South Haven, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
South Haven has an STR moratorium; shoreline STRs averaged $516 a night, 67.1% occupancy, $9,357 monthly revenue in August 2026.
Quick Answer: South Haven, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Michigan West Coastal market area is 44%. average monthly revenue in the Michigan West Coastal market area is $5,319. average daily rate in the Michigan West Coastal market area is $443. the top operator in the Michigan West Coastal market area is Jaqua Realtors with 251 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Michigan West Coastal regional market, which includes South Haven. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to South Haven.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
South Haven is a Lake Michigan beach town of 4,001 year-round residents that draws over 400,000 visitors a year, according to the area profile. Rental rules come first here. The city has a moratorium on new STR registrations, a density cap of 1 STR per 4 homes, and strict enforcement. The regulatory section covers the details.
Performance data for South Haven is reported as a series shared with six other Lake Michigan shoreline towns: Grand Haven, Manistee, New Buffalo, Saint Joseph, Saugatuck, and Union Pier. The figures below therefore describe the Lake Michigan shoreline STR market, not South Haven alone.
In August 2026, the latest month in the data, the Lake Michigan shoreline STR market averaged $516 per night at 67.1% occupancy. Average monthly revenue was $9,357. Houses earned $10,194 per month, entire-place rentals earned $9,506, and apartments earned $6,409. Compared with August 2025, occupancy fell 4.7%, ADR rose 7.0%, and revenue rose 2.2%.
Over the longer term, average ADR rose from $335 in 2024 to $345 in 2025, and average monthly revenue rose 7.6%, from $4,140 to $4,453. Average occupancy was 46.2% in 2025, up from 44.9% in 2024. The 2026 average through August is 51.0% occupancy, $375 ADR, and $5,290 in monthly revenue. That partial year includes the summer peak and leaves out the weak fall and winter months, so it is not comparable to a full year.
Demand is summer-peaked. Visitors come from the Chicago, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Detroit metros, along with second-home owners. Draws include nine public beach access points, the harbor and lighthouse, and the annual National Blueberry Festival each August.
Listing mix by bedroom count, booking channel, and listing type is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for South Haven, so this profile omits it.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 30% |
| Feb | 36% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 40% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 78% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 42% |
| Oct | 38% |
| Nov | 30% |
| Dec | 35% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for South Haven are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Michigan West Coastal market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Michigan West Coastal market as a whole, which includes South Haven, so these counts are not South Haven-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaqua Realtors | 251 | 4,872 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Evolve | 181 | 8,033 | ★ 4.66 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 146 | 6,781 | ★ 4.54 |
| 4 | Unsalted Vacations | 128 | 2,711 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Bluefish Vacation Rentals | 112 | 2,875 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in South Haven?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for South Haven are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 28.4% |
| vrbo | 15.1% |
| both | 56.5% |
Home Value Trends (South Haven)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for South Haven are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for South Haven — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
South Haven restricts short-term rentals tightly. A moratorium on new STR registrations has been in place since April 2025, so only properties registered before the cutoff can obtain licenses. The city also enforces a density cap of no more than 1 STR per 4 homes, about 20% of the housing stock, recalculated annually. An STR overlay map defines where rentals are allowed, and the area profile rates enforcement as strict.
Every STR needs a license, a zoning-compliance review that currently takes about 4 months, and inspections. Class I Business licenses cost about $600 per year, allow unlimited rental, limit rental stays to 2 per 7-day period, and require $1,000,000 in liability insurance. Class II Personal licenses cost about $125 every two years and cap use at 6 rental terms or 28 rental days per calendar year. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence rule applies.
The city approved conditional licenses for the 2026 season, effective March 27, 2026, for owners registered as of March 17, 2025. Only about 20% of roughly 700 city STRs had finished the process by March 2026. A 24/7 complaint hotline requires local agents to respond within 45 minutes, with escalation to police dispatch.
Guests pay Michigan’s 6% state use tax on stays under 30 days. Airbnb collects and remits it, and VRBO does not. South Haven Charter Township is a separate jurisdiction with its own STR ordinance.
Market Comparison
Against rough US norms of about 55% occupancy and a $220 ADR, the Lake Michigan shoreline STR market is a high-rate market with a short peak. August 2026 occupancy was 67.1%, about 12 points above the norm, and ADR of $516 was about 134% above it. The 2025 annual average was 46.2% occupancy, about 9 points under the norm, and $345 ADR, about 57% above it.
The gap between summer and the rest of the year is the main difference from the national picture. July occupancy of 77.8% sits next to January occupancy of 29.7%. Annual figures understate summer performance and overstate winter performance.
Top property manager rankings and operator listing counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for South Haven, so this profile omits operator names and market shares. Investors can search local management companies directly.
South Haven’s rules also differ from the regional series. The city caps density and blocks new registrations, while the performance data covers seven towns with their own rules. Check each jurisdiction before comparing returns.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Haven, Michigan
Can I get a new STR license in South Haven?
How much do Lake Michigan shoreline STRs earn per month?
What is the average nightly rate and occupancy near South Haven?
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What does a South Haven STR license cost?
What taxes apply to South Haven short-term rentals?
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