Short-term rentals in Grand Haven: allowed, but only in certain spots

Grand Haven is a beach town, so short-term rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo) are a common question. The city’s answer is “yes, but only in the right places — and you have to register.” Some lakeshore towns ban vacation rentals in neighborhoods outright. The city of Grand Haven doesn’t. Instead, it allows short-term rentals only in certain zoning districts — mostly downtown, the waterfront, and a few defined areas. Every rental has to register with the city each year and pass an inspection. Rentals that were already certified can keep operating, and they can transfer to a new owner. But if you’re buying a home in a regular residential neighborhood and hoping to rent it short-term, that generally won’t be allowed. The neighboring Grand Haven Charter Township has its own separate rules. It limits where short-term rentals can go, too.

The practical advice is the same all along this coast. It is worth getting short-term renting confirmed in writing for that exact property before counting on the income. A few things are worth checking. One is whether it sits in an approved zone. Another is whether it already holds a rental certificate. And a condo or neighborhood association may have its own rules on top of the city’s.