Can You Airbnb Your Cottage? Short-Term Rental Rules Around Fremont and Newaygo

A lake cottage that pays for part of itself is a big draw, and plenty of buyers around Fremont and Newaygo ask the same first question: can I rent this out on Airbnb or VRBO? The honest answer is that it depends entirely on where the property sits, because in Michigan short-term rentals are regulated locally, township by township and city by city. Here is what that means for this area, and how to check before you count on rental income.

As of now, Michigan has not passed a statewide law that overrides local short-term rental rules. Bills to do that have been introduced repeatedly without becoming law, so the authority still sits with your city or township. That is why two cottages a few miles apart can face completely different rules. Never assume the whole county works one way.

Here is the current picture from the local ordinances, and it is a genuine patchwork:

Brooks Township (which includes Brooks Lake and Hess Lake) has a short-term rental ordinance that permits rentals in single-family homes for stays of not more than 29 consecutive nights, with standards attached: off-street parking, closed trash containers, an owner or local agent reachable by phone and located within about 20 miles, a posted street address, compliance with the noise ordinance, and sleeping limited to actual bedrooms with proper egress. If you are buying here to rent, those standards are the framework to plan around.

The City of Newaygo and Croton Township do not address short-term rentals in their zoning ordinances at all. Important nuance: silence is not the same as permission. It means you must confirm the current position directly with the city or township before relying on it, because an ordinance can be added, or another rule may apply.

The City of Fremont and several other townships (including Big Prairie, which borders Hardy Dam Pond, plus Everett and Ashland) did not have a short-term rental ordinance I could confirm from an official source. That does not mean rentals are allowed or banned, it means the rule must be verified with that specific jurisdiction before you buy with rental income in mind.

Do not take a listing's word, or mine, for what a property allows. Identify the exact city or township the parcel sits in, then contact that jurisdiction's zoning administrator and ask specifically about short-term rentals: whether they are allowed, whether registration or a permit is required, and whether any caps, inspections, or standards apply. If a homeowners association is involved, check its rules too, since an HOA can restrict rentals even where the township allows them. Do this during your due-diligence window, not after closing.

This article is general local information to help you get oriented, not legal advice, and short-term rental rules change and differ by jurisdiction. Ordinances are amended, and new ones are adopted. Before you buy a property expecting to rent it, you and your agent should confirm the current rules directly with the specific city or township, and review any HOA restrictions. I do this research for my clients and confirm the rules for the exact parcel in play.

• Michigan regulates short-term rentals locally; there is no statewide law overriding city and township rules.

• Brooks Township permits short-term rentals in single-family homes for stays up to 29 nights, with standards.

• The City of Newaygo and Croton Township have no short-term rental provisions in zoning, but silence is not permission.

• The City of Fremont and several townships had no ordinance I could confirm, so verify directly.

• Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction, and check any HOA rules, before buying to rent.

Tamara Hekkema is a REALTOR® and Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®) with Greenridge Realty serving Newaygo and Muskegon counties, including the Fremont and Newaygo lakes. She helps buyers understand what a property will and will not allow, including short-term rentals, before they write an offer. If income potential is part of your plan, she can help you verify it up front.

• Buying a Lake Home Around Fremont and Newaygo County

• The Hidden Costs of Owning a Lake Home in the Fremont and Newaygo Area

• Is Newaygo, Michigan a Good Place to Live?

If part of your plan is renting the place out, tell me the lakes you are considering and I will help you confirm each area's short-term rental rules before you buy, so the numbers are real.

• Brooks Township Short-Term Rental Ordinance 2024-103: brookstownshipmi.gov (PDF)

• City of Newaygo Zoning Ordinance: newaygo.gov (PDF)

• City of Fremont (MI) Joint Zoning Ordinance: cityoffremont.net

• Michigan Legislature (short-term rental bill status): legislature.mi.gov