Rental Investment Guide

Sodus Township

Short-term & long-term rental regulations, fees, and investor resources for Berrien County, Michigan.

Updated April 2026
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Township Office
269-926-6285
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Township Office
office@sodustwp.org
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Directions
4056 King Drive, Sodus, MI 49126 (PO Box 176)
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Township Website
www.sodustwp.org

Area Overview

Sodus Township sits in the north-central portion of Berrien County, east of Benton Harbor along the Pipestone Creek drainage. It is a rural-agricultural township of working orchards, row-crop farms, and dispersed single-family housing on large lots, with no Lake Michigan frontage and no dense village commercial core. The township office and Township Hall are located at 4056 King Drive in the unincorporated community of Sodus [1].

Because the Sodus Township market is inland agricultural rather than resort or tourism-driven, the township has not adopted a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance. Rental activity is regulated through two overlapping frameworks: Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning) [2], which governs which uses are permitted by-right or by special land use in each zoning district, and Ordinance No. 40 (the International Property Maintenance Code, adopted by reference) [3], which sets the habitability baseline for any occupied residential structure. Investors should verify any specific parcel's zoning district and permitted-use chart directly with the township's Building & Zoning Inspector before underwriting a rental strategy, because the dwelling and lodging permissions actually live inside the Zoning Ordinance's use tables rather than in a separate rental code.

Quick Status Summary

Short-Term Rentals UNVERIFIED

No stand-alone short-term rental ordinance has been adopted by Sodus Township. Whether a nightly/weekly rental use is permitted on any specific parcel is controlled by the zoning district's permitted-use chart in Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning) [2]. Confirm with the Building & Zoning Inspector before listing.

Long-Term Rentals ALLOWED

Long-term residential rentals (30+ days) are allowed wherever Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning) permits residential dwelling use on the parcel [2]. Sodus Township does not operate a dedicated LTR registration or inspection program; the Michigan Housing Law baseline [4] and Ordinance No. 40 (IPMC) [3] apply.

Rental Regulations

1 Where STRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Sodus Township does not have a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance. Whether an STR use is permitted on a given parcel is governed by the zoning district and the by-district permitted-use chart inside Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning) [2].

The township’s zoning framework is published as a single consolidated PDF on the Ordinance PDFs page [2]. Because the consolidated zoning ordinance is distributed as one document, the specific by-district permissions (which districts allow Commercial Lodging, Tourist Home, Bed & Breakfast, or similar uses; which require a Special Land Use permit; and which prohibit transient lodging outright) need to be read from the ordinance itself and confirmed in writing with the Building & Zoning Inspector for a specific parcel.

Investor takeaway: Do not assume that a rural-residential or agricultural parcel in Sodus Township automatically allows nightly or weekly rentals. The permitted-use chart controls, and verification with the Building & Zoning Inspector (Caleb O’Toole, 269-208-9230) is the only way to get a defensible answer before closing.

Sodus Township Zoning Map (PDF)

Open the Sodus Township Zoning Map (PDF) to view district boundaries.

📄 Ordinance No. 1 — Zoning (PDF)🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📧 Ask Zoning Inspector
2 Registration & Permit Process

No dedicated short-term rental registration or licensing program has been adopted by Sodus Township. The Permits, Fees and Forms page publishes application forms for Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing permits, and a 2024 Fee Schedule of Permits — but it does not include a rental-registration or STR permit application [5].

That does not mean any use is automatically permitted. Before operating a short-term or transient rental at a Sodus Township parcel, investors should:

  • Confirm the parcel’s zoning district with the Building & Zoning Inspector and read the permitted-use chart for that district in Ordinance No. 1 [2].
  • Request confirmation in writing that the intended rental use is either permitted by-right or eligible for a Special Land Use permit — and if it is the latter, follow the SLU review and public hearing path before listing.
  • Pull any required Building, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits for renovations or systems upgrades using the township’s permit forms [5].
📋 Permits, Fees & Forms📧 Email Zoning Inspector📞 Caleb O’Toole (Zoning)
3 Fees & Penalties

Sodus Township does not publish an STR-specific fee. The only rental-related fees an investor should expect to encounter are the standard building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit fees tied to any renovation or code-compliance work, as listed in the township’s 2024 Fee Schedule of Permits [5].

