Mears / Silver Lake Short-Term Rental Rules & Airbnb Laws (2026)
The Silver Lake Sand Dunes vacation zone — the friendliest regime on this list. Regulated by Golden Township (not the county, not a city) via Ordinance #52: no cap, no owner-occupancy requirement, absentee investors treated the same as locals. The compliance twist: annual septic inspection and a February 28 renewal deadline.
Status: Open to investors. County: Oceana County. Whole-home STRs: Yes, township-wide for single- and two-family dwellings. Caps: No cap; no owner-occupancy requirement. Annual cost: Fee set annually by township board — confirm at 231-873-4413. Lodging taxes: 6% (state use tax only).
Investor takeaway: The most investor-open market on this list, with huge dunes-driven demand. Budget for annual septic compliance and do not miss the February 28 renewal — those are the two ways operators stumble here.
Last verified July 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice — confirm current requirements directly with the municipality before purchasing.
Mears / Silver Lake at a glance
- Status
- Open to investors
- County
- Oceana County
- Whole-home STRs
- Yes, township-wide for single- and two-family dwellings
- Cap / waitlist status
- No cap; no owner-occupancy requirement
- Annual cost
- Fee set annually by township board — confirm at 231-873-4413
- Lodging taxes
- 6% (state use tax only)
- Regulator
- GOLDEN TOWNSHIP (not Oceana County, not a city) via Ordinance #52
- Cap
- None
- Owner-occupancy required?
- No — absentee investors treated the same as locals
- Eligible property types
- Single-family and two-family dwellings (confirm anything else with the Zoning Administrator)
- Permit year
- April 1 – March 31
- Renewal deadline
- FEBRUARY 28 each year — annual permit due via the township's online portal
- Application requires
- Application form, insurance docs, site plan with parking layout, property photo, renter rules, and — the big one — annual SEPTIC INSPECTION CERTIFICATION (most of the area is on septic)
- Occupancy
- 300 cubic feet of air space per person in sleeping rooms; max occupants stated on the permit card, which must be displayed visible from the road
- Parking (lot-size caps)
- 4 spaces (≤5,000 sq ft lot), 6 (≤8,000 sq ft), 10 (8,001+ sq ft); 20-ft emergency access corridor required
- Enforcement
- Each day of unpermitted rental = a separate violation; township added compliance software in 2025; residents pushing a 3-strikes policy
- Fee
- Set annually by the township board — confirm at 231-873-4413
- Lodging taxes
- 6% Michigan state use tax only
Golden Township is the regulator — not the county
The Silver Lake / Mears vacation zone is regulated by Golden Township, not Oceana County and not a city. The rules live in Township Ordinance #52. That single point trips up a lot of first-time investors: county filings, city searches, and generic Michigan STR guides don't apply here — you're dealing directly with the township.
Under Ordinance #52, STRs are permitted township-wide for single- and two-family dwellings under an annual permit. There is no cap and no owner-occupancy requirement — absentee investors are treated the same as locals. That combination is why Silver Lake is the most investor-open market on this list.
The February 28 deadline and the septic step
Annual permits are due by February 28 each year for a permit year that runs April 1 through March 31. Renewal is handled through the township's online portal.
The application requires an application form, insurance documentation, a site plan showing parking layout, a property photo, renter rules — and the compliance item most operators miss on their first cycle: an annual septic inspection certification. Most of the Silver Lake area is on septic rather than municipal sewer, so this is a real annual cost and lead time item.
Occupancy and parking rules that bite
Occupancy is set at 300 cubic feet of air space per person in sleeping rooms, and the maximum occupant count is stated on the permit card. That card must be displayed visible from the road.
Parking is capped by lot size — 4 spaces for lots up to 5,000 sq ft, 6 spaces for lots up to 8,000 sq ft, and 10 spaces for larger lots — with a 20-foot emergency access corridor required in every case. Under-parking a lot relative to occupancy is one of the more common violations.
Enforcement is rising
Each day of unpermitted rental counts as a separate violation. In 2025 the township added compliance software to track listings, and residents are pushing for a formal 3-strikes policy. The window on informal operation is closing — get on-permit and stay on-permit.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the STR permit in Silver Lake / Mears?
Golden Township — not Oceana County and not a city. The rules are in Township Ordinance #52. Contact 231-873-4413 for the current permit fee and the online portal.
Is there a cap or an owner-occupancy rule?
Neither. There is no numeric cap and no owner-occupancy requirement — absentee investors are treated the same as locals.
What are the biggest compliance items?
The February 28 annual renewal deadline, the annual septic inspection certification (most of the area is on septic), and the lot-size-based parking caps.
Can I STR a condo, triplex, or larger building?
Ordinance #52 covers single- and two-family dwellings. Confirm anything else with the Zoning Administrator before purchase.
Investor takeaway
The most investor-open market on this list, with huge dunes-driven demand. Budget for annual septic compliance and do not miss the February 28 renewal — those are the two ways operators stumble here.
Sources
Last verified July 2026. General information, not legal advice — confirm current requirements with the municipality before purchasing.
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