Short-Term Rental Policies in Antrim County

None of the links to their Code of Ordinances or Zoning Permits work on the Village of Central Lake website.

The Village of Elk Rapids Zoning Code was updated to include Ordinance #503 (effective date July 30th, 2020) and Ordinance #502 (effective date September 12th, 2020) respectively. Ordinance #503 establishes a text amendment to the Zoning Code of Ordinances, Section 426 - Short Term Rental Business. Ordinance #502 is an amendment to the General Code of the Village of Elk Rapids regulating various aspects of short-term rental properties. Register or renew a Short Term Rental Business license with the Village of Elk Rapids Short-Term Rental Business License Registration and Renewal Form.

For more information visit the Village of Elk Rapids website

It does not appear that the Village of Ellsworth has a policy for Short Term Rentals. Short Term Rentals, Vacation Rentals, or Seasonal Housing are not listed as permitted uses in any residential zones (R-1 through R-4) however only Bed and Breakfast facilities are listed as uses that require a Special Use Permit. They do, however, define Tourist Homes in the Zoning Ordinances for the Village of Ellsworth as “Any family occupied dwelling used or designed in such a manner that certain rooms in excess of those used by the family are rented to the transient public for compensation. For the purpose of this Ordinance, the term tourist home also includes bed and breakfast facility" (i). It appears this is also how they define a Bed and Breakfast Facility (ii). If it is a special use, it is unclear how someone should apply for special use. Only a general Village Zoning Permit is available on their website.

i. Page 22 of the Zoning Ordinance of the Village of Ellsworth

ii. Page 11 of the Zoning Ordinance for the Village of Ellsworth

For more information visit the Village of Ellsworth website

Renting (short or long-term) is a permitted use in the Village of Mancelona Zoning Ordinance as long as all special conditions are met (i).

i. Section 6.1C of the Village of Mancelona Zoning Ordinance

For more information visit the Village of Mancelona website

Central Lake Township does not have a Zoning Ordinance or any information on past Township Meetings available on the Central Lake Township website.

Chestonia Township does not have a Zoning Ordinance or a website.

For more information visit michigantownships.org

They do not have a Zoning Ordinance. There is also no mention of Short Term Rentals, Vacation Rentals, or Seasonal Housing in the Custer Township Board Minutes on the Custer Township website which are from 2015 until now.

Echo Township does not have a Zoning Ordinance or a website.

For more information visit michigantownships.org

In the Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance, Bed and Breakfasts/Tourist Homes are permitted in R-1, R-2 and R-3 Residential Zones(i) with the issuance of a special use permit(ii) for the operation of a Bed & Breakfast/Tourist Home subject to conditions.(iii) Bed & Breakfasts/Tourist Homes are defined as "a single family building owned and occupied by a person(s) renting out not more than four (4) rooms for compensation to persons who do not stay more than seven (7) consecutive days."(iv) Conditions include “no additional Bed & Breakfasts/Tourist Homes allowed within twenty-five hundred (2,500) feet of an existing establishment.”(v) A single family building owned, but not occupied by a person(s) that is rented out on short term basis (which could be defined as a short term rental) is NOT currently regulated by the Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance. 

i. Section 7.04, Page 63-65 of the Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance 

ii. Special Use Permit outlined in Section 19.07, Pages 138-141, in the Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance

iii. Conditions listed in Section 7.04 of the Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinances

iv. Section 1.03, Page 10 of the Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance

v. Section 7.04 E, Page 64 of the Elk Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance

For more information visit the Elk Rapids Township website

In the Forest Home Township Zoning Ordinance, Bed & Breakfast and Boarding Homes are permitted in the Agriculture,(i) Rural Residential,(ii) and Village Residential Districts(iii) by right. Bed and Breakfasts are defined as "an owner-occupied single-family dwelling containing one (1) or more rooms which are provided for gain, for the traveling or vacationing public as temporary accommodation."(iv) 

i. Article 6, Section 601, Page 61 of the Forest Home Township Zoning Ordinance

ii. Article 8, Section 801, Page 65 of the Forest Home Township Zoning Ordinance

iii. Article 9, Section 901, Page 67 of the Forest Home Township Zoning Ordinance

iv. Article 2, Section 202B, Page 12 of the Forest Home Township Zoning Ordinance