STR-specific registration feeNot published — none currently established
Building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing permitsPer 2024 Fee Schedule [5]
Zoning violation / ordinance violationCivil infraction enforced by the Township Ordinance Officer (William Tucker, 269-326-6154)
Property-maintenance violationRemedies under Ordinance No. 40 / International Property Maintenance Code [3]
📄 2024 Fee Schedule of Permits (PDF)📞 Ordinance Officer
4 Operating Rules & General Ordinances

Even without an STR-specific chapter, several township and state-level obligations still apply to any rental use in Sodus Township:

  • Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning) — district-by-district permitted and special land uses, accessory-dwelling rules, and dimensional standards [2].
  • Ordinance No. 40 (International Property Maintenance Code, adopted by reference) — minimum standards for existing residential structures: egress, electrical, plumbing, roofing, sanitation, heating, and occupancy [3]. This is the primary tool the Ordinance Officer uses to act on complaints about rental conditions.
  • Ordinance No. 36 (Water) and Ordinance No. 38 (ORV) apply where relevant to the property [6][7].
  • Michigan Housing Law of 1966 — statewide baseline for all residential rentals regardless of local licensing [4].
  • Michigan Use Tax (6%) — short-term rentals of less than 30 days are subject to the state use tax on the accommodation charge, collected by the operator.
📄 All Township Ordinance PDFs📄 Ordinance No. 40 — IPMC📄 MI Housing Law (MCL Act 167)
1 Where LTRs Are Allowed (Zoning)

Long-term rentals (30+ days) are permitted wherever Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning) allows residential dwelling use on the parcel [2]. In a rural township like Sodus, that generally means parcels zoned for single-family residential or agricultural-residential use — but the permitted-use chart inside the consolidated zoning ordinance is the controlling document, and the Building & Zoning Inspector is the person who can verify a parcel’s district for you.

Sodus Township does not operate a separate long-term-rental licensing or annual-registration program, so the compliance path for an LTR is:

  • Confirm the zoning district permits residential dwelling use under Ordinance No. 1 [2].
  • Meet the Michigan Housing Law baseline that applies to every residential rental statewide [4].
  • Meet the International Property Maintenance Code standards adopted by reference under Ordinance No. 40 [3].

Sodus Township Zoning Map (PDF)

Open the Sodus Township Zoning Map (PDF) to view district boundaries.

📄 Ordinance No. 1 — Zoning (PDF)🗺 Zoning Map (PDF)📧 Ask Zoning Inspector
2 Registration & Permit Process (LTR)

Sodus Township does not operate a dedicated long-term-rental registration or inspection program. Long-term landlords are regulated through three overlapping sources:

  • Michigan Housing Law of 1966 — statewide habitability baseline for all residential rentals [4].
  • Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning) — parcel-level use permission, setbacks, accessory-dwelling standards, and any Special Land Use requirements [2].
  • Ordinance No. 40 (IPMC) — minimum condition standards enforced by the Ordinance Officer for existing residential structures [3].
  • Michigan landlord-tenant law — leases, security deposits, notices, and evictions under MCL 554.601 et seq. and the Summary Proceedings Act [8].

Because there is no township-run LTR application or inspection cycle, the practical starting point is the Building & Zoning Inspector for zoning-use confirmation and the township office for permit forms. Tenant-facing rights and the eviction process follow Michigan state law unchanged.

📋 Permits, Fees & Forms📧 Email Zoning Inspector📞 (269) 208-9230
3 Inspections & Safety Standards

There is no routine township-run LTR inspection cycle in Sodus Township. Enforcement is complaint-driven and flows from Ordinance No. 40 (IPMC) [3] and the general enforcement authority of the Ordinance Officer and the Michigan Housing Law [4]. Baseline obligations that still apply to every rental unit in the township:

  • Working smoke alarms in every sleeping area, outside each sleeping area, and on every floor.
  • At least one carbon monoxide detector on each floor with fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage.
  • No peeling paint (lead-paint disclosure for pre-1978 dwellings), no exposed electrical wiring, no missing outlet/fixture covers.
  • Safe egress from every bedroom under the Michigan Residential Code.
  • Potable water supply and a functioning on-site sewage system. On-site septic permits and inspections are handled by the Berrien County Health Department [9]; the majority of Sodus Township parcels are on private well and septic.
🏥 Berrien County — On-Site Septic📄 Ordinance No. 40 — IPMC📄 MI Housing Law
4 Tenant Rights & Eviction Resources

Michigan landlord-tenant relationships in Sodus Township are governed by state law (MCL 554.601 et seq.) and the Summary Proceedings Act for evictions. The Michigan Legislature publishes a free Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords covering leases, security deposits, repairs, notices, and the eviction process [8]. Sodus Township does not modify those rights by local ordinance; local ordinance-enforcement actions (blight, nuisance, IPMC, zoning) run in parallel with civil landlord-tenant proceedings rather than as a substitute for them.

