Traverse Lifestyle · Amy Couturier
The 2026 Northern Michigan STR Jurisdiction Guide
What every investor needs to know about short-term rental rules — before falling in love with a property.
Staying current on these ordinances is hard — they change constantly. I'm always searching for investor clients and I'm happy to help you verify the rules, understand the documents, and know exactly what you're getting into before you buy. Call or text Amy — 510-676-9075
How to Read This Guide — Status Classifications
OpenNo dedicated STR ordinance. Operates under general zoning.
PermitRegistration required, no hard cap. Accessible entry.
TechnicalTied to septic, zone, or site-plan review. Read carefully.
MixedPermitted in some districts, prohibited in others.
VolatileOrdinance in flux. Watch closely before buying.
CappedHard permit limit. Market opens only as turnover occurs.
ClosedNo new licenses. Grandfathered units only.
ProhibitedSTRs not permitted in residential zones.
I.
Grand Traverse County
The most complex STR regulatory landscape in the region. Thirteen townships plus the City — each with its own rules, and some with hard caps that stop new investors cold.
Acme Township
Technical
Permit required. Up to 50 Tourist Home permits issued annually. Key distinction: Tourism Homes (owner-present) are allowed in all zones. Vacation Homes (absentee) are restricted to agricultural and commercial zones only. This is a commonly misunderstood rule that catches buyers off guard.
Blair Township
Permit
One of the most permissive townships in Grand Traverse County. Popular for Silver Lake waterfront rentals. Permit required, reasonable entry requirements.
East Bay Charter Township
Capped
STR license required. $450/year. Septic inspection and neighbor notification required. Cap of 145 licenses — currently at capacity. 1,000-ft buffer rule between rentals. Critical: licenses do not transfer at sale — the new buyer must apply fresh, and the cap means they may be waitlisted. Also requires a 7-night minimum stay.
Fife Lake Township
Permit
2025 ordinance in place. Affordable entry, manageable 30-minute caretaker requirement. One of the more accessible entry points in the county.
Grant Township
Permit
Permit system in place. Accessible entry for new investors.
Green Lake Township
Technical
Uses a Certificate system tied to septic capacity — occupancy is strictly limited by what the septic system can handle. Get a septic evaluation before making any assumptions about guest count or nightly rate potential. Interlochen area.
Long Lake Township
Watchlist
No hard cap, but occupancy is tied to septic daily flow. Moratorium discussions took place in 2025 — regulations could tighten at any time. Verify current status directly before advising clients.
Mayfield Township
Verify
No dedicated STR ordinance found in public records. May be largely unregulated, but this must be confirmed with direct contact before advising clients.
Paradise Township
Permit
License required with strict annual renewal. Kingsley-area township. Manageable if you're prepared for the administrative burden of annual compliance.
Union Township
Permit
STRs allowed with permit. 30-minute caretaker requirement. One of the more manageable entry points in Grand Traverse County.
Whitewater Township
Volatile
Currently rewriting its STR ordinance. History of conflict between residents and investors. High risk — proceed with extreme caution until new rules are finalized and you can read them yourself.
Garfield Township
Volatile
Generally hostile to STRs in residential zones (R-1/R-2). An ordinance rewrite was in progress as of late 2025 — the rewrite may now be complete, potentially opening commercial and mixed-use districts. Status is actively changing. Call before advising any client.
Peninsula Township
Prohibited
The most restrictive municipality in the region. Short-term rentals are not permitted. The Township has pursued enforcement aggressively, including major litigation — a federal judge awarded nearly $50 million to Old Mission Peninsula wineries in July 2025 over unconstitutional zoning, signaling how aggressively this township defends its ordinances. Do not attempt to operate under the radar here.
City of Traverse City
Mixed
Restricted by zone. Hosted tourist home permits available in primary residences. Whole-home vacation rentals are permitted in HR, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, D-1, D-2, and D-3 zoning districts — not in standard residential zones. Know the zoning map before looking at city properties for STR intent.
II.
Leelanau County
The most expensive and restrictive market in the region. "Friendly" here usually means permit required plus strict septic limits. The village/township distinction is critical throughout this county.
Suttons Bay Township
Capped
Ordinance since 2016, amended December 2023. Permit required. Cap of 150 permits annually for the Township. Critical village trap: The Village of Suttons Bay is a completely separate jurisdiction — capped at 45 permits, currently over that number (57 issued). No new Village permits until attrition reduces the count. Permits also require new applications upon sale — they don't transfer to the buyer at closing.
