Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in New Buffalo?

**Yes**, New Buffalo requires a Short-Term Rental Permit for all rentals under 30 days. You need to apply for a permit and pass a life-safety inspection annually. Operating without this verified permit can result in fines, so ensure compliance with the city's requirements. (52 words)

How much does an STR permit cost in New Buffalo?

**The permit costs $300** annually in New Buffalo, MI. This fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing the application and conducting the required life-safety inspection. You need to renew this permit yearly to continue operating your short-term rental legally. (46 words)

Are short-term rentals allowed in New Buffalo?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in New Buffalo, but they are subject to specific regulations. These include obtaining a permit, passing a life-safety inspection, and adhering to occupancy limits based on the number of bedrooms. Guests must also follow designated off-street parking rules. (50 words)

Can renters host on Airbnb in New Buffalo?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in New Buffalo. Only property owners are eligible to apply for and obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit. This regulation ensures that only authorized individuals are operating short-term rentals. (49 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in New Buffalo?

**Tax rates vary**; check with the local finance department for the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in New Buffalo. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city. Contact the city directly for more information. (51 words)

New Buffalo

Moderate

MichiganUpdated Mar 18, 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 New Buffalo requires an annual permit and life-safety inspection for all short-term rentals under 30 days. Occupancy is strictly limited based on the number of bedrooms, and guests must adhere to designated off-street parking requirements.

Restriction level

Severity 23

Classification

Moderate

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 the City of New Buffalo, you must apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit from the City Clerk and pay an annual fee of $300. Your home will need to pass a safety inspection to check for things like working smoke detectors and safe emergency exits. You are limited to 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 extra (up to 12 people total), and you must provide a 24/7 local contact person who can respond to issues. Be aware that the city does not have its own lodging tax, but you must still pay the Michigan State Use Tax and the Berrien County Excise Tax.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are within the City limits; New Buffalo Township has different rules.
2Parking on grass or in the street is often prohibited for STR guests; check your site plan.
3The maximum occupancy cap of 12 is absolute, regardless of house size.
4A local contact person must be available 24/7 and respond within 60 minutes.
5Inspections are required annually for permit renewal.
6The City Council has historically debated caps on the total number of STR permits; check for current moratoriums.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

New Buffalo: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
New Buffalo, MI: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
New Buffalo: Parking on grass or in the street is often prohibited for STR guests; check your site plan.

Requirements17 rules

New Buffalo: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
New Buffalo, MI: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
New Buffalo, MI has different permit classes: Standard Residential STR. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.

Application process11 rules

New Buffalo extended permit requirement: Initial registration fee may be higher than annual renewal ($300)
New Buffalo: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Floor plan with dimensions, Site plan for parking, Proof of insurance, Local contact person information, Safety inspection certification.

Fees & costs1 rule

New Buffalo charges a registration fee of $300 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $600 (Initial registration fee may be higher than annual renewal ($300)).

Taxes1 rule

Michigan has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions8 rules

New Buffalo, MI occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 12 total. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
New Buffalo enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 8:00 AM.
New Buffalo: Verify you are within the City limits; New Buffalo Township has different rules.
New Buffalo limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

New Buffalo requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in all sleeping areas, Visible address numbers.

Penalties3 rules

New Buffalo, MI: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
New Buffalo enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500. Second offense: $1,000. Third offense: Permit Revocation. Daily fine: $500. Maximum fine: Varies by court. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions3 rules

New Buffalo: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
New Buffalo exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
New Buffalo, 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

New Buffalo

Moderate

MichiganUpdated Mar 18, 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

Restriction level

Severity 23

Classification

Moderate

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

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are within the City limits; New Buffalo Township has different rules.
2Parking on grass or in the street is often prohibited for STR guests; check your site plan.
3The maximum occupancy cap of 12 is absolute, regardless of house size.
4A local contact person must be available 24/7 and respond within 60 minutes.
5Inspections are required annually for permit renewal.
6The City Council has historically debated caps on the total number of STR permits; check for current moratoriums.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

New Buffalo: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
New Buffalo, MI: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
New Buffalo: Parking on grass or in the street is often prohibited for STR guests; check your site plan.

Requirements17 rules

New Buffalo: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
New Buffalo, MI: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
New Buffalo, MI has different permit classes: Standard Residential STR. Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.

Application process11 rules

New Buffalo extended permit requirement: Initial registration fee may be higher than annual renewal ($300)
New Buffalo: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Floor plan with dimensions, Site plan for parking, Proof of insurance, Local contact person information, Safety inspection certification.

Fees & costs1 rule

New Buffalo charges a registration fee of $300 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $600 (Initial registration fee may be higher than annual renewal ($300)).

Taxes1 rule

Michigan has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions8 rules

New Buffalo, MI occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 12 total. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
New Buffalo enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 8:00 AM.
New Buffalo: Verify you are within the City limits; New Buffalo Township has different rules.
New Buffalo limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

New Buffalo requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in all sleeping areas, Visible address numbers.

Penalties3 rules

New Buffalo, MI: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
New Buffalo enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500. Second offense: $1,000. Third offense: Permit Revocation. Daily fine: $500. Maximum fine: Varies by court. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions3 rules

New Buffalo: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
New Buffalo exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
New Buffalo, 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

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in New Buffalo?

2How much does an STR permit cost in New Buffalo?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in New Buffalo?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in New Buffalo?

5What is the TOT tax rate in New Buffalo?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in New Buffalo?

2How much does an STR permit cost in New Buffalo?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in New Buffalo?

4Can renters host on Airbnb in New Buffalo?

5What is the TOT tax rate in New Buffalo?

Disclaimer