Saugatuck · Allegan County
Short-term rental co-hosting in Saugatuck, Michigan.
Yes, Saugatuck allows whole-home short-term rentals, but in its six R-1 residential districts they're capped at 20% of dwellings and most districts are already over the cap, which means a waitlist. Outside the R-1 districts there's no cap. The license is $540 a year. For owners weighing Saugatuck short-term rental management options, co-hosting covers the same work, design, pricing, guests, turnovers, while the listing and its reviews stay on your account.
Saugatuck short-term rental rules at a glance
- Whole-home rentals
- Yes, with a license
- Cap or limit
- 20% in six R-1 districts (most full); none elsewhere
- License cost
- $540/yr + $175 failed-inspection recheck
- Lodging tax
- 6%
Verified against municipal sources, last reviewed July 2026. Rules change. Confirm your exact address with the city before you buy. See the full Saugatuck ordinance detail.
What it's really like to run a rental in Saugatuck.
Saugatuck is the lakeshore's boutique market: galleries, Oval Beach, dune rides, and a downtown that pulls weekenders from Chicago all year. Rates here are some of the strongest on the shoreline, and the season stretches further than people expect, from tulip season through New Year's.
The rules are district-level. Inside the six R-1 zones, STRs are limited to one in five dwellings, and most of those zones are full. Elsewhere in the city, whole-home rentals are open with a license. Budget $540 a year, plus $175 if the property fails an inspection and needs a recheck.
We co-host Saugatuck homes with the zoning map open. Before a client buys, we confirm the district, the district's cap count, and the waitlist. After closing, we handle design, daily pricing, guests, and turnovers while payouts go straight to the owner.
Our take
In Saugatuck the zoning district matters more than the zip code. Buy outside R-1 and the whole market opens up.
What we handle
- Design and listing build
- Daily dynamic pricing
- Guest messaging, any hour
- Turnovers and laundered linens
- Maintenance and vendor coordination
- Monthly owner reporting
You stay the host of record. Payouts come straight from the platform to you. Our 25% service fee is a co-host split.
Questions we get
Saugatuck short-term rental FAQ
Can I Airbnb a house in Saugatuck, MI?
Yes, with a city license. Whole-home rentals are legal throughout the city. In the six R-1 residential districts they're capped at 20% of dwellings and most districts are over the cap, so new licenses there go to a waitlist. Outside R-1, no cap applies.
How much is a Saugatuck STR license?
$540 a year, plus a $175 reinspection fee if the property fails its inspection. Lodging tax is the state 6%, which Airbnb collects and remits for you on platform bookings.
Is the Saugatuck cap per neighborhood?
Effectively, yes. The 20% limit applies separately within each of the six R-1 districts, so one neighborhood can have a waitlist while another district, or a property outside R-1 entirely, is wide open. We check the specific address, not just the city.
Can I co-host in Saugatuck if I live out of state?
Yes. You remain the host of record and the platform pays you directly. We run everything on the ground: guest messaging, pricing, housekeeping, maintenance, and the monthly report.
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