Bingham Township
Permit
Permit required. Maximum of 10 guests regardless of house size. No party barns permitted. Glen Arbor area and Sleeping Bear Dunes corridor — high demand, clean rules, manageable compliance.
Centerville Township
Open
Less regulation than neighboring townships. Good overflow traffic from the Good Harbor Bay area. Worth a look for investors priced out of waterfront townships.
Cleveland Township
Closed
Cap of 36 licenses is full. There is a waitlist. Unless you're willing to wait out attrition, look elsewhere.
Elmwood Township
Closed
Cap of 93 licenses is full with a paid waitlist. Main spillover area from Traverse City. The township uses Granicus (an STR compliance firm) for enforcement — unlicensed operation carries real risk here.
Empire Township
Hostile
Moving toward prohibition or strict controls to protect local housing stock. Not the place for a speculative STR buy.
Glen Arbor Township
Restricted
STRs are effectively restricted to the Business District. Residential cottages are generally not available for new investors. Beautiful area, high demand — but the regulatory wall is high.
Leelanau Township / Village of Northport
Permit
Permit required. Strict occupancy limits based on Health Department ratings, maximum of 15 guests. Northport has strong summer demand.
Leland Township
Permit
Permit required. Occupancy tied to septic capacity. High-scrutiny area. Notable detail: STRs are permitted by right in Fishtown's C-4 commercial district — a meaningful carve-out for that corridor.
Solon Township
Verify
No dedicated STR ordinance found. Appears to allow STRs under general zoning without specific caps or permits — but regulations could appear at any time given the county-wide trend. Confirm directly before advising clients.
III.
Antrim County
Contains the most restrictive markets in the region (Torch Lake) alongside completely unregulated interior townships. Know exactly which jurisdiction you're in before getting excited about a property.
Central Lake Township
Permit
"Good Neighbor" policy. Generally safe for investors with great access to the Elk River Chain of Lakes.
Elk Rapids Township
Restricted
STRs are restricted to properties that were already operating prior to March 2019. The board of zoning appeals determined STRs were not permitted under the existing ordinance after that date. Annual licensing required. Max 2 renters per bedroom; no overnight lodging outside the dwelling (no RVs or campers); owner or caretaker must be within 30 miles. This is a closed market for new entrants.
Village of Elk Rapids
Capped
Hard cap of approximately 61 units (~7.7% of housing stock). All STRs operating since at least 2018 are grandfathered. Annual licensing mandatory. Max 10 guests, no more than 2 per bedroom. Priority for new licenses goes to residents whose principal residence is in Elk Rapids. A 2025 ordinance update was under consideration — verify the latest version before buying.
Forest Home Township
Permit
Online permit portal. Manageable regulations. One of the more straightforward townships in Antrim County.
Helena Township
Permit
Regulatory focus is on watercraft and nuisance issues rather than banning rentals outright. Water-access area with manageable entry.
Kearney Township
Mixed
STRs are permitted specifically in the Resort Residential (RR) district, designed for mixed-use alongside recreational facilities like golf courses and ski resorts. If the property is zoned RR, STRs are an explicitly permitted use. Outside that district, they may not be allowed.
Milton Township
Watch
Requires a "Renter Log" — typically a sign that a township is laying the groundwork for future regulation. Stay alert for ordinance changes here.
Village of Bellaire / Village of Mancelona
Unregulated
No dedicated STR ordinance found as of early 2026 in either village. STRs are actively listed in both areas, suggesting they operate under general zoning. Given the county-wide trend toward regulation, verify directly before buying — this could change.
Banks Township
Volatile
The township has been considering repealing zoning entirely. While that sounds investor-friendly, it carries serious risk — without zoning, there's nothing preventing incompatible uses (gravel mining, industrial) from opening next to your rental property.
Torch Lake Township
Grandfathered Only
Only pre-1983 commercial uses are permitted. New entrants are effectively banned. The few existing legal rentals are extremely valuable and rarely change hands. Do not buy on Torch Lake with STR intent unless the property has documented pre-1983 commercial use.
Unzoned Townships (Chestonia, Custer, Echo, Jordan, Star, Warner)
No Zoning
No zoning means no STR rules — low entry price but zero protection from incompatible neighboring uses. You could buy a lakefront cabin and end up next to anything. No local zoning administrator.
