Current Michigan County ORV/OHV/ATV Laws (P.A. 240)
Current as of April 7, 2012
Michigan ORV Handbook Link – Rules and Regulations
All Michigan ORV Laws Link –State Statues 324.81101-50
Michigan County ORV Laws Pamphlet
MICHIGAN OFF-ROAD TRAIL & ROUTE MAPS BY COUNTY.
It is illegal to operate an ORV on public lands in the Lower Peninsula that are not posted open. ORVs are prohibited on state game areas or state parks and recreation areas unless posted open. ALL USFS trails/roads remain closed unless posted open. Cities and municipalities within open counties/townships are closed unless they adopt a separate ordinance.
On state forest lands, ORV use on designated trails is limited to vehicles less than 50 inches in width. Off-trail or off-route ORV operation outside of a designated area is prohibited, except for licensed hunters operating an ORV at speeds of 5 miles per hour or less for the purpose of removing deer, bear or elk. Big-game ORV retrieval provisions do not apply to the Pigeon River Country State Forest or to state game areas and national forests.
In all national forests, motor vehicles can be used only on roads, trails or areas that are designated as open on Motor Vehicle Use maps. For more information, contact the local national forest headquarters.
- It is illegal to operate an ORV from 7 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. on any area open to public hunting during the Nov. 15-30 firearm deer season. For exceptions to these time restrictions, see the current Hunting and Trapping Digest or the Handbook of Michigan Off-Road Vehicle Laws (linked above).
- Roads, streets and highways maintained for year-round automobile travel are closed to ORV operation, including the shoulder and the right-of-way, unless designated open to ORV use by local ordinance.
- It is unlawful to operate any ORV in or on the waters of any stream, river, marsh, bog, wetland or quagmire.
- It is unlawful to operate an ORV ANYWHERE with a passenger, if it was not designed at the factory to do so.
Some counties are wide open and others have very limited road access. Townships can create their own ordinances as of July 17, 2009—whether or not the county has an ordinance. Townships located in “opt in” counties can “opt out”, and townships in counties that have “opted out” can “opt in”. This may create some helter-skelter laws.
Ordinances can limit which countyroads (state and federal highways are not open for use) are open or closed, hours and dates available for operation, speed limits (less than 25mph), possession of a drivers license, and numerous other criteria including age and safety requirements. These may vary within the different townships of a single county and from county to county. These laws are currently being adopted/modified/changed at a rapid pace, and will be difficult to keep up on. A county or township can rescind and/or modify their ordinance and any scheduled board meeting after adoption.
Be sure to check all local laws in that city, county and township before riding on the roadsides. Some townships have opted in/out of Ordinances. It’s your responsibility to know the laws.
State or National Forest/Park roads are “closed” unless posted as “open”.
The 2010 Comprehensive OHV (ORV) Legislation (link) (currently HB-6159) will allow 6 additional counties central Lower Michigan to open county roads to OHVs (Off Highway Vehicles): Oceana, Mecosta, Midland, Isabella, Newago, and Muskegon. No action has been taken on this bill since May 2010.
As of July 19, 2011, 5 more counties (Newaygo, Oceana, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland) were authorized by law to allow road use by ORV’s.
Additional Michigan County ORV information is located HERE. ATV Road & Trail Maps for Garmin GPSr units can be purchased from this site as well.
For additional (and up-to-date) county ORV information, contact Dick Ranney (Michigan Motorized Recreation Council), Coordinator: phone at 989-469-2405 or e-mail.
Contact County/Township/City Clerks for up-to-date laws and maps.
It’s your responsibility to know the law.
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy of the information listed below. This information was compiled from many sources, and may not be the most recent information about a particular county. I’ll try to keep it updated on a regular basis.
To report dead links, and/or provide information and web links that update the information listed, please e-mail them to me: send e-mail.
