Big Rapids, Michigan Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Big Rapids, MI?

Yes. Short-term rentals (STRs) are allowed in Big Rapids under a municipal ordinance adopted March 4, 2024. STRs are defined as dwellings rented or leased for 28 days or less. The city permits STRs in multiple zoning districts, with distinct occupancy, owner-occupancy, and notification requirements. All rental units must obtain a Housing Maintenance Certificate through the city’s mandatory Rental Inspection Program before occupancy.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Big Rapids

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Allowed districts: R1, RP, R2, R3, RR, and C2.
Not allowed for STR purposes: C1, C3, and I (industrial).
If your property is in R1 or RP, it must be your principal residence (owner-occupied), and you may host one additional short-term occupant.
In RR, R2, R3, and C2: occupancy is capped at two people per legal bedroom, with a maximum of 10 people per house. A legal bedroom must be at least 70 ft² with 50 ft² per person and two forms of adequate egress.

Designate a Local Contact

Owners living outside a 10-mile radius of the city must appoint a local contact person who can respond in person at the property within 24 hours for safety, police, fire, health, or welfare issues.

Prepare for Mandatory Rental Inspection

All residential properties occupied by someone other than the owner must pass an annual inspection under the Rental Certification Program before renting. The program is based on the Housing Law of Michigan (Act 167), the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, and the 2024 Fire Code.
The property owner and/or manager must be present at the inspection.

Apply for the Housing Maintenance Certificate

Submit the “Housing Maintenance Certification, Short-Term Housing Application” to the Community Development Department.
You will receive an invoice and inspection notice. Pay fees, correct violations, and pass inspection to receive your certificate.

Comply with Notification and Ongoing Obligations

After certification, the city notifies property owners within 300 feet that your property is certified as a short-term rental.
Renew annually; inspections occur at the beginning of each cycle. Follow zoning and housing codes at all times.

State Tax Compliance

Register with the Michigan Department of Treasury if your platform does not automatically collect and remit the 6% Michigan use tax on rentals of fewer than 30 days.
Track rental activity for accurate filing.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Housing Maintenance Certificate (Short-Term Housing Application)
- Owner information and contact details
- Responsible Party or Agent designation
- Rental property address, number of units/bedrooms, proposed occupancy
- Signature and date
Zoning Compliance
- Allowed in R1, RP, R2, R3, RR, C2
- Prohibited in C1, C3, I
- Parking: minimum one space per bedroom per unit (Article 5 of the Zoning Ordinance)
Safety & Housing Codes (enforced during inspection)
- 2024 International Property Maintenance Code
- 2024 Fire Code
- City Housing Regulations (Chapter 151 of the Code of Ordinances)
Local Contact Designation
- Required if owner does not live within 10 miles; contact must be able to respond in person within 24 hours
State Tax Registration
- Michigan Department of Treasury, if applicable, for 6% use tax

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

City of Big Rapids

Maximum stay: 28 days
Zoning allowances:
- R1 and RP: Owner-occupied (principal residence); one additional short-term occupant permitted
- R2, R3, RR, C2: Up to two occupants per legal bedroom; maximum 10 people per house
- C1, C3, I: Short-term occupancy not allowed
Inspection program:
- Mandatory for any rental property (owner-occupied short-term rentals included)
- Annual certificate required
- Common inspection items:
  - Egress: unlocking from inside without a key; egress windows in all bedrooms; bottom edge no more than 44 inches above the floor
  - Smoke detectors: operational; ≤10 years old; required outside sleeping areas, in each sleeping room, on each floor, and at the top of stairways; sealed detectors must have a 10-year battery
  - House numbers: block style, ≥4 inches high, near front door or over garage door, visible from the street; contrasting color; 3 feet minimum height from ground
  - Fire safety: ABC-rated fire extinguisher (≥35 oz dry chemical) in each kitchen, mounted 42–60 inches high; minimum 42 inches away from the stove
  - Electrical: 2 outlets per room or 1 outlet + 1 ceiling light; no misuse of extension cords; no spliced wiring; fusing: 15 AMP (14 wire), 20 AMP (12 wire), 30 AMP (10 wire)
  - Appliance/ventilation: proper ventilation of gas appliances; no storage within 3 feet of gas water heater or furnace; flammable liquids stored properly
  - Interior/exterior maintenance: no holes in interior finishes or cracked windows; exterior must be free of holes or entry points for vermin; no blight (junk cars/parts, garbage, rubbish, indoor appliances/furniture left outside)
  - Accessory structures: must be in good repair
Fees:
- First unit per building: $40
- Each additional unit per building: $30
- Reinspection (if required): $40 (no charge if violations corrected prior to reinspection)
- Failure to attend scheduled inspection: $25
- Cabins, hotels, motels: $70
- Unpaid fees are doubled after the due date on the invoice
Neighbor notification:
- After certification, owners within 300 feet are notified that your property is certified as a short-term rental

Mecosta County

No county-specific STR regulations were identified in the provided materials. County-level rules may exist separately; confirm directly with Mecosta County if you plan to operate outside city limits.