IV.
Benzie County
A patchwork. Inland townships are largely open; Crystal Lake and the waterfronts are tight. Several ordinances changed in 2025 — this county requires extra verification.
Almira Township
Technical
High fees plus a Major Site Plan Review are required. The process discourages casual investors. Budget for the upfront compliance cost before running your numbers.
Benzonia Township
Technical
Operates under a joint zoning ordinance with Platte Township (West Benzie Joint Zoning). STRs may be allowed under limited circumstances but likely require zoning compliance. Note: The Village of Benzonia (separate municipality) requires STR permit applications and fees.
Village of Beulah
Permit
Short-Term Rental Ordinance (amended November 2022). Property owners must apply for permits and pay fees. Workable entry for the Crystal Lake area.
Blaine Township
Technical
Zoning defines "Dwelling, Rental Cottage" with a max occupancy of 10 and specifies no less than one week rental duration — rentals shorter than 7 nights may not be permitted. No hard cap identified, but verify minimum stay requirement directly.
Crystal Lake Township
Strict
Heavy scrutiny due to lake density. Expect caps or strict septic constraints. Strong demand keeps property values high — but the regulatory environment matches. Do your homework before pursuing a Crystal Lake waterfront STR.
Village of Elberta
Capped
Hard cap of 25 permits per year, issued first-come first-served. Property owners must apply, pay a fee, and arrange a Village inspection. Once 25 are issued, you wait until next year.
Homestead Township
Restricted
One-unit-per-owner rule. An anti-corporate provision designed to favor individual mom-and-pop hosts over portfolio investors. Not the right market if you're building a multi-property STR operation.
Village of Honor
Volatile
STR ordinance drafted and presented to Village Council in May 2024. As of early 2026, unclear whether it has been formally adopted. Rules could change at any time — verify directly before advising clients.
Lake Township
Hostile
The township's ordinance explicitly states that STRs are "frequently incompatible" with residential uses. Avoid for STR investment purposes.
Village of Lake Ann
Permit
Adopted Short-Term Rental Ordinance 2024-01, rolling out as of 2024. New ordinance — verify specific provisions (caps, fees, restrictions) directly as implementation details may still be evolving.
Inland / Colfax / Platte Townships
Open
Largely unregulated. Good for river and nature-based tourism near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Lower price points than waterfront townships.
Gilmore / Joyfield / Weldon Townships
Verify
No dedicated STR ordinance found in public records for any of these three townships. Regulations likely occur through standard zoning compliance. Confirm with the township directly given Benzie's active regulatory environment.
V.
Kalkaska County
The most affordable entry point in the five-county region. Most townships are open or lightly regulated — but demand density is lower too. Know what you're buying before you buy it.
Bear Lake Township
Permit
Zoning explicitly mentions Resort Residential classification. Clear regulatory footing — a safe bet if you want defined rules in Kalkaska County.
Blue Lake Township
Open
Low regulations and good lake access. One of the more investor-friendly spots in the five-county area for cash flow plays at lower price points.
Clearwater Township
Tightening
Gateway to the Chain of Lakes — Torch Lake to the north, Lake Skegemog to the west. High demand has drawn regulatory attention. The township has been tightening its approach to STRs. Verify current cap and permit requirements directly before making any moves.
Open Market Townships (Kalkaska, Boardman, Coldsprings, Excelsior, Oliver, Orange, Rapid River, Springfield)
Open
Generally wide open for investment. Lowest entry prices in the five-county region. County-zoned townships fall under Kalkaska County Zoning — contact the county office to confirm no county-level restrictions before buying.
VI.
Zoning Administrator Directory
Call before you write an offer. These contacts are current as of early 2026 — always confirm before use.
