Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in St. Ignace, MI?

**No**, there is currently no local STR-specific license required in St. Ignace, though standard state and county regulations may still apply. You need to confirm your property is in a zone that allows 'Tourist Homes', which requires a zoning compliance permit through the Building and Zoning Department. Check zoning before operating.

What is the TOT tax rate in St. Ignace, MI?

**Tax rates vary**; check with the local finance department. In addition to local room tax, hosts must comply with Michigan state use tax requirements. You need to collect and remit all applicable taxes to the appropriate authorities. Contact the city's finance department for precise details.

Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Ignace, MI?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in St. Ignace, but they are regulated as 'Tourist Homes' under the municipal zoning code. You need to ensure your property is located in an eligible zone, primarily R-2 or R-3. Always check with the Building and Zoning Department for zone eligibility.

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in St. Ignace, MI?

**Operating an illegal** short-term rental in St. Ignace can result in fines and penalties. You need to comply with zoning regulations, business licensing, and tax requirements to avoid legal issues. Always check for local parking and noise regulations to ensure compliance with the city's general nuisance laws.

How much does an STR permit cost in St. Ignace, MI?

**No local permit** is required, but you must obtain a zoning compliance permit. You need to contact the Building and Zoning Department to confirm zoning eligibility and any associated fees. Always verify compliance with all applicable local regulations, including noise and parking ordinances, to avoid penalties.

St. Ignace

Permissive

MichiganUpdated Feb 10, 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 St. Ignace does not have a standalone short-term rental ordinance but regulates these properties as 'Tourist Homes' under the municipal zoning code. Hosts must ensure their property is located in an eligible zone (primarily R-2 or R-3) and comply with general business licensing and room tax requirements.

Restriction level

Severity 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Reporting required
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the City of St. Ignace, you must first confirm your property is in a zone that allows 'Tourist Homes' or short-term rentals, as they are not allowed in all residential areas. You will need to apply for a zoning compliance permit through the Building and Zoning Department. Once approved, you are responsible for collecting the local room tax in addition to the Michigan state use tax. Always check for local parking and noise regulations to ensure you stay in compliance with the city's general nuisance laws.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rateVaries

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify if your property is within the 'City Limits' or 'Unincorporated Mackinac County' as rules differ significantly.
2Short-term rentals are generally defined as 'Tourist Homes' in the St. Ignace zoning code.
3Zoning restrictions in R-1 (Single Family) districts may prohibit rentals without a special use permit.
4The local 2% Room Tax is separate from the State of Michigan 6% Use Tax.
5Parking is strictly enforced, especially in downtown-adjacent residential areas.
6No explicit night cap exists, but quiet hours are enforced starting at 11:00 PM.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

St. Ignace does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
St. Ignace allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family residence, Dwelling unit in 1-to-4 family house, Condominium.
St. Ignace limits hosts to a maximum of 3 STR properties per owner.
St. Ignace: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements16 rules

St. Ignace: No single owner or entity may hold more than three (3) STR permits at one time.
St. Ignace STR warning: If your property is in R1, R2, or R3, and you do not live on-site (Category 2), you may need a zoning variance to operate.
St. Ignace has different permit classes: Category 1 (Owner-Occupied); Category 2 (Not Owner-Occupied). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.

Application process7 rules

St. Ignace STR permit - Step 3: Pass Initial Inspection. Schedule and pass a safety inspection conducted by the city's building inspector or contracted agent (UpNorth Planning). Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 150.
St. Ignace extended permit requirement: Inspection fee required initially and every three years.

Fees & costs1 rule

St. Ignace charges a registration fee of $250 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $150 (Inspection fee required initially and every three years.).

Taxes2 rules

Michigan has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
St. Ignace: Mackinac County does not have a local excise tax, so you only need to worry about the 6% State Use Tax.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

St. Ignace occupancy calculation: 2 occupants per bedroom plus 2 additional. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
St. Ignace limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
St. Ignace: Residential zones (R1, R2, R3, R4) are strictly capped at 50 total STR permits for the entire city.
St. Ignace enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

Safety requirements1 rule

St. Ignace requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing egress must be posted, Inspections every three years.