Upper Peninsula(all counties are eligible)
|
|||
|
County
|
Last Action |
Websites (Click) |
Web Notes Info &Clerk Phone |
| Alger | Adopted 3-22-95 – Amended 2008 | Ordinance | (906-387-2076)
Many Cities Open Also |
| Baraga | Adopted 5-14-09 | Ordinance | (906-524-6183) Many Cities Open Also |
| Chippewa | Adopted 10-13(14)-08 | Ordinance | (906-635-6300) Some Cities Open Also |
| Delta | Adopted 9-24-08 | Ordinance | 906-789-5105
Some Cities May Also Be Open |
| Dickinson | Adopted 10-27-08
City of Norway |
ATV Guide | (906-774-0988) Some Cities Open
Ordinance unavailable on-line |
| Gogebic | Adopted 10-22-08 | Ordinance | (906-663-4518) Some Cities Also Open |
| Houghton | Adopted 10-21-08 (Refined 11-10-09) | Ordinance & Info | (906-482-1150) Some Cities Also Open |
| Iron | Adopted 12-23-08 | Unavailable On-line | (906-875-3221) Some Cities Also Open |
| Keweenaw | Adopted 12-17-08 | Ordinance | (906-337-2229)
Some Cities Also Open |
| Luce | Adopted 11-13-2008 | News Article | (906-293-5521) Some Cities Open
(Ordinance Unavailable Online) |
| Mackinac | Adopted 10-9-08 | Ordinance | (906-643-7300) Some Cities Also Open |
| Marquette | Adopted 11-18-08 | Ordinance
Map (Opt In/Out) |
(906-225-8330)
Roads Closed 12/1 – 3/31 Shows Open/Closed Roads & Cities |
| Menominee | Adopted 12-23-2008 | Ordinance | (906-863-9968)
Some Cities Also Open |
| Ontonagon | Adopted 10-21-08 | Ordinance | (906-884-4255) Some Cities Open |
| Schoolcraft | Adopted 10-21-08 | Ordinance
Sheriff’s Department |
(906-341-3618) Some Cities Open
Questions: (906) 341-2122 |
Lower Peninsula(all eligible counties are listed)
|
|||
|
County
|
Last Action |
Websites (Click) |
Web Notes Info &Clerk Phone |
Alcona |
Adopted 6-3-09—Effective 6-11-09 | Ordinance | (989-724-9410) |
Alpena |
Adopted 10-28-08 | Ordinance | (989-354-9520) |
Antrim |
Adopted 11-12-09 | Ordinance | (231-533-6353) |
Arenac |
Adopted 10-14-08 | Ordinance | (989-846-4626) |
Bay |
Townships Will Adopt Individually (6-09) | County Clerk | (989) 895-4280 |
Benzie |
Adopted 5-13-2009 Effective 7-1-09
Roads Closed 12/1 – 3/31 |
Ordinance | (231-882-9671) or (800-315-3593) |
Charlevoix |
Adopted 4-9-09—Effective 5-1-09 | Map & Ordinance | (231-547-7200) |
Cheboygan |
Adopted 6-9-09 – Effective 7-9-09 | Ordinance | (231-627-8808 or 8866)
Some Cities Also Open |
Clare |
Adopted 10-15-08 | Ordinance | Ordinance (989-539-7131) |
Crawford |
Adopted 5-20-09—Finalized 5-27-09
Roads Closed 11/15 – 3/31 |
Ordinance | Note Appendix A – (989-344-3200)
Some Cities Also Open |
Emmet |
Adopted August 14, 2009
Effective (60 days) 10/13/09 |
Map | Road Map (Open to ORV Traffic)
MMRC Information (231-348-1744) |
Galdwin |
Adopted 3-10-09
City of Gladwin City of Beaverton |
Gladwin Ordinance | (989-426-7351)
(989) 426-9231, Extension 101 City Hall (989) 435-3511 or 9343 |
Grand Traverse |
Adopted 8-28-09 – Effective 9-1-09 | Ordinance | (231-922-4760) |
Gratiot |
Adopted 10-4-11—Effective 11-1-11
Wheeler Twp. Open – Effective 6-20-11 |
Ordinance
Unavailable On-line |
(989-875-5215)
May 2011 Board Minutes |
Huron |
Adopted 6-22-2010 – Effective 7-1-2010 | Ordinance | (989-269-9942) |
Iosco |
Adopted 1-7-09 | Ordinance | (989-362-3497) |
Isabella |
Adopted 2-21-2012 – Effective 2-29-12. | Ordinance | (989-772-0911 x 265)