Grand Traverse County
| Township / Municipality | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Acme Township | Lindsey Wolf | (231) 938-1350 |
| Blair Township | Lisa Guerrieri | (231) 276-9263 ext. 113 |
| East Bay Charter Township | Bill Vandercook | (231) 947-8681 ext. 3 |
| Fife Lake Township | Lisa Radtke | (231) 879-3963 ext. 302 |
| Fife Lake Village | Village Office | (231) 879-4291 |
| Garfield Township | Planning Dept. | (231) 941-1620 |
| Grant Township | Doug Moyer | (231) 263-7168 |
| Green Lake Township | Jason Hamilton | (231) 276-9329 ext. 106 |
| Long Lake Township | Matt Jerome | (231) 534-4284 |
| Mayfield Township | Township Hall | (231) 263-4599 |
| Paradise Township | Jenn Cram | (231) 263-5251 |
| Peninsula Township | Sara Kopriva | (231) 223-7318 |
| Union Township | Mary Erickson | (231) 564-2201 |
| Whitewater Township | Deb Graber | (231) 267-5141 ext. 21 |
| City of Traverse City | Planning Dept. | (231) 922-4460 |
Leelanau County
| Township / Municipality | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bingham Township | Steve Patmore | (231) 922-6767 ext. 5 |
| Centerville Township | Scott Sheehan | (231) 633-4002 |
| Cleveland Township | Scott Sheehan | (231) 633-4002 |
| Elmwood Township | Planning/Zoning Dept. | (231) 946-0921 |
| Empire Township | Sara Kopriva | (231) 674-5377 |
| Empire Village | Robert Hall | (231) 429-6703 |
| Glen Arbor Township | Tim Cypher | (231) 360-2557 |
| Leelanau Township | Steve Patmore | (231) 386-5138 ext. 4 |
| Leland Township | Tim Cypher | (231) 360-2557 |
| Solon Township | Tim Cypher | (231) 360-2557 |
| Suttons Bay Township | Steve Patmore | (231) 271-2722 ext. 3 |
| Village of Suttons Bay | Village Office | (231) 271-3051 |
Antrim County
| Township / Municipality | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Banks Township | David Muladore | (231) 350-1624 |
| Village of Bellaire | Angela St. Pierre | (231) 533-8213 |
| Central Lake Township | Scott Barrett | (231) 544-6483 |
| Elk Rapids Township | Creston Scheel | (231) 264-9333 |
| Village of Elk Rapids | Village Zoning | (231) 264-9274 |
| Forest Home Township | Stephen Barnard | (231) 203-4031 |
| Helena Township | Bob Logee | (231) 331-7303 |
| Kearney Township | Dan Hiltz | (231) 533-5719 ext. 5 |
| Milton Township | Sara Kopriva | (231) 264-6697 |
| Village of Mancelona | Maureen Naumcheff | (231) 587-8331 |
| Torch Lake Township | Sara Kopriva | (231) 599-2036 ext. 105 |
| Unzoned Townships | Antrim County Admin | (231) 533-6265 |
Benzie County
| Township / Municipality | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Almira Township | Kate Preston | (231) 275-5862 |
| Benzonia Township | Jason Barnard | (231) 882-4411 |
| Village of Beulah | Tim Cypher | (231) 360-2557 |
| Blaine Township | Josh Mills | (231) 651-9117 |
| Colfax Township | Angel Kraft | (231) 970-1560 |
| Crystal Lake Township | Tom Kucera | (231) 352-9791 |
| Village of Elberta | Josh Mills | (231) 651-9117 |
| Gilmore Township | Josh Mills | (231) 651-9117 |
| Homestead Township | Marvin Radtke | (231) 631-7171 |
| Village of Honor | Rosemary Naulty | (937) 536-9501 |
| Inland Township | Mike Zielinski | (231) 383-1229 |
| Joyfield Township | Betsy Evans | (231) 383-2798 |
| Lake Township | Josh Mills | (231) 325-5202 |
| Village of Lake Ann | Gary Florip | lakeannzoningadm@gmail.com |
| Platte Township | Jason Barnard | (231) 882-4411 |
| Weldon Township | Tim Cypher | (231) 360-2557 |
Kalkaska County
| Township / Municipality | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Lake Township | Tony Merrill | (231) 882-6621 |
| Blue Lake Township | Todd Conzemius | (231) 894-6335 |
| Boardman Township | Teresa Captain | (231) 369-2551 |
| Clearwater Township | John West | (947) 941-1894 |
| Garfield Township (Kalkaska) | Zoning Admin | (231) 632-3253 |
| Rapid River Township | Bob Hall | (231) 258-2943 |
| County-Zoned Townships | Laura Hendricks / Gayenell Gentelia | (231) 258-3367 |
A note on accuracy: This guide reflects conditions as of early 2026, sourced from Aspire North REALTORS® municipal data, zoning administrator conversations, and transaction files. Ordinances change — always verify current status directly with the township before writing an offer.
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