May 17, 2024 – For immediate release
Press contact: Rylie Dorman, 616 994-4774

Motor vehicle permits required Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day at Ottawa County lakeshore parks

Motor vehicle permits are available online

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.

Click here to purchase your motor vehicle permit.

Have questions? Scroll to the bottom for FAQ.

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

How can I purchase my motor vehicle permit? 1. Online – Visitors can register their license plate and pay for a daily and annual motor vehicle permit online using a mobile-friendly website. This method allows users to confirm their residency and birthdate, granting access to applicable discounts before visiting the park. This is the only method to purchase discounted motor vehicle permits.  2. On-site – Pay stations are available at all lakeshore beach parks including Kouw, Windsnest, and the Riverside Park Boat Launch. Visitors can purchase a digital permit for a day or a year by registering their license plate at the pay station. Annual permits cost $25 and daily permits cost $8. Pay stations cannot verify residency, so discounted permits are not available at these stations.

Cash sales can be completed at the Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing: 8115 West Olive Rd, West Olive, MI 49460  Hours of Operation: Tues-Sat, 9 am-5 pm; Sun 12-5 pm (closed on Mondays)

Permit Pricing & Discounts

Discounted annual motor vehicle permits are available to Ottawa County residents and seniors. The only way to purchase your discounted permit is online. Discounts are not available at the pay stations. 

• 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)
• Bridge Card holders in Michigan who have received benefits in the last 18 months can receive one free annual motor vehicle permit per household. Inquire inside the DHHS office for a coupon code or call 616-394-7200 and press “0” to speak with an operator.

Learn more: Park Fees - Ottawa County, Michigan

Frequently Asked Questions

How will you know that I've purchased my permit when I park?

The pay stations 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 or purchase a digital permit, you will first need to create an account as prompted by the website. You will need to sign up with either an email address or phone number. You should have your license plate number, as well. 

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.

Login to your online account and click 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 will need to login to your account and purchase a second single vehicle pass to add one vehicle or a multi-vehicle pass to add two additional vehicles.

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. When it appears, click on the suggestion. People who live in an apartment need to omit the unit number and only enter the street 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 [email protected] with your full address and we will get back to you ASAP to resolve the issue. 

Many Port Sheldon residents with a West Olive residence have a Holland address coming up from GIS (Post Office recognizes either West Olive or Holland as being a valid, deliverable address). Please select the Holland address. 

How do I select a permit?

DON'T hit the red search button, hit the second red SELECT button for all locations.

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.

I am an active 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.

I have more questions and I would like to speak with a staff member, how do I get in touch with them?

The booths at the Lakeshore parks will not be staffed this summer, however, any park staff member on-site will be able to answer questions and help visitors purchase an MVP on their device or at the pay station. Cash sales will not be accepted at the lakeshore parks.

Cash sales can be completed at the Nature Center at Hemlock Crossing: 8115 West Olive Rd, West Olive, MI 49460  Hours of Operation: Tues-Sat, 9 am-5 pm; Sun 12-5 pm (closed on Mondays)

General questions can be emailed to [email protected]

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.