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

**6% Michigan Use Tax** and the 5% Berrien County lodging assessment apply to all rentals. You need to collect these taxes from your guests and remit them to the appropriate state and county authorities. Check with the Michigan Department of Treasury and Berrien County for specific filing requirements.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in St. Joseph?

**Potentially**, because the City of St. Joseph does not currently have a dedicated ordinance governing short-term rentals, there is no primary residence requirement. However, hosts should verify with the Planning Department that their specific usage is not classified as a prohibited commercial enterprise in a residential zone.

St. Joseph

Permissive

MichiganUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 2 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 2

Summary

Plain-english overview

The City of St. Joseph does not currently have a dedicated ordinance governing short-term rentals. While unregulated by specific STR laws, hosts must comply with the 6% Michigan Use Tax and the 5% Berrien County lodging assessment. Because the zoning code uses permissive zoning, hosts should verify with the Planning Department that their specific usage is not classified as a prohibited commercial enterprise in a residential zone.

Restriction level

Severity 0

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

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. Joseph, you don't need a specific 'Short-Term Rental Permit' because the city hasn't passed a law requiring one yet. However, you must still pay the 6% Michigan state tax and the 5% county lodging tax. It is very important to check with the city's Planning Department before you start, as some residential neighborhoods may technically prohibit commercial rentals under general zoning rules. Always make sure to follow the local noise ordinance, especially between 10 PM and 7 AM.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rateVaries

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1No dedicated STR ordinance exists; this means the city could potentially enforce prohibitions via zoning at any time.
2Do not confuse the 'City of St. Joseph' with 'St. Joseph County'—the county is on the other side of the state.
3Berrien County collects a 5% lodging assessment that applies to all stays under 30 days.
4Bed and Breakfasts have specific rules under Section 92.20; if you provide food, you must follow those stricter regulations.
5ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) may have different restrictions; check Section 11 of the zoning code.
6Noise complaints are strictly enforced via the city's general nuisance code.
7Michigan state law regarding local STR preemption is currently a topic of legislative debate; rules may change quickly.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

St. Joseph allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Multi-family, Condominium, Apartment.
St. Joseph: In the Downtown (D) district, short-term rentals are not allowed on the street/ground floor of the building.
St. Joseph: STRs are PROHIBITED in R1 and R2 single-family residential zones; don't assume your neighborhood allows it.

Requirements18 rules

St. Joseph STR warning: Stairways, egress doors, and railings are strictly checked during the biennial safety inspection.
St. Joseph requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Certificate". Apply through Building Inspection Department. Processing time: Varies; requires inspection. Renewal is required.

Application process7 rules

St. Joseph extended permit requirement: Initial/biennial inspection fee: $85 for 1st unit; $70 per additional unit

Fees & costs1 rule

St. Joseph charges a registration fee of $100 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $85 (Initial/biennial inspection fee: $85 for 1st unit; $70 per additional unit).

Taxes1 rule

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

Limits & restrictions5 rules

St. Joseph enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
St. Joseph: Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 14 people regardless of building size.
St. Joseph occupancy calculation: Lesser of 14 occupants or 2 occupants per bedroom plus 2 additional per finished story. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
St. Joseph limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements2 rules

St. Joseph requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Working telephone in unit, Egress doors/stairways in safe condition, Railings in safe condition, Address clearly visible from street.

Penalties3 rules

St. Joseph: A $1,000 fine applies to your first offense for advertising or operating without a valid permit.
St. Joseph enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $1,000. Second offense: $2,500. Third offense: $2,500. Maximum fine: $2,500. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. Joseph

0/2

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning

Contact the City Planning Department to confirm that your specific address and property type allow for short-term rental use, as it is not explicitly listed in the residential permitted uses.

1-3 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Michigan Use Tax

Register with the Michigan Department of Treasury to collect and remit the 6% state Use Tax if the platform does not do so for you.

7-14 daysFree

Documents needed

SSN/FEIN
Business details

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 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. Joseph

Permissive

MichiganUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 2 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 2

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 0

Classification

Permissive

Severity

Why this classification

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

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1No dedicated STR ordinance exists; this means the city could potentially enforce prohibitions via zoning at any time.
2Do not confuse the 'City of St. Joseph' with 'St. Joseph County'—the county is on the other side of the state.
3Berrien County collects a 5% lodging assessment that applies to all stays under 30 days.
4Bed and Breakfasts have specific rules under Section 92.20; if you provide food, you must follow those stricter regulations.
5ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) may have different restrictions; check Section 11 of the zoning code.
6Noise complaints are strictly enforced via the city's general nuisance code.
7Michigan state law regarding local STR preemption is currently a topic of legislative debate; rules may change quickly.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

St. Joseph allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Multi-family, Condominium, Apartment.
St. Joseph: In the Downtown (D) district, short-term rentals are not allowed on the street/ground floor of the building.
St. Joseph: STRs are PROHIBITED in R1 and R2 single-family residential zones; don't assume your neighborhood allows it.

Requirements18 rules

St. Joseph STR warning: Stairways, egress doors, and railings are strictly checked during the biennial safety inspection.
St. Joseph requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Certificate". Apply through Building Inspection Department. Processing time: Varies; requires inspection. Renewal is required.

Application process7 rules

St. Joseph extended permit requirement: Initial/biennial inspection fee: $85 for 1st unit; $70 per additional unit

Fees & costs1 rule

St. Joseph charges a registration fee of $100 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $85 (Initial/biennial inspection fee: $85 for 1st unit; $70 per additional unit).

Taxes1 rule

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

Limits & restrictions5 rules

St. Joseph enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
St. Joseph: Maximum occupancy is strictly capped at 14 people regardless of building size.
St. Joseph occupancy calculation: Lesser of 14 occupants or 2 occupants per bedroom plus 2 additional per finished story. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
St. Joseph limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements2 rules

St. Joseph requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Working telephone in unit, Egress doors/stairways in safe condition, Railings in safe condition, Address clearly visible from street.

Penalties3 rules

St. Joseph: A $1,000 fine applies to your first offense for advertising or operating without a valid permit.
St. Joseph enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $1,000. Second offense: $2,500. Third offense: $2,500. Maximum fine: $2,500. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. Joseph

0/2

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning

Contact the City Planning Department to confirm that your specific address and property type allow for short-term rental use, as it is not explicitly listed in the residential permitted uses.

1-3 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Michigan Use Tax

Register with the Michigan Department of Treasury to collect and remit the 6% state Use Tax if the platform does not do so for you.

7-14 daysFree

Documents needed

SSN/FEIN
Business details

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 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

Verify Zoning

Register for Michigan Use Tax

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in St. Joseph?

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

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

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in St. Joseph?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning

Register for Michigan Use Tax

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in St. Joseph?

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

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

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in St. Joseph?

Disclaimer