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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Michigan
  6. ·
  7. Grand Haven

Grand Haven

Moderate
MichiganUpdated Mar 24, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of Grand Haven requires all short-term rentals (stays less than 28 days) to be registered with the City Clerk and undergo a fire safety inspection. While the city does not levy a local occupancy tax, hosts are responsible for the 6% Michigan State Use Tax.

Restriction level

Severity 23
Classification
Moderate
23
Severity

Why this classification

  • Moderate permit fee: $300
  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Grand Haven, you must apply for an annual Short-Term Rental Certificate through the City Clerk. You will need to pay a $300 registration fee and pass a safety inspection that checks for things like fire extinguishers and safe exit windows. Stays are generally limited to 10 guests maximum, and you must provide a local contact person who can respond to issues 24/7. Be sure to include your city-issued permit number in your online listing to avoid fines.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$300
Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Grand Haven defines short-term rentals as stays less than 28 consecutive days.
  2. 2The 10-guest limit is a hard cap regardless of the size of the house.
  3. 3A local contact person must be available 24/7 and be able to be on-site within 45 minutes of a complaint.
  4. 4A physical landline or a very clearly posted emergency contact sign is required in the unit.
  5. 5Trash must be stored in screened containers and cannot be placed at the curb before 5:00 PM the night before pickup.
  6. 6Parking is strictly limited to designated off-street parking spots (no parking on lawns or blocking sidewalks).
  7. 7Failure to renew the annual certificate by the expiration date may lead to immediate revocation of your right to rent.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility9 rules
  • Grand Haven: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Grand Haven prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational vehicles, Tents, Trailers.
  • Grand Haven, MI: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements19 rules
  • Grand Haven: Failure to renew the annual certificate by the expiration date may lead to immediate revocation of your right to rent.
  • Grand Haven, MI: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
  • Grand Haven, MI: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Application process11 rules
  • Grand Haven STR permit - Step 1: Zoning Verification. Confirm your property is located within the incorporated city limits and meets basic zoning requirements for residential use. Time: 1 day.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Grand Haven charges a registration fee of $300 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $150 (Inspection fee charged every 3 years).
Taxes1 rule
  • Michigan has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions8 rules
  • Grand Haven requires a minimum stay of 2 nights.
  • Grand Haven limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.
  • Grand Haven limits stays to a maximum of 27 nights.
  • Grand Haven occupancy calculation: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Grand Haven requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in every sleeping room, Working landline phone or emergency contact signage, Interconnected smoke alarms.
Penalties4 rules
  • Grand Haven enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1,000 fine. Third offense: Revocation of certificate. Daily fine: $500 per day. Maximum fine: $1,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
  • Grand Haven: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions3 rules
  • Grand Haven exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
  • Grand Haven: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Grand Haven, MI: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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