📄 MI Tenant & Landlord Guide (PDF)⚖️ Michigan Legal Help — Housing

Official Resources

Ordinances
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Ordinance No. 1 — Zoning (all)
Consolidated zoning ordinance — district use charts & standards
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Ordinance No. 40 — International Property Maintenance Code
Minimum standards for existing residential structures
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Ordinance No. 36 — Water
Township water ordinance
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Ordinance No. 37 — Prohibition of Marihuana Establishments
Opt-out ordinance
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Ordinance No. 38 — ORV
Off-road vehicle regulation
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Ordinance No. 42 — Ground-Mounted Energy Systems Standards
Amendment re: ground-mounted solar
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Ordinance No. 43 — Moratorium on Solar Energy Facilities
Current solar moratorium (adopted 9/10/2025)
Forms & Applications
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Permits, Fees & Forms (township page)
Building / mechanical / electrical / plumbing
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Building Permit Application
PDF — Sodus Township
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Mechanical Permit Application
PDF — Sodus Township
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Electrical Permit Application
PDF — Sodus Township
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Plumbing Permit Application
PDF — Sodus Township
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Property Split Application
PDF — Sodus Township
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2024 Fee Schedule of Permits
Current permit fee table
Maps
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Sodus Township Zoning Map
PDF — district boundaries
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Berrien County GIS
Parcels, utilities, sewer, tax info
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Berrien County Municipality Maps
Sodus Township boundary & base map
Portals & Lookups
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Berrien County — Sodus Township Community Profile
Demographics, zoning overview, officials
Contact & Directions
📞
Township Office
(269) 926-6285
📞
Building & Zoning Inspector — Caleb O'Toole
(269) 208-9230
📞
Ordinance Officer — William Tucker
(269) 326-6154
📧
Township Office Email
office@sodustwp.org
📧
Township Clerk
clerk@sodustwp.org
📧
Building & Zoning Inspector Email
sodustwp@gmail.com
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Directions to Township Hall
4056 King Drive, Sodus, MI 49126
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Main Municipal Site
sodustwp.org
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Berrien County Health — On-Site Septic
Septic & well permits

Property Tax Treatment

i
Important for investors: A property used as a rental in Michigan is generally classified as non-homestead, which is taxed at the full local millage rate (no Principal Residence Exemption). Short-term rental income may also be subject to the Michigan Use Tax on transient accommodations. Consult a CPA before underwriting any deal — these are not opinions, they are starting points for your own tax research.
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Michigan Property Tax Guide
PRE, millage, transfer rules
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Michigan Treasury
State tax info

Explore Rental Guides — Berrien County

All 39 municipalities in Berrien County. Click any to view its rental guide — or request one if it’s not yet live.

STRs Allowed
STRs Capped/Limited
STRs Restricted
Guide Coming Soon

Considering an investment property in Sodus Township?

I help investors and owners evaluate rental rules, zoning, and the specific cost of compliance before making an offer — inland Berrien County included.

Schedule a Consultation Call (269) 235-9910

Sources & Downloads

  1. 1
    Sodus Township — Home & Contact pages (sodustwp.org)
    https://www.sodustwp.org/contact
    Township office address (4056 King Drive, PO Box 176, Sodus, MI 49126), phone (269-926-6285), fax (269-926-1825), office@sodustwp.org.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  2. 2
    Sodus Township — Ordinance No. 1 (Zoning, all ordinances)
    https://www.sodustwp.org/_files/ugd/c714fb_9a7a169e7e674d48afe16d99674d3244.pdf
    Consolidated township zoning ordinance — by-district use chart and standards.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  3. 3
    Sodus Township — Ordinance No. 40 (International Property Maintenance Code)
    https://www.sodustwp.org/_files/ugd/c714fb_960ae70b8f8544e3bf9a61af23f6a217.pdf
    Adopts the IPMC by reference — minimum condition standards for existing residential structures.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  4. 4
    Michigan Legislature — Michigan Housing Law of 1966 (MCL Act 167 of 1917, as amended)
    https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-act-167-of-1917.pdf
    Statewide baseline habitability standards for residential rental housing in Michigan.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  5. 5
    Sodus Township — Permits, Fees, and Forms
    https://www.sodustwp.org/permitsandforms
    Building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, property split, and 2024 Fee Schedule. No STR or rental-registration form is listed.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  6. 6
    Sodus Township — Ordinance No. 36 (Water)
    https://www.sodustwp.org/_files/ugd/c714fb_5da6ffdf66be42aa91e8fcd2b848c0ba.pdf
    Township water ordinance.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  7. 7
    Sodus Township — Ordinance No. 38 (ORV)
    https://www.sodustwp.org/_files/ugd/6650bf_a1e5579762394b179ba1a6e9c5fdd5ac.pdf
    Off-road vehicle regulation.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  8. 8
    Michigan Legislature — A Practical Guide for Tenants & Landlords
    https://www.legislature.mi.gov/publications/tenantlandlord.pdf
    State landlord-tenant law — leases, security deposits, notices, eviction process.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
  9. 9
    Berrien County Health Department — On-Site Septic
    https://www.berriencounty.org/760/On-Site-Septic
    Septic system permitting authority for parcels outside municipal sewer.
    Verified: 2026-04-21
How this guide is produced. This rental guide is researched and drafted with assistance from Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic, working from the official municipal sources linked in this page. AI can make mistakes — any fact that would materially affect a purchase or rental decision should be verified against the official source cited above and confirmed directly with the municipality. See an error? Email a correction.