Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in South Haven?

**Yes**, the City of South Haven requires a Short-Term Rental Certificate for all rentals. You need to register annually and pay a $200 fee. Your property will also undergo a safety inspection every three years. A local contact person must be available 24/7. (52 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in South Haven?

**9% TOT** is the current excise tax rate for short-term rentals in South Haven. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it to the city on a quarterly basis. You must comply with all city tax requirements to legally operate your rental. (51 words)

Are short-term rentals allowed in South Haven?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in South Haven, but are strictly regulated. You need to obtain a Short-Term Rental Certificate and comply with all city regulations. A local contact person must be available 24/7 to respond to any issues within 45 minutes. (50 words)

How much does an STR permit cost in South Haven?

**The STR permit costs $200** annually in South Haven. This fee is required for the Short-Term Rental Certificate, which allows you to legally operate a short-term rental in the city. You must also pay a 9% excise tax collected from your guests on a quarterly basis. (51 words)

Can renters host on Airbnb in South Haven?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb in South Haven. The city requires the property owner to apply for the Short-Term Rental Certificate. Only property owners who meet the city's requirements can operate a legal short-term rental. Check with the city for updated regulations. (51 words)

South Haven

Moderate

MichiganUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals are strictly regulated in the City of South Haven under a mandatory annual registration program. Hosts must pay a 9% city excise tax in addition to state sales tax and comply with a 12-person maximum occupancy limit.

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $200
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the City of South Haven, you must register for an annual Short-Term Rental Certificate and pay a $200 fee. Your home will undergo a safety inspection every three years to ensure it has proper fire safety equipment and egress windows. You are required to collect and pay a 9% city excise tax every quarter. Note that you must have a local contact person available 24/7 who can respond to issues within 45 minutes.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$200

Processing time14-30 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The city imposes a 9% local excise tax which is NOT automatically collected by Airbnb or VRBO; hosts must remit this manually.
2Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 12 people, regardless of the size of the home.
3Local agents must be able to respond to complaints within 45 minutes, 24/7.
4STR Certificates are tied to the owner and do not transfer if the property is sold.
5Parking is strictly limited to off-street spaces as identified on your approved site plan.
6Egress windows in all sleeping rooms must meet specific size requirements and will be checked during inspection.
7Failure to remit quarterly tax payments can result in immediate permit suspension.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

South Haven does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
South Haven prohibits STRs in the following property types: Condos (per standard ordinance language), Multi-family dwelling condominium projects.
South Haven: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements13 rules

South Haven STR warning: Verify your exact location: The City of South Haven and South Haven Charter Township have different rules and fee structures.

Application process8 rules

How to set up an STR in South Haven: To host an Airbnb in the City of South Haven, you must register for either a 'Personal' or 'Business' permit depending on how many nights you plan to rent each year. Stays are limited to a minimum of 2 nights and maximum occupancy is generally capped at 12 people. You are required to have a local agent living within 45 miles of the property to handle any issues. Be aware that the city has a strict 'cap' on the number of permits available in certain neighborhoods, often limited to 20% of the housing stock.

Fees & costs3 rules

South Haven charges a registration fee of $125 (biennial). Extended/additional fee: $600 ($600 per year for 'Business' class (rented > 28 nights/year)).
South Haven: The 'Business' license fee ($600/year) is significantly higher than the 'Personal' license ($125/bi-annual).

Taxes1 rule

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

Limits & restrictions9 rules

South Haven limits STRs to 28 nights per year. This applies to all rentals. Exception: Requires 'Business' class license ($600/year fee)
South Haven enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
South Haven requires a minimum stay of 2 nights.
South Haven: The city enforces a 1:4 (20%) cap on STR permits in residential areas.

Safety requirements1 rule

South Haven requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Address must be posted in two prominent locations, Basements/attics excluded from occupancy unless egress-compliant, Local agent must reside within 45 miles.

Penalties2 rules

South Haven: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

South Haven exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Bed and breakfasts, Hotels/Motels, Charitable transitional houses.
South Haven: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for South Haven

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Confirm the property is located within an allowable zoning district in the South Haven city limits.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Documentation

Gather site plans, floor plans with egress measurements, and local contact information.

5 daysFree

Documents needed

Floor Plan
Site Plan
Insurance Certificate

Step 3

Submit Application and Fee

Submit the STR application and $200 annual fee to the Planning Department.

1 day$200

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a physical inspection by a city inspector to ensure compliance with egress and safety requirements.

14 days$150

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

South Haven

Moderate

MichiganUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 4 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 4

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $200
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting 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$200

Processing time14-30 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The city imposes a 9% local excise tax which is NOT automatically collected by Airbnb or VRBO; hosts must remit this manually.
2Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 12 people, regardless of the size of the home.
3Local agents must be able to respond to complaints within 45 minutes, 24/7.
4STR Certificates are tied to the owner and do not transfer if the property is sold.
5Parking is strictly limited to off-street spaces as identified on your approved site plan.
6Egress windows in all sleeping rooms must meet specific size requirements and will be checked during inspection.
7Failure to remit quarterly tax payments can result in immediate permit suspension.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

South Haven does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
South Haven prohibits STRs in the following property types: Condos (per standard ordinance language), Multi-family dwelling condominium projects.
South Haven: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements13 rules

South Haven STR warning: Verify your exact location: The City of South Haven and South Haven Charter Township have different rules and fee structures.

Application process8 rules

How to set up an STR in South Haven: To host an Airbnb in the City of South Haven, you must register for either a 'Personal' or 'Business' permit depending on how many nights you plan to rent each year. Stays are limited to a minimum of 2 nights and maximum occupancy is generally capped at 12 people. You are required to have a local agent living within 45 miles of the property to handle any issues. Be aware that the city has a strict 'cap' on the number of permits available in certain neighborhoods, often limited to 20% of the housing stock.

Fees & costs3 rules

South Haven charges a registration fee of $125 (biennial). Extended/additional fee: $600 ($600 per year for 'Business' class (rented > 28 nights/year)).
South Haven: The 'Business' license fee ($600/year) is significantly higher than the 'Personal' license ($125/bi-annual).

Taxes1 rule

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

Limits & restrictions9 rules

South Haven limits STRs to 28 nights per year. This applies to all rentals. Exception: Requires 'Business' class license ($600/year fee)
South Haven enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
South Haven requires a minimum stay of 2 nights.
South Haven: The city enforces a 1:4 (20%) cap on STR permits in residential areas.

Safety requirements1 rule

South Haven requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Address must be posted in two prominent locations, Basements/attics excluded from occupancy unless egress-compliant, Local agent must reside within 45 miles.

Penalties2 rules

South Haven: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

South Haven exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Bed and breakfasts, Hotels/Motels, Charitable transitional houses.
South Haven: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for South Haven

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Confirm the property is located within an allowable zoning district in the South Haven city limits.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Documentation

Gather site plans, floor plans with egress measurements, and local contact information.

5 daysFree

Documents needed

Floor Plan
Site Plan
Insurance Certificate

Step 3

Submit Application and Fee

Submit the STR application and $200 annual fee to the Planning Department.

1 day$200

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a physical inspection by a city inspector to ensure compliance with egress and safety requirements.

14 days$150

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

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Prepare Documentation

Submit Application and Fee

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in South Haven?

2What is the TOT tax rate in South Haven?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in South Haven?

4How much does an STR permit cost in South Haven?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in South Haven?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Prepare Documentation

Submit Application and Fee

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in South Haven?

2What is the TOT tax rate in South Haven?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in South Haven?

4How much does an STR permit cost in South Haven?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in South Haven?

Disclaimer