Please note, this article covers Casco Township in Allegan County, which borders Lake Michigan. Be careful not to confuse it with a township of the exact same name that is in St. Clair County, outside of Detroit.
Does Casco Township (Allegan County) Allow Short-Term Rentals?
Yes, Casco Township allows short-term rentals. There is an annual registration and inspection requirement, along with a $325 fee. Some specific requirements of short-term rentals in Casco Township include:
- An owner, or designated agent, must be able to respond to the property within one hour
- Maximum occupancy is 12 people
- The minimal rental period is 3 days and there can be only one rental turnover per week
- A septic inspection may be required at an extra cost
The town provides a robust webpage on the topic.
WHAT CITIES ARE LOCATED IN CASCO TOWNSHIP (ALLEGAN COUNTY)?
Casco Township does not have any cities within its township, however, nearby cities include South Haven and Bloomingdale.
SOUTH HAVEN
ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS ALLOWED IN SOUTH HAVEN?
When we contacted the city of South Haven on July 28th of 2021, Carrol M. replied with the following:
These are the two Designations to choose from:
Personal STRs
1. Can be rented up to 6 terms per year for a total of up to 28 days.
2. Must pass inspection every 2 years.
3. Must pay a biannual fee of $100, every 2 years to cover the cost of inspection
4. A property owner may only register one personal STR in the City. Any other dwelling units in the City may only be registered as business STRs.
5. The maximum occupancy of a personal STR is calculated based on the formula in the City Code, but cannot exceed 12 persons.
Business STRs
1. Can be rented an unlimited number of times per year.
2. Must pass inspection every year.
3. Must pay an annual fee of $500 designed to offset the cost of the City’s regulation of STR program.
4. The maximum occupancy of a business STR is calculated based on the formula in the City Code, but cannot exceed 12 persons.
For more information visit South Haven’s short term rental resource page
WHAT IS THE POPULATION OF SOUTH HAVEN?
South Haven has a population of 4,354 people as of 2019.
POPULATION GROWTH OF SOUTH HAVEN?
The population has shrunk by 0.037% from 2010 to 2019.
HOW MANY TOURISTS VISIT SOUTH HAVEN EVERY YEAR?
Around 1.6 million people visit the areas of South Haven/Van Buren Counties.
IS THERE A STARBUCKS IN SOUTH HAVEN?
Yes, there is a Starbucks kiosk located inside of a Family Fare Supermarket.
WHAT GROCERY STORES ARE IN SOUTH HAVEN?
There is a Meijer, Aldi, and Walmart as well as a few local grocery stores like the Olive Cart.
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS IN SOUTH HAVEN?
The top three must-see places are:
- The South Haven Lighthouses
- The Michigan Maritime Museum
- North Beach
TOP 3 RESTAURANTS IN SOUTH HAVEN?
The top three restaurant picks are:
- Clementines
- Captain Lou’s
- Taste
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 CALENDAR EVENTS IN SOUTH HAVEN?
Three major events that take place in the city are:
- The National Blueberry Festival
- MerFest International
- February’s Ice Breaker party
BLOOMINGDALE
ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS ALLOWED IN BLOOMINGDALE?
Yes, there are currently no ordinances related to rental properties.
WHAT IS THE POPULATION OF BLOOMINGDALE?
Bloomingdale has a population of 551 people as of 2019.
POPULATION GROWTH OF BLOOMINGDALE?
The population has stayed relatively flat from 2010 to 2019.
HOW MANY TOURISTS VISIT BLOOMINGDALE EVERY YEAR?
Around 1.6 million people visit the areas of South Haven/Van Buren Counties.
IS THERE A STARBUCKS IN BLOOMINGDALE ?
No, Bloomingdale does not have a Starbucks location.
WHAT GROCERY STORES ARE IN BLOOMINGDALE ?
Bloomingdale has no national grocery stores, yet they do offer a number of local options, such as Wagoner’s and Bloomingdale Bulk Foods
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS IN BLOOMINGDALE ?
The top three must-see places are:
- Jeptha Lake Golf Course
- Shady Brook Park
- Great Bear Lake
TOP 3 RESTAURANTS IN BLOOMINGDALE ?
The top three restaurant picks are:
- Nino’s Pizza & Subs
- Malia’s Mexican Restaurant
- The Den Deli & Cafe
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 CALENDAR EVENTS IN BLOOMINGDALE?
Three major events that take place in the city are:
- Bloomingdale Heritage Days
- Bloomingdale Holiday Parade of Lights and Old Fashioned Christmas in the Park (PDF)
- Blueberry Festival (South Haven)
WHAT LAKES OR RIVERS ARE LOCATED IN CASCO TOWNSHIP?
LAKE MICHIGAN
HOW BIG IS LAKE MICHIGAN?
Lake Michigan has 14,339,503 acres in total.
IS IT AN ALL-SPORTS LAKE?
Lake Michigan is an all-sports lake, where people can jet ski, kayak, canoe, kneeboard, go tubing, and more.
WHAT TYPES OF FISH?
Popular species found in Lake Michigan include Rainbow Smelt, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Steelhead, and more.
IS IT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE?
It is a public lake with multiple entrances along North Shore Drive and Blue Star Highway.
DOES CASCO TOWNSHIP HAVE A BOAT LAUNCH?
There are no boat launches in Casco Township. However, there is at least one boat launch on the Black River in nearby South Haven, and one on the Kalamazoo River in nearby Saugatuck. After launching in these rivers, it is a quick ride to Lake Michigan.
BLACK RIVER
HOW BIG IS BLACK RIVER?
Black River is 4.2 miles long and empties into Lake Michigan. The average water depth here ranges from one to six feet.
WHAT SPORTS TAKE PLACE ON BLACK RIVER?
Sports such as rafting and kayaking take place on this river. Motorized boats and jet skis can have a difficult time on the river due to the shallow depth of it in certain areas.
WHAT TYPES OF FISH?
Popular species found here are Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Walleye, Panfish, and more. Due to the rivers reach there are a variety of different fish found here.
IS IT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE?
It is a public lake with multiple points of entry available. A majority of the area is surrounded by State and County Forests.
DOES BLACK RIVER HAVE A BOAT LAUNCH?
There are no boat launches in Casco Township. However, there is at least one boat launch on the Black River in nearby South Haven.
WHAT ARE THE TOP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN CASCO TOWNSHIP?
Besides spending time on the water, folks in Casco Township also have access to walking, hiking, and biking trails at the 9-acre Casco Township Nature Preserve. This park also has beach access to Lake Michigan.
Another popular activity is golfing at Hawkshead Links Public Golf Course. This course was designed by world-renowned golf architect Arthur Hill and has been rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest.
Finally, folks in Casco Township take advantage of the great fruit farms in the area, with self-pick options at Overhiser Orchards, Bumbleberry Acres, and more.