Rental Rules by City / Michigan / Saugatuck
Saugatuck short-term rental rules & tax calculator
📋 The Basics
- Can I rent my place short-term here?
- Only in some areas
- Do I need a permit?
- Licensed; limited licenses.
- What taxes do I pay?
- Total about 6%. Check your Airbnb payout report to see which ones Airbnb collects; you pay the rest yourself.
Your 3 steps to be legal
- Check license availability.
- Apply ($540).
- Pass fire inspection.
⚠️ Biggest risk: No license number in ads.
Words confusing? See the glossary. Details and official sources are below.
Tax calculator
Rates used: Michigan use tax (lodging) 6% = 6%. Mandatory cleaning fees are included in the taxable total. Michigan 6% use tax on lodging; local assessments: verify.
What Airbnb collects: Verify in payouts which taxes your platform remits.
Advanced details (laws, fees, sources)
Rules
| License | City STR license for stays under 31 days (Ch. 99.5, Ord. 240229-B); $540/yr; fire inspection ($175 per reinspection). Licenses are limited: see the city's notice of available licenses. (Not yet confirmed on the official page: 99.5. Verify with the local office.) |
|---|---|
| Limits | 2 per bedroom + 2 per floor, max 12; visitors up to 1.5x 7am-11pm; license number in all ads; rental insurance; respond to complaints within 2 hours. |
Items marked "Verify with the city" could not be confirmed from an official source; call the office listed before relying on them.
Sources
Free tools
Free "Is my rental legal?" checklist · Free tourist tax calculator
Rules can change
Saugatuck's rules, its tax rates and platform policies can change through a council vote, a new state law or a court ruling, often with little notice to hosts. We re-check this page monthly; subscribers get notified. Stay Compliant for $4.99/mo.
Want it done for you?
Get a personalized STR Compliance Check ($49) for your exact address in any US city: the permits, registrations and tax accounts you need, with official sources, delivered by email in 48 business hours. Not legal advice.
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Stay Compliant: $4.99/month
Rules, tax rates and Airbnb/Vrbo policies can change without warning, and hosts who miss a change can be fined. Get alerts when your city, county or state changes, deadline reminders, a pending-bill watch list and a monthly host brief (even in quiet months: "we checked on [date]; no changes"). Compare plans.
By paying, you agree to our Terms and Refund Policy.
Not legal or tax advice. Last verified Oct 24, 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm with the official sources linked before you rent or file.