For more information visit the Forest Home Township website

In the Helena Township Zoning Ordinance, short-term vacation rentals are permitted by right in R-1(i) and R-2(ii) Residential Districts.

i. Chapter 4, Section 4.04.01E, Page 34 of the Helena Township Zoning Ordinance

ii. Chapter 4, Section 4.05.01D, Page 35 of the Helena Township Zoning Ordinance

For more information visit the Helena Township website

Jordan Township does not have a Zoning Ordinance. There is also no mention of short-term rentals, vacation rentals, or seasonal housing in the Jordan Township Board Minutes on the Jordan Township website, which are listed from 2019 until now.

For more information visit the Jordan Township website

In the Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance, “Lodging, boarding, and tourist homes” are permitted by special use permit in the Agricultural District(i). Tourist homes are not listed as uses permitted by special use permit in R-1(ii) and R-2(iii) Residential Districts but Bed and Breakfast establishments are a use permitted by a special use permit.(iv) Bed and Breakfasts are defined as "a private, owner-occupied residence with one to three guest rooms whose use is clearly subordinate and incidental to the main residential use of the structure. The length of stay is limited to one week and one parking space is required for each guest room in addition to the two spaces required for the residence. One sign not exceeding three square feet in area that identifies the establishment is permitted. Only breakfast may be served and food preparation facilities shall be approved by the Health Department prior to the issuance of a land-use permit by the Zoning Administrator. Applicable fire codes must also be complied with."(v) 

i. Article 4, Section 4.01B, Page 35 of the Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance

ii. Article 4, Section 4.02B, Page 36 of the Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance

iii. Article 4, Section 4.03B, Page 36 of the Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance

iv. Article 5, Page 46 of the Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance

v. Article 1, Page 2 of the Kearney Township Zoning Ordinance

For more information visit the Kearney Township website

Mancelona Township does not have a Zoning Ordinance. There is also no mention of short-term rentals, vacation rentals, or seasonal housing in the Mancelona Township Board Minutes online which are from 2019 until now.

For more information visit the Mancelona Township website

In the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance, vacation rentals are not listed as a use permitted by right, or a Special Land Use by permit currently in the Agricultural (A) Production District,(i) Rural Residential (RR) District,(ii) or the Single-Family Residential (SFR) District.(iii) However, the Milton Township Board of Trustees passed a new Milton Township Vacation Rental Ordinance in December 2019 that went into effect on January 1st, 2021. The Milton Township Zoning Ordinance permits Bed and Breakfasts in the Agricultural (A) Production District,(iv) Rural Residential (RR) District,(v) and Single Family Residential (SFR) District.(vi) Bed and Breakfasts are defined as “A private owner-occupied residence at which overnight accommodations and a morning meal are provided to transients for compensation, for periods no longer than seven (7) days.”(vii)

i. Chapter 5, Page 49 of the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance

ii. Chapter 6, Page 51 of the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance

iii. Chapter 7, Page 53 of the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance

iv. Chapter 5, Page 49 of the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance

v. Chapter 6, Page 51 of the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance

vi. Chapter 7, Page 53 of the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance

vii. Chapter 2, Section 2.03B, Page 15 of the Milton Township Zoning Ordinance

For more information visit the Milton Township website

Star Township does not have a Zoning Ordinance or any zoning or ordinance information on their website.

For more information visit the Star Township website

In the Township of Torch Lake Zoning Ordinance, Short term rentals are not allowed in Residential Districts R-1, R-2, and R-3.(i) In Village Business District Short term rentals are allowed by special use.(ii) They define a Short term rental as “renting of a premise to a third party(ies) for a period of less than thirty (30) consecutive days, regardless of the term of renter occupancy during any thirty (30) day period.”(iii)

i. Chapter 2, Section 2.24, Page 21 of the Township of Torch Lake Zoning Ordinance

ii. Chapter 10, Section 10.03, Pages 83-84 of the Township of Torch Lake Zoning Ordinance

iii. Chapter 23, Section 23.01, Page 169 of the Township of Torch Lake Zoning Ordinance

For more information visit the Torch Lake Township website

Warner Township does not have a Zoning Ordinance or a website.

For more information visit michigantownships.org