Ottawa County Parks & Recreation

Park Fees

Motor Vehicle Fees & Boat Launch Fees

Ottawa County Parks collects parking fees from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at the following parks:

• North Beach Park
• Olive Shores
• Kirk Park
• Rosy Mound Natural Area
• Tunnel Park
• Kouw Park*
• Windsnest Park*
• Riverside Park (boat launch only)

*In 2023, Ottawa County Parks began managing Kouw and Windsnest Parks per a management agreement with Port Sheldon Township. The township will be subsidizing the cost of an annual motor vehicle permit for their residents. Read more about this change by clicking here.

Permit Pricing

Annual permits are $25; daily permits are $8. There are additional discounts for residents and resident seniors.

• Discounted to $15 for Ottawa County residents (add an additional vehicle for $5)
• Discounted to $9 for Ottawa County resident seniors age 60+ (add an additional vehicle for $3)
• Discounted to $10 for Port Sheldon Township residents and $4 to Port Sheldon Township Seniors (This discount is subsidized by Port Sheldon Township)
• Active Bridge Card holders in Michigan can receive a free Ottawa County Parks annual motor vehicle permit. Limited to one permit per household. To receive a coupon code, inquire inside the DHHS office or call 616-394-7200 and press “0” to speak with an operator. Enter the coupon code into a pay station at one of the lakeshore parks listed below to receive your free annual permit ($25 value). Be sure to select ANNUAL PERMIT. Please note this coupon code does not work online, it must be done at a park.
• Daily motor vehicle fee is $8 per vehicle

Motor Vehicle Permit FAQ's

• How will you know I've purchased my permit without a sticker or hangtag?

  Reminder: Ottawa County no longer issues a physical permit (sticker or hangtag). Your new digital permit simply requires you to register your license plate online or at a park pay station. 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.

• Do I need a separate account from the one I use to register for programs?

  Yes. In order to view and / or purchase digital permits, you will first need to create an account as prompted by the website. You will need to sign up with an email address.

• When I purchase a multi-vehicle pass, how do I add a second vehicle license plate?

  You can only purchase a multi-vehicle pass if you are a resident of Ottawa County. It is an extra $5 for residents and an extra $3 for seniors. You can login to your online account and click on Manage for the permit you'd like to view the details of.

  To quickly make those updates: Select the "View/Add Permits Tab" at the top of the page, select the "Manage Permit" link under the permit you would like to update, then select the button that has your current vehicle information. This will open a page that allows you to make updates and add another vehicle.

• How do I add a second vehicle after I have already purchased a single-vehicle pass?

  You must purchase a second single vehicle pass or a multi-vehicle pass to add any additional vehicle(s).

• The website is telling me I have an invalid address.

  Please note that Resident Annual Permits are for residents of Ottawa County or Port Sheldon Township only and will require address verification.

  As you start to type your address, matching addresses will appear below the box you are typing in. Simply click on your street address when it appears. If you do not see your address, delete one character at a time from the end of the address you typed to broaden the search. Do not enter any additional information like apartment or suite number here if it does automatically show up. Doing so will invalidate the address. If it does not appear, then it is not on our list of resident addresses. If you are a resident of Ottawa County and your address is not appearing, please email ocparks@miottawa.org with your full address and we will get back to you ASAP to resolve the issue.

• How does the auto-renewal work?
  • Log in to the Permit Dashboard at ottawacounty.cmrpay.com using the username and password you created when you purchased your permit. Click “manage” next to the permit you want to auto-renew. Then click “auto renew” and “enroll”. Enter your payment information and checkout. Now you are all set every year until you choose to log back in and cancel.
  • If your permit has expired, you will be unable to renew and will need to reenter your vehicle information for a new permit.
• I am a Bridge Card holder. How do I receive my free motor vehicle permit?

  Inquire inside the DHHS office for a coupon code or call 616-394-7200 and press “0” to speak with an operator. Enter the coupon code into a pay station at one of the lakeshore parks listed below to receive your free annual permit ($25 value). Be sure to select ANNUAL PERMIT. Please note this coupon code does not work online, it must be done at a park.

• How do I update the license plate associated with my purchased permit?
  • Login to your online account and click on Manage for the permit you'd like to view the details of.
  • To quickly make those updates: Select the "View/Add Permits Tab" at the top of the page, select "Manage Permit" link under the permit you would like to update, then select the button that has your current vehicle information. This will open a page that allows you to make updates.
  • Single car permits can be edited but require approval before becoming active, typically within 1-2 days. Multicar permits can be edited and the new plate number is active instantly.
• I am a resident and pay taxes; why do I have to pay to get into certain parks or to use launches?
  • Fees are an important component in the diverse funding strategy that was developed to reduce reliance on taxes for park support. Due to the high popularity of lakeshore beach parks and certain boat launches during summer months, additional labor is required to manage these areas. The funds generated from permits are used to improve your visit and maintain lakeshore parks effectively. The fee system also enables non-residents to assist in the upkeep of lakeshore beach parks, considering the significant number of visitors who do not contribute through Ottawa County taxes. Discounted permits are available for Ottawa County residents and seniors.
  • Among the 40 Ottawa County Park lands, only six properties, two Port Sheldon Township beaches, and one of our boat launches have parking fees from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.

Park Rules »