Penalties2 rules

St. Ignace: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
St. Ignace enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Civil infraction. Maximum fine: $1,000 enhanced fee for unpermitted operations. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. Ignace

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Contact the Building and Zoning Department to ensure your property is in a zone (typically R-2 or R-3) where 'Tourist Homes' are permitted.

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain Zoning Compliance Permit

Submit a Land Use / Zoning Compliance application to the city clerk to register the use of the property as a short-term rental.

2-4 weeks

Documents needed

Application form
Floor plan

Step 3

Register for Room Tax

Register with the City Treasurer's office to remit the local room tax (typically 2%) collected for the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Free

Official resource

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

St. Ignace

Permissive

MichiganUpdated Feb 10, 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 3

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

Reporting required
No STR-specific permit required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rateVaries

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify if your property is within the 'City Limits' or 'Unincorporated Mackinac County' as rules differ significantly.
2Short-term rentals are generally defined as 'Tourist Homes' in the St. Ignace zoning code.
3Zoning restrictions in R-1 (Single Family) districts may prohibit rentals without a special use permit.
4The local 2% Room Tax is separate from the State of Michigan 6% Use Tax.
5Parking is strictly enforced, especially in downtown-adjacent residential areas.
6No explicit night cap exists, but quiet hours are enforced starting at 11:00 PM.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

St. Ignace does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
St. Ignace allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family residence, Dwelling unit in 1-to-4 family house, Condominium.
St. Ignace limits hosts to a maximum of 3 STR properties per owner.
St. Ignace: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements16 rules

St. Ignace: No single owner or entity may hold more than three (3) STR permits at one time.
St. Ignace STR warning: If your property is in R1, R2, or R3, and you do not live on-site (Category 2), you may need a zoning variance to operate.
St. Ignace has different permit classes: Category 1 (Owner-Occupied); Category 2 (Not Owner-Occupied). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.

Application process7 rules

St. Ignace STR permit - Step 3: Pass Initial Inspection. Schedule and pass a safety inspection conducted by the city's building inspector or contracted agent (UpNorth Planning). Time: 1-2 weeks. Cost: 150.
St. Ignace extended permit requirement: Inspection fee required initially and every three years.

Fees & costs1 rule

St. Ignace charges a registration fee of $250 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $150 (Inspection fee required initially and every three years.).

Taxes2 rules

Michigan has a state sales tax of 6% that applies to STR rentals.
St. Ignace: Mackinac County does not have a local excise tax, so you only need to worry about the 6% State Use Tax.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

St. Ignace occupancy calculation: 2 occupants per bedroom plus 2 additional. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
St. Ignace limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
St. Ignace: Residential zones (R1, R2, R3, R4) are strictly capped at 50 total STR permits for the entire city.
St. Ignace enforces quiet hours: 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

Safety requirements1 rule

St. Ignace requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan showing egress must be posted, Inspections every three years.

Penalties2 rules

St. Ignace: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
St. Ignace enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Civil infraction. Maximum fine: $1,000 enhanced fee for unpermitted operations. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. Ignace

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Contact the Building and Zoning Department to ensure your property is in a zone (typically R-2 or R-3) where 'Tourist Homes' are permitted.

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain Zoning Compliance Permit

Submit a Land Use / Zoning Compliance application to the city clerk to register the use of the property as a short-term rental.

2-4 weeks

Documents needed

Application form
Floor plan

Step 3

Register for Room Tax

Register with the City Treasurer's office to remit the local room tax (typically 2%) collected for the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Free

Official resource

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

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Obtain Zoning Compliance Permit

Register for Room Tax

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in St. Ignace, MI?

2What is the TOT tax rate in St. Ignace, MI?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Ignace, MI?

4What happens if I operate an illegal STR in St. Ignace, MI?

5How much does an STR permit cost in St. Ignace, MI?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Obtain Zoning Compliance Permit

Register for Room Tax

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in St. Ignace, MI?

2What is the TOT tax rate in St. Ignace, MI?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Ignace, MI?

4What happens if I operate an illegal STR in St. Ignace, MI?

5How much does an STR permit cost in St. Ignace, MI?

Disclaimer