Each township is allowed to modify it. |
Kalkaska |
Adopted 2-10-09—Effective 4-1-09 | Ordinance Summary | (231-258-3300) |
Lake |
Adopted 5-13-09—Effective 5-21-09
Roads Closed 12/1 – 3/31 |
Ordinance & Map
Chase / Irons Open |
UPDATED 4-1-12 (231-745-4641)
No On-line Information Available |
Leelanau |
Rejected (2008)
Off & On Consideration |
County | No Ordinance Listed (231-256-9824)
Not in Minutes (866-256-9711) |
Manistee |
County Wide Rejected 9-22-11
Arcadia Township – Effective 9-9-10 Bear Lake Township – Unknown Date Dixon Township – Unknown Date Onekama Township – Effective 12-7-10 Pleasanton Township – Effective 8-2010 Springdale Township – Effective 5-10-10 Village of Onekama – Unknown Date Village of Kaleva – Unknown Date |
No Link Available
Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line |
(231-723-3331)
Evelyn Wilson 231-889-3115 Deanna Pattison 231-864-3620 Township Hall (231) 477-5885 Helen Mathieu (231) 889-3308 Amy Cross 231-864-3239 Donna Humphrey-Kirbach 231-640-0829 Ruth Hudson 231-889-3171 Village Office (231) 362-3496 |
Mason |
County Wide Rejected 5-12-09
Under Consideration-Hamlin Twsp. Sherman Twsp. – Effective 7-25-10 Sheridan Twsp. – Effective 11-30-10 Logan Twsp. – Effective 2-23-11 Riverton Twsp.-Effective 9-1-11 Under Consideration-Free Soil Twsp. Victory Twsp. – Effective 10/15/11 Custer Township – Vote 5/7/12 Edan Township – Date Unknown |
Mason County
Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line 9-20-2011 Unavailable On-line Unavailable On-line |
Left up to townships after 7-17-09
Catherine Lewis 231-845-0092 Kurt D. Lubben 231-462-3205 Barb Wilson 231-462-3550 Judith VerSluys 231-898-3913 Rita Johnson 231-845-5749 Lynda Papes 231-464-5825 Barbara Egeler 231-843-3607 Susan Hansen 231-757-9443 Joanne L. Barnhardt 231-757-3825 |
Mecosta |
Adopted 9-16-11—Effective 9-17-11 | Ordinance | (231-592-0783) |
Midland |
Effective 12-20-11 | Ordinance | (989-832-6739) |
Missaukee |
Adopted 10-14-08 | Ordinance | (231-839-4967) |
Montcalm |
Adopted 6-28-2010 – Effective 8-25-11 | Ordinance | (989-831-7339) |
Montmorency |
Adopted 4-28-09 | Ordinance | (989-785-8022) – 2 Blank Start Pages |
Muskegon |
See HB-6159 Information Above | Currently not allowed by state law. | |
Newago |
Adopted 2-23-2012 – Effective 4-19-12 | Ordinance | (231-689-7235) |
Oceana |
Under Consideration 8-31-11 | County Clerk | (231-873-4328) |
Ogemaw |
Adopted 9-11-08 | Ordinance | (989-345-0215 / 0218) |
Osceola |
Adopted 11-4-08 | Ordinance | (231-832-3261)
(Alternate site) |
Oscoda |
Adopted 4-14-09 – Effective 5-15-09 | Ordinance | (989-826-1110) |
Otsego |
Adopted 5-26-09 – Effective 7-24-09 | Ordinances/Maps | (989-731-7500) |
Presque Isle |
Adopted 1-9-09 | Ordinance | (989-734-3288 or 800-334-5698) |
Roscommon |
Adopted 5-2009 | Ordinance & Map | (989-275-5923) |
Saginaw |
No Current Legislation | 989-790-5251 | |
Sanilac |
Adopted 5-25-10—Effective 6-7-2010
Township/City Opt In/Out Sandusky – Adopted 5-2010 |
Ordinance | (810-648-3212)
810 648-3212 |
St. Clair |
Under Consideration 8-3-2011
Ira Township (open) |
County Clerk | (810) 985-2200
586-725-0263 |
Tuscola |
Adopted and Effective 2-14-2012 | Ordinance | 989-672-3780 |
Wexford |
Adopted 4-15-09 | Ordinance | (231-779-9450) |
More Posts From Steve
You must log in to post a comment.