State of Michigan

Use Tax: 6% tax on rentals of fewer than 30 days. Many platforms remit automatically; if not, register with the Michigan Department of Treasury and file/use tax returns as required.
No dedicated statewide STR license; municipalities set local permitting, zoning, and safety requirements. Hosts must also comply with any applicable local lodging or tourism taxes.

Contact Information

City of Big Rapids

Community Development Department (Rental Inspections & Certification)
- Phone: 231-592-4057
- Email: Craig Pepper (Rental Inspector), cpepper@cityofbr.org
- City Hall: 226 North Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307
- Phone (main): 231-592-4020
- Website: cityofbr.org
- Rental inspection payment portal: bsaonline.com/?uid=131

Michigan Department of Treasury (Taxation)

Website: michigan.gov/taxes
Note: Confirm whether your platform collects/remits the 6% use tax. If not, register and file returns as a lodging provider.

Links to Source Pages

Big Rapids adopts ordinance regulating short-term rentals: bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/big-rapids-adopts-ordinance-regulating-airbnb-18712065.php
City of Big Rapids – Rental Inspections Program: cityofbr.org/department/community_development/rental_inspections/index.php
Housing Maintenance Certification, Short-Term Housing Application (PDF): cms6.revize.com/revize/bigrapidsmi/document_center/Neighborhood%20Services/Housing%20Maintenance%20Certification,%20Short-Term%20Housing%20Application%20-%20Fillable.pdf
Big Rapids considers STR ordinance (context): michigansthumb.com/news/article/big-rapids-michigan-consider-short-term-rental-18552234.php
Michigan STR laws overview (state-level context): redawning.com/pm/post/michigan-short-term-rental-laws

Investor Notes

Early engagement with the city’s inspection cycle helps avoid downtime. Coordinate multiple properties on a single inspection day if possible.
Maintain meticulous records for taxes and inspections. If you change usage (e.g., from long-term to short-term), notify the city and re-certify as required.
If you are not locally based, your local contact is integral to compliance and guest safety. Ensure they are empowered to resolve issues within 24 hours.
Check HOA, condo, or neighborhood rules in addition to city ordinances; private covenants may impose additional restrictions.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Big Rapids?

Big Rapids hosts earn a median $25,903/year with $186 ADR and 57% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $34,625+ per year.

See the full Big Rapids market breakdown

Next step

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Ask the AI Advisor about Big Rapids

Big Rapids is a small college town set in the rolling, lake-dotted landscape of west-central Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It serves as the county seat of Mecosta County and is home to a population of roughly 10,000 residents, a figure that swells noticeably when students are in session. The city carries the relaxed, outdoorsy character of many northern Michigan communities, with a walkable downtown anchored by locally owned shops, cafes, and a historic theatre, and a community calendar that revolves around university life, river recreation, and seasonal festivals. Big Rapids sits along the Muskegon River and is widely regarded as a gateway to the surrounding Mecosta County lakes, forests, and trail systems. It lies approximately 55 miles north of Grand Rapids, the nearest major city, making it a convenient weekend escape for visitors coming from Michigan's largest metropolitan area.

A major draw of the area is the Muskegon River itself, which winds directly through town and is one of the most popular trout and steelhead fishing streams in the lower peninsula. The river also draws summer crowds for tubing, kayaking, and canoeing, with several outfitters and public access points within minutes of downtown. Its steady current and tree-lined banks give the city a vacation-resort feel on warm weekends, even though it remains a year-round community.

Just east of town, the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park stretches for miles as a paved and natural-surface rail-trail, following a former railroad corridor northward through Mecosta County. The trail is popular for hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing, and its Big Rapids access point offers an easy entry for visitors who want to spend a few hours exploring the surrounding woodlands without leaving town.

Big Rapids is also the home of Ferris State University, a long-established public university whose campus brings a steady rhythm of sporting events, performances, and conferences to the city throughout the year. Bulldogs athletics, along with the university's notable pharmacy, optometry, and criminal justice programs, draw visitors from across Michigan and the wider Midwest, providing a dependable baseline of off-season demand for lodging in the area.

For visitors willing to drive a bit farther, the surrounding region is sprinkled with inland lakes, state game areas, and small resort communities, and the long-distance North Country Trail passes through Mecosta County. The Big Rapids Riverwalk, a pedestrian path along the river, ties the downtown, the university, and the waterfront together.

For short-term rental investors, Big Rapids offers an appealing combination of small-town affordability and a layered demand profile: university traffic during the academic year, river and trail tourism in the warmer months, and a relatively underserved lodging market that is within easy reach of Grand Rapids. Its mix of natural attractions, a college-driven calendar, and proximity to Michigan's second-largest city gives it a versatility that few similarly sized communities can match.