10 rules for unincorporated Ottawa County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Ottawa County does not regulate short-term rentals; each city or township does under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. The City of Holland requires a Short Term Rental Certificate of Compliance, while Park Township on the lakeshore bans STRs in all residential districts, allowing them only in its C-2 Resort Commercial
Michigan has no statewide numeric residential noise limit, so Ottawa County short-term rentals must follow the city or township noise ordinance where they sit. In Holland, repeated public-safety visits, including noise complaints, can cost an owner their STR Certificate of Compliance.
Michigan imposes a 6% use tax on lodging furnished for a continuous period of one month or less, which covers Ottawa County short-term rentals. Hosts (or platforms like Airbnb) collect it and remit to the Michigan Department of Treasury. Ottawa County levies no separate local lodging tax; municipal fees are
MCL 205.93a
Rooms or lodging furnished by hotelkeepers, motel operators, and other persons furnishing accommodations that are available to the public on the basis of a commercial and business enterprise, irrespective of whether or not membership is required for use of the accommodations, except rooms and lodging rented for a continuous period of more than 1 month.
Ottawa County has no short-term-rental parking rule. Parking is governed by each city or township's zoning ordinance, which typically requires off-street parking for a dwelling and prohibits blocking streets, driveways and emergency access. Lakeshore units like Park Township and Holland enforce these standards against overflow guest parking.
Ottawa County sets no STR occupancy cap; it is fixed by your city or township. In Holland, the maximum occupancy of a short-term rental is the lesser of the property-maintenance space limit (based on square footage under the housing code) or the number of people allowed as a 'family' under
Neither Ottawa County nor the State of Michigan requires a specific insurance policy to operate a short-term rental. Any proof-of-insurance requirement comes from the municipal registration program or your platform. Standard homeowner policies often exclude commercial rental use, so hosts commonly add short-term-rental or landlord coverage.
Ottawa County sets no annual night cap. Holland lets an owner-occupied host rent the entire home no more than 60 days per year (or a room year-round), and allows a Tulip Time exception of up to 10 days without a certificate. Park Township defines a short-term rental as 27 nights
In the City of Holland, a short-term rental owner must register the unit with the Community and Neighborhood Services Department and pass an inspection before a Certificate of Compliance is issued. Park Township requires no registration because residential STRs are simply not allowed there.
Some Ottawa County municipalities require the host or a designated local agent to be reachable. Holland's owner-occupied STRs require the owner to live in the home, and its investor-owned rentals must name a local agent who lives within 35 miles and is available 24/7. Georgetown requires the owner's presence via
Whether a short-term rental must be your primary residence depends on the municipality. Georgetown Charter Township requires the STR/bed-and-breakfast to be the owner's principal residence. In Holland, owner-occupied STRs (your primary residence) are allowed in any zone, while investor-owned whole-home STRs are tightly capped.
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