City of St. Joseph

New STRs are allowed only in three zoning districts — W (Water Recreation), R-3 (Multiple-Family Residence), and D (Downtown, not on the street-level/first-floor of the building, added January 2024). Every STR in these districts also requires a Conditional Use Permit or Special Use Permit in addition to the separate STR registration. ^[3]

R-1 Single-Family and R-2 (two-family) districts are not eligible for new STR use. Before making an offer on a property being marketed as STR-capable, confirm the parcel’s zoning district against the official City Zoning Map and get written confirmation from the Community Development Director that STR is permitted at that address.

Tap to open the August 2025 City Zoning Map PDF (the City does not publish a separate JPG/PNG).

Submit the STR Rental Registration application AND the Conditional Use Permit – Short-Term Rental application together, in person or by mail, to the Inspection Department at 700 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085. All fees must be paid at application. ^[3][5]

Process summary:

1. Contact Community Development Director first. Staff will confirm whether STR is an allowed use at your specific address and determine if a pre-submittal meeting is required.
2. Submit both applications simultaneously with all supporting material (site plan showing parking, scaled floor plan, fire escape plan, lease template, local-agent form if applicable).
3. Staff review. Application is routed to the City Engineer, Public Works, Public Safety (Police/Fire), and Building Official.
4. Inspection scheduled. Biennial rental inspection conducted per the 2015 Michigan Property Maintenance Code and the City Code.
5. Permits issued. Upon passing inspection, the CUP and STR Rental Certificate are issued together. Certificate is valid for two (2) years. Any change of ownership or unit must be reported within 10 days.

Per the fee schedule adopted and effective February 24, 2025. ^[4] Fees are nonrefundable and due at application.

The Conditional Use Permit itself carries a separate application fee set by the Planning & Zoning annual fee schedule — confirm the current amount with City Hall before submitting.

Every STR must pass a biennial inspection by the Inspection Department or Public Safety Department. Interior and exterior are checked against the 2015 Michigan Property Maintenance Code and Chapter 8, Article VI of the City Code. ^[2][3]

• Working telephone. A working landline phone must be in the unit and furnished at time of inspection.
• Carbon monoxide detectors. Required in every rental unit per the City’s CO Detector Requirements for Rental Certification.
• Occupancy calculation. Based on sleeping rooms and egress; posted occupancy is set at inspection and must not be exceeded in advertising.
• Fire escape plan. Required in the unit, approved at application, and posted prominently.
• Re-inspection. If the property fails, a correction notice is issued and all required permits must be pulled and inspected before the STR Certificate is issued.

If you use a Local Agent, that agent must have a business or residential address in a specific list of nearby municipalities: the Cities of Benton Harbor, Coloma, or St. Joseph; the Townships of Benton, Coloma, Hagar, Lincoln, Royalton, Sodus, or St. Joseph; or the Villages of Shoreham or Stevensville. ^[3]

The designated agent accepts service of notices, process, or legal documents on the owner’s behalf and must notify the City in writing of any changes or resignation. Designation is not revoked until the City receives written notice.

• February 24, 2025: New fee schedule took effect. STR registration $100, biennial inspection $85 first unit / $70 each additional, with $1,000/$2,500 civil citations for operating without a valid permit. ^[4]
• January 2024: The Downtown (D) District was added as an eligible STR zone, but only when the STR unit is not located on the street-level/first-floor of the building, and always subject to Conditional Use / Special Use Permit review. ^[3]
• No published cap: Unlike several neighboring townships, St. Joseph has not adopted a numeric cap on STR permits. The practical constraint is the small footprint of W, R-3, and non-ground-floor D parcels.