ^[4]
• Building Official: Garrett Reitenour — (269) 720-5791 | BuildingOfficial@portertwpvbco.gov ^[4]
• Blight & Ordinance Enforcement: Zoning Solutions, LLC — (269) 535-7463 | mizoningsolutions@gmail.com ^[4]
• Van Buren County Sheriff (non-emergency): dispatch via county; 911 for emergencies.

Porter Township’s STR framework has been stable since adoption:

• January 12, 2022: Township Board adopted Ordinance 2022-1, the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. Roll-call vote unanimous ^[2].
• Effective date: Thirty (30) days after publication of the adopted ordinance ^[2].
• 2025 Application form revision: The current STR application is Rev. 7-2025, with a $150 annual fee ^[3].
• No permit cap. Applications are processed as submitted, year over year.

Revocation process ^[2]:

1. Two separate incidents (on two separate days) within a calendar year resulting in a plea of responsibility, a plea of guilty/no contest, or a court finding of responsibility for any ordinance/state/federal-law violation by the owner or any renter can trigger revocation.
2. The Township issues a notice of intent to revoke. The owner has 14 days to request a show-cause hearing before the Township Board (or its designated Tribunal).
3. If the Tribunal revokes, the dwelling cannot be re-registered as an STR for up to one year and cannot be used for short-term rentals until re-registered.