Holland Short-Term Rental Rules & Airbnb Laws (2026)
Owner-occupied STRs are broadly allowed in Holland, but investor (non-owner-occupied) STRs in residential districts are capped at about 25 citywide with a waitlist. Commercial/mixed-use zones remain open.
Status: Capped / waitlist. County: Ottawa/Allegan County. Whole-home STRs: Yes for owner-occupied; investor STRs capped in residential zones. Caps: ~25 in LDR/CNR/TNR/MDR — reportedly full, waitlist. Annual cost: ~$85/yr first unit (confirm with city). Lodging taxes: 6% (state use tax only).
Investor takeaway: Holland is owner-occupant friendly and investor-restricted. Realistic investor entry today is limited to commercial or mixed-use zones — the residential cap is full and licenses don't survive a sale.
Last verified July 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice — confirm current requirements directly with the municipality before purchasing.
Holland at a glance
- Status
- Capped / waitlist
- County
- Ottawa/Allegan County
- Whole-home STRs
- Yes for owner-occupied; investor STRs capped in residential zones
- Cap / waitlist status
- ~25 in LDR/CNR/TNR/MDR — reportedly full, waitlist
- Annual cost
- ~$85/yr first unit (confirm with city)
- Lodging taxes
- 6% (state use tax only)
- Owner-occupied STRs
- Allowed in any zone — rent rooms while home, or whole home up to ~60 days/yr while away
- Investor STRs (residential)
- Capped at ~25 citywide across LDR, CNR, TNR, MDR with 500-ft separation; cap reportedly full — waitlist
- Investor STRs (commercial/mixed-use)
- No cap
- License transfer on sale?
- No — certificate suspends until buyer re-qualifies
- Registration fee
- ~$85/yr first unit (confirm with city)
- Inspection cycle
- 3- or 6-year cycles
- Local agent required?
- Yes for investor STRs — within 35 miles
- Lodging taxes
- 6% Michigan state use tax only
Two very different tracks: owner-occupied vs. investor
Holland's Unified Development Ordinance draws a hard line between owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied STRs. If Holland is your primary residence, you can rent rooms while you live there or rent the whole house for roughly 60 days per year while you're away — this is allowed in essentially any zone.
The investor track is much tighter. Non-owner-occupied STRs in the residential districts (LDR, CNR, TNR, MDR) are capped at approximately 25 citywide, with a 500-foot separation requirement between STRs. That cap is reportedly full with a waitlist. Investor STRs in commercial and mixed-use zones are not subject to the cap.
The transfer trap
STR certificates in Holland do not automatically transfer on sale. When an investor STR changes hands, the certificate suspends until the new owner re-qualifies — and if the cap is full at that moment, re-qualification may not be possible in a residential district.
If you're evaluating an operating STR in a Holland neighborhood, the license risk needs to be underwritten as if you're starting from zero.
Operating requirements
Investor STRs require a local agent within 35 miles for 24/7 response, safety inspections on 3- or 6-year cycles, and the standard rental certification process through Community & Neighborhood Services (616-355-1330). Registration is roughly $85 per year for the first unit — confirm current amounts with the city.
Lodging taxes are just the 6% Michigan state use tax; there is no additional county or city STR tax.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a house in a Holland neighborhood today and Airbnb it?
Practically, no — the ~25-unit residential cap is reportedly full with a waitlist. Commercial and mixed-use zoned properties do not have the cap and remain a realistic entry point for investor STRs.
Does the STR certificate transfer when I buy an existing STR?
No. The certificate suspends on sale until the new owner re-qualifies. Because the residential cap is currently full, re-qualification in those zones may not be possible — treat operating STRs in residential zones as license-risk assets.
Can I Airbnb my own house if I live in Holland?
Yes. Owner-occupied STRs are broadly allowed in any zone — you can rent rooms while home or rent the whole home for roughly 60 days per year while traveling.
What are the fees?
Roughly $85/yr for the first unit registration, plus periodic safety inspections. Confirm current fees with Community & Neighborhood Services at 616-355-1330 before you underwrite.
Investor takeaway
Holland is owner-occupant friendly and investor-restricted. Realistic investor entry today is limited to commercial or mixed-use zones — the residential cap is full and licenses don't survive a sale.
Sources
Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice — confirm current requirements with the municipality before purchasing.
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