Ottawa County Parks & Recreation requires a motor vehicle permit at our Lake Michigan beach parks, as well as the boat launch at Riverside Park, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Beginning this year, we will no longer be offering a physical permit (sticker or hangtag). Digital motor vehicle permits will be available for sale in April.
To receive an email when digital permits are available for sale, click here.
How can I purchase my motor vehicle permit?
When available, there will be two ways you can purchase your digital permit:
- Online – visitors will be able to register their license plate and pay for their annual or daily motor vehicle permit online using a mobile-friendly website. Utilizing this will allow users to verify their residency and birthday, so they are able to receive discounts they are eligible for before visiting the park. This will be the only method to purchase discounted motor vehicle permits!
- On-site – pay stations will be installed at all lakeshore beach parks including the two new parks we will be managing for Port Sheldon Township. Visitors can purchase a digital permit by registering their license plate for a day or a year using the pay station. Annual permits sold at the pay stations will be $25; daily permits will be $8. The fee stations are not able to determine residency, so no discounted permits will be sold at these stations.
Resident and Senior Discounts
Discounted annual motor vehicle permits are still available to Ottawa County residents and seniors. The only way to purchase your discounted permit will be online. Discounts will not be available at the pay stations.
- Ottawa County Residents: $15
- Ottawa County Seniors: $9
- Port Sheldon Township provides a subsidy making their residents eligible for additional discounted rates.
When can I buy a permit?
We are currently implementing the pay stations and mobile website, so we are unable to sell annual motor vehicle permits at this time. When we are able to sell the digital motor vehicle permits, we will share the news via email and social media. You can sign up to receive an email by subscribing here.
Parks that require a motor vehicle permit Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day
- North Beach Park
- Olive Shores
- Kirk Park
- Rosy Mound Natural Area
- Tunnel Park
- Kouw Park*
- Windsnest Park*
- Riverside Park (boat launch only)
*Ottawa County Parks will be managing these township parks as of 2023. Port Sheldon Township residents are eligible for an additional discount provided through a Port Sheldon Township subsidy. An annual motor vehicle permit will be discounted for Port Sheldon Residents (-$5); a Senior discount will also apply for those who qualify.
How will you know that I’ve purchased my permit when I park?
The fee machines and mobile website will sync in real-time to a handheld device used by park staff to verify if a permit has been purchased or not. Vehicles without a valid daily or annual permit will be ticketed.
Stay tuned to this webpage for updates: Park Fees – Ottawa County, Michigan
To receive an email when digital permits are available for sale, click here.