Grand Haven Township is a suburb of Grand Haven City. But please note, the Township and the City are separate legal entities, each with its own ordinances. Both the Township and the City will be covered in this article.
DOES GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP ALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS?
Per the Township website, Short-Term Rentals are NOT allowed in Grand Haven Township. The township was in the process of drafting new ordinances to allow STR, but COVID temporarily delayed the discussions. These STR discussions are expected to be revived in the future.
WHAT CITIES ARE LOCATED IN GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP?
Grand Haven Township does not have any cities within its township borders, however, nearby cities include Grand Haven City and Allendale.
GRAND HAVEN CITY
ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS ALLOWED IN GRAND HAVEN CITY?
Yes, short-term rentals are permitted in Grand Haven City, but only in certain sections of the town:
- Southside (only properties that front on Franklin between 5th and Harbor)
- Old Town (only on Key Street Segments subject to special use approval)
- Central Business District
- Dune Residential (subject to special use approval)
- Waterfront-2
- Grand Landing
- The Elliott on Seventh
- Harbourfront Condos.
The City also has requirements for annual registration, inspection, and a $40 fee per unit.
WHAT IS THE POPULATION OF GRAND HAVEN CITY?
Grand Haven City has a population of 10,994 people as of 2019.
POPULATION GROWTH OF GRAND HAVEN CITY?
The population stayed relatively flat from 2010 to 2019.
HOW MANY TOURISTS VISIT GRAND HAVEN CITY EVERY YEAR?
At least 2.1 million people visit Grand Haven City each year.
IS THERE A STARBUCKS IN GRAND HAVEN CITY?
Yes, there are at least three Starbucks in the city, on the northern and southern ends of Route 31.
WHAT GROCERY STORES ARE IN GRAND HAVEN CITY?
There are many grocery choices in the city. This includes national chains (Meijer, Walmart) and several local stores.
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS IN GRAND HAVEN CITY?
The top three must-see places are:
- Grand Haven Lighthouse and Pier
- The Musical Fountain
- Tri-Cities Historical Museum
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 RESTAURANTS IN GRAND HAVEN CITY?
The top three restaurant picks are:
- Morning Star Cafe
- The Toasted Pickle
- J.W.’s Food & Spirits
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 CALENDAR EVENTS IN GRAND HAVEN CITY?
Three major events that take place in the city are:
- Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival
- Mac N’ Cheese Festival
- Grand Haven Art Festival
ALLENDALE
ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS ALLOWED IN ALLENDALE?
Yes, short-term rentals are permitted in Allendale. The city ordinance does not distinguish short versus long-term rentals. The city has requirements for annual registration, inspection, and a $10 fee per unit.
WHAT IS THE POPULATION OF ALLENDALE?
Allendale has a population of 21,672 people as of 2019.
POPULATION GROWTH OF ALLENDALE?
The population has increased 26% from 2010 to 2019.
HOW MANY TOURISTS VISIT ALLENDALE EVERY YEAR?
Allendale is home to the Grand Valley State University which hosts more than 25,000 students each year.
IS THERE A STARBUCKS IN ALLENDALE?
Yes, there are at least two Starbucks in the city, one in the city’s center and the other near the University
WHAT GROCERY STORES ARE IN ALLENDALE?
The city has two local grocery options: Family Fare Supermarket and Daily Deals Food Outlet.
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 ATTRACTIONS IN ALLENDALE?
The top three must-see places are:
- Grand Valley State University Lubbers Stadium
- Engine House No. 5 Museum
- Meadows Club House Golf Course
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 RESTAURANTS IN ALLENDALE?
The top three restaurant picks are:
- Murphy’s Family Restaurant
- Main St. Pub
- Aroy Thai Restaurant
WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 CALENDAR EVENTS IN ALLENDALE?
Three major events that take place in the city are:
- Allendale Fall Festival
- Hometown Holiday Celebration
- 4th of July Celebration
WHAT LAKES OR RIVERS ARE LOCATED IN GRAND HAVEN 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. There are a few park areas along Lakeside Avenue offering public access to Lake Michigan.
DOES GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP HAVE A BOAT LAUNCH?
There are no boat launches directly into Lake Michigan. However, there is at least one launch (Odawa/Battle Boat Launch) into Grand River, which is a short boat ride out to Lake Michigan.
Grand River
HOW LONG IS GRAND RIVER?
Grand River is 252 miles long, the longest river in Michigan.
WHAT SPORTS TAKE PLACE ON GRAND RIVER?
Popular activities on the river include canoeing and kayaking. Parts of the river are also deep enough for motor boating. Fishing is probably the most common sport on the river.
WHAT TYPES OF FISH?
Popular species found here are steelhead, salmon, smallmouth bass, lake trout, coho, Skamania, catfish, bass walleye, and more.
IS IT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE?
It is a public river with many points of access.
DOES GRAND RIVER HAVE A BOAT LAUNCH?
Yes, there is at least one launch from the Township (Odawa/Battle Boat Launch) into Grand River. There are many more if you travel into nearby Grand Haven and Allendale.
WHAT ARE THE TOP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP?
In addition to the wide variety of water activities in the area, the folks of Gran Haven Township enjoy hiking and beach access in the Rosy Mound Natural Area.
Head north in the city and experience 46-acres of sand in the Grand Haven State Park. This is also the home of the very popular boardwalk, pier, and lighthouse.
Travel east into Allendale and visit the 1,655-acre Bass River Recreation Area, with its 6-miles of trails.
Local golfing attractions include the Pigeon Creek Golf Course inside the Township and Meadows Club House in Allendale.
Related: Are Short Term Rentals Allowed in Charlevoix Township?