Thinking of a short-term rental near the Holland lakeshore? Check the rules first

If you’re looking at a place near the Holland lakeshore and picturing renting it out on Airbnb or Vrbo, slow down and check the local rules — they vary a lot from one community to the next, and some are strict. The clearest example is Park Township, the lakeshore township just outside Holland that includes the popular Ottawa Beach and Lake Macatawa area near Holland State Park. As of late 2025, Park Township bans short-term rentals — stays of less than 28 days — in its regular residential neighborhoods. They’re only allowed in a small resort-zoned strip along the water.

This rule has been fought over in court for years. The township moved to start enforcing a long-standing zoning ordinance, a group of rental owners sued, a judge put the ban on hold for a while, the township rewrote its rules, and after several more rulings the ban was upheld in late 2025. The township has said it will fine owners who keep renting, and another lawsuit was filed in early 2026 — so this is still an active, changing situation. The takeaway for a buyer is simple: don’t count on short-term rental income near the lakeshore until you’ve confirmed it’s actually allowed for that specific property. In Park Township’s residential neighborhoods right now, it isn’t.