Pop. 54,304 · Kent County
We currently have 1 ordinance verified for Kentwood, MI. Our research team is actively working to add more categories including noise rules, parking restrictions, fence regulations, building permits, and other local ordinances that affect daily life.
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Kentwood allows keeping of domestic animals, fowl or insects (including ducks, chickens, bees, goats and rabbits) only after Zoning Administrator review and approval. Large farm animals such as cows and pigs are not permitted. The keeping is regulated under the city's zoning ordinance and administered by Planning.
Kent County has no county-level beekeeping ordinance; keeping honey bees in Kent County is governed primarily by Michigan state law. The Michigan Apiary Law (Act 412 of 1976, MCL 286.801 et seq.) addresses bee diseases and gives MDARD authority to quarantine or destroy diseased colonies, but does not require residential beekeepers to register their hives. Commercial or for-sale beekeeping operations can qualify for nuisance protection under the Michigan Right to Farm Act (P.A. 93 of 1981, MCL 286.471 et seq.) by following the "Care of Farm Animals" Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs) for apiculture. Within Kent County, hive setbacks, lot-density limits, and whether bees are allowed at all in residential zones are set by each township or city, so beekeepers must also check local zoning.
Kent County imposes an 8% accommodations excise tax on every person engaged in the business of providing rooms for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The tax is authorized by Michigan Public Act 263 of 1974 (MCL 141.861 et seq.) as amended by 2024 HB 5048, was raised from 5% to 8% effective January 1, 2025 after voter approval on August 6, 2024, and is collected by the Kent County Treasurer. Airbnb, Vrbo, Evolve and other STR operators must register, file monthly returns by the 15th of the following month, and remit to the County. Michigan's 6% state Use Tax (PA 94 of 1937, MCL 205.91-.111) applies on top.
Kent County, MI does not issue a county short-term rental permit. The only county-level requirement on STR hosts is the Lodging Excise Tax (Hotel-Motel Tax) under Michigan Public Act 263 of 1974, increased from 5% to 8% effective January 1, 2025. STR operating permits and registration are handled by individual cities and townships within the county.
In Kent County, MI parks, Section 14 of the Kent County Parks & Recreation Regulations prohibits building, causing to be built, or setting any fire except within established barbecue grills. Fires may not be left unattended and must be thoroughly extinguished before leaving the site. The regulations were originally approved February 10, 2020 and most recently amended September 6, 2021. There is no county-wide fire-pit or open-burning ordinance for private property in Kent County — those rules are set by each township.
Michigan Fireworks Safety Act (PA 256 of 2011), amended by PA 65 of 2018 (MCL §28.451 et seq.), legalized consumer-grade 1.4G fireworks statewide for adults 18+. Cities may restrict use OUTSIDE protected days — day before, day of, day after specified federal holidays (max ~30 days).
Michigan requires DNR burn permits for outdoor burning of yard debris in most of the state. Permits are issued daily based on fire weather and are mandatory north of a specified line.
Kent County does not have its own pool ordinance; instead, all PUBLIC swimming pools in the county are licensed and inspected by the Kent County Health Department under Michigan Public Health Code, Act 368 of 1978, Part 125 (MCL 333.12501 et seq.). MCL 333.12527 forbids operating a public pool without an annual license, and MCL 333.12522 requires a construction permit from EGLE before building or altering a public pool. Backyard pools at 1- to 4-family homes are NOT "public" under MCL 333.12521(2)(a) — those are permitted by the municipality where the pool sits under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (PA 230 of 1972).
Residential swimming pool, spa, and hot tub barriers in Kent County are governed by Appendix G of the Michigan Residential Code (Section AG105), which is adopted statewide under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (1972 PA 230). Any outdoor in-ground, on-ground, or above-ground pool, hot tub, or spa with water deeper than 24 inches must be surrounded by a barrier at least 48 inches high, with self-closing/self-latching gates and openings small enough to prevent passage of a 4-inch sphere. The code is enforced by the building department of each individual city or township within Kent County (Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Walker, etc.), not by the county itself.
Every public swimming pool and public spa pool in Kent County — including hotel, motel, apartment, condominium, fitness-club, campground, school, and municipal pools — must be licensed and inspected by the Kent County Health Department under Michigan Public Health Code Part 125 (Act 368 of 1978, MCL 333.12521–.12534) and the state Public Swimming Pool Rules (Mich. Admin. Code R 325.2111 et seq.). The Health Department conducts annual licensing inspections, investigates complaints/injuries/illnesses, requires monthly water testing and operation reports, and can order a pool closed for non-compliance.
Michigan's adopted residential code applies the same barrier rules to above-ground pools deeper than 24 inches. Removable ladders or barrier compliance is required statewide.
Michigan adopts the IRC, which exempts hot tubs and spas with locking safety covers meeting ASTM F1346 from the standard pool barrier requirements that apply to other water features.
Kent County does not have a general county-wide tree-trimming ordinance covering private property — that is set by individual township and city codes. However, the Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) has direct jurisdiction over trees within county road rights-of-way under MCL 247.241, and its Tree Cutting Policy requires a permit before any property owner trims, removes, or otherwise works on vegetation in the easement or statutory right-of-way of a county road. The same permit umbrella covers all work in the county ROW, not just tree work.
Michigan's Right to Farm Act preempts local ordinances regulating commercial farm composting following Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices, under MCL 286.471 et seq.
Converting a Michigan garage to habitable space requires building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits under the statewide Michigan Residential Code regardless of locality.
Michigan applies the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Construction Code Act statewide. Detached accessory sheds 200 square feet or smaller are exempt from state building permits under the residential code.
Michigan tiny homes built on permanent foundations must meet the Michigan Residential Code, including Appendix Q for dwellings 400 square feet or less, applied uniformly statewide.
Michigan's Cottage Food Law allows direct sales of qualifying non-hazardous foods from home kitchens without licensing, preempting local health permit demands.
Michigan's Child Care Organizations Act preempts local zoning that would exclude licensed family or group child care homes from residential districts.
Michigan's Vehicle Code establishes uniform statewide procedures for declaring, towing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles, preempting most local rules.
Michigan statutorily defines EV charging station signage and prohibits non-electric vehicles from blocking designated charging spaces statewide.
Commercial drone operators in Michigan follow FAA Part 107 plus state UAS Act rules, with local commercial-drone ordinances preempted.
Michigan Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (PA 436 of 2016, MCL §259.301–259.327) creates a comprehensive state framework for drones and preempts local ordinances regulating UAS ownership or operation. FAA preempts navigable airspace, leaving local governments only authority over takeoff/landing on public property they control.
Michigan minimum wage is set by the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (PA 337 of 2018). The Local Labor Regulatory Limitation Act (PA 105 of 2015, MCL §123.1381+) preempts local wage and scheduling ordinances. The 2024 Mothering Justice ruling restored 2018 ballot initiatives, scheduling step-ups toward $12.48 by 2028.
Michigan preempts local paid leave ordinances; statewide paid sick leave is governed by the Earned Sick Time Act under MCL 408.961.
Michigan's Local Government Labor Regulatory Limitation Act preempts local predictive scheduling and fair workweek ordinances under MCL 123.1387.
Michigan's Part 323 NREPA preempts local coastal rules in designated high-risk erosion, flood-risk, and environmental areas along the Great Lakes.
Michigan's Part 91 of NREPA imposes uniform statewide soil erosion permits for earth changes near water or disturbing one acre or more.
Michigan requires EGLE permits for occupation, filling, or construction within the 100-year floodplain of any river or stream statewide.
Michigan administers federal stormwater rules under Part 31 of NREPA, requiring statewide MS4 and construction permits that local rules cannot weaken.
Michigan issues Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPLs) under MCL 28.425 series, with statewide rules that local governments cannot override or supplement.
Michigan firearms preemption (MCL §123.1101–123.1104) prohibits local units of government from imposing any ordinance, regulation, or policy on the purchase, registration, ownership, possession, transportation, transfer, or licensing of firearms, ammunition, or their components. The legislature occupies the field. Limited carriage of firearms inside government buildings is the principal local-authority carveout.
Michigan generally permits open carry of legally owned firearms in public, with state law preempting local restrictions per MCL 123.1102.
Michigan law under MCL 750.227 makes it a felony to carry a concealed pistol in a vehicle without a valid Concealed Pistol License or other statutory exemption.
Michigan's blight law (MCL 117.4q) gives home rule cities authority to designate blight as a municipal civil infraction. The statute provides uniform statewide enforcement framework while specific standards remain local.
Michigan's natural accumulation doctrine generally protects property owners from slip-and-fall liability for snow on adjacent sidewalks, while leaving local snow-clearing ordinances enforceable as municipal civil infractions.
Michigan eviction procedure is governed uniformly by the Summary Proceedings Act. Landlords must follow statutory notice and court process under MCL 600.5701 through 600.5759.
Michigan law preempts all local rent control. No city, township, or village may enact ordinances limiting rent on private residential property under Public Act 226 of 1988.
Michigan's Right to Farm Act (MCL 286.474) preempts local zoning that conflicts with Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices on protected farms.
The Michigan Right to Farm Act (Act 93 of 1981, MCL §286.471 et seq.) provides nuisance protection for qualifying commercial farms following Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs). Section 4(6) preempts local ordinances that conflict with the Act or with GAAMPs, including most attempts to restrict commercial agricultural operations.
Michigan PA 389 of 2016 (MCL 445.572b) prohibits local governments from banning, taxing, or regulating plastic bags and other auxiliary containers.
Michigan's auxiliary container preemption law, MCL 445.572b, also prevents local bans on polystyrene foam food containers.
Plastic straws are auxiliary containers under MCL 445.572b, so local bans or fees on straws are preempted statewide in Michigan.
Michigan aligned with federal Tobacco 21 via PA 17 of 2019 and PA 90 of 2020, amending MCL §722.641 (Youth Tobacco Act) to set the minimum age for purchase, possession, or use of tobacco and vapor products at 21. Local governments cannot lower the age but may add retail licensing.
Michigan currently has no statewide ban on flavored tobacco or vape products; an attempted 2019 emergency ban was struck down in court.
Michigan regulates retail sale of vapor products and alternative nicotine products under the Youth Tobacco Act, MCL 722.641 and MCL 333.12601.
Michigan's 10-cent bottle deposit applies statewide to most carbonated beverage containers. Retailers must accept returns and refund deposits, preempting any local conflicting rules.
Michigan prohibits disposal of yard clippings in landfills statewide. Generators must compost, use curbside collection, or take material to permitted facilities.