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Michigan ORV Handbook Link – Rules and Regulations
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.
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 keep it updated on a regular basis.
To report dead links, and/or provide information and web links that update the information listed, please add a comment to this page.
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 county and township before riding on the roadsides. It’s your responsibility to know the laws. No State or National Forest/Park roads are open unless so posted.
The2010 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.
UPDATE: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 at www.michigan.gov/orvtrails or at vvmapping.com. 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.
Links to newspaper articles will fail after some time as the articles are archived…..paid newspaper subscribers will still be able to access them.
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Contact County/Township Clerks for up-to-date laws and maps.
It’s your responsibility to know the law.
| Upper Peninsula (all counties are eligible) | |||
| County | Last Action | Websites (Click) | Web Notes (County Clerk Phone #) |
| Alger | Adopted 6-22-05 | Alger 1 Alger 2 Alger 3 | Allowed-Old Law (906-387-2076) Ordinance |
| Baraga | Adopted 5-14-09 | Baraga | Ordinance (906-524-6183) |
| Chippewa | Adopted 10-13(14)-08 | Chippewa | Ordinance(906-635-6300) |
| Delta | Adopted 9-24-08 | Delta 1 Delta 2 | Board Minutes (906-789-5105) Ordinance |
| Dickinson | Adopted 10-27-08 All Roads Open – Ordinance Unavailable | Dickinson Norway | ATV Guide (906-774-0988 ) City of Norway allows use. |
| Gogebic | Adopted 10-22-08 | Gogebic 1 Gogebic 2 | Board Minutes-Many ORV Notes Ordinance (906-663-4518 ) |
| Houghton | Adopted 10-21-08 (Refined 11-10-09) | Houghton 1 Houghton 2 | (906-482-1150) Road Commission—(906-482-3600) |
| Iron | Adopted 12-23-08 Ordinance Unavailable On-line | Iron | Old, but current (906-875-3221) |
| Keweenaw | Adopted 12-17-08 | Keweenaw 1 Keweenaw 2 | (906-337-2229) Ordinance |
| Luce | Adopted 11-13-2008 Ordinance Unavailable On-line | Luce 1 Luce 2 | (906-293-5521) Chamber of Commerce |
| Mackinac | Adopted 10-9-08 | Mackinac 1 Mackinac 2 | Ordinance (906-643-7300) |
| Marquette | Adopted 11-18-08 Roads Closed 12/1 – 3/31 | Marquette 1 Marquette 2 | (906-225-8330) Ordinance |
| Menominee | Adopted 12-23-2008 | Menominee 1 Menominee 2 | (906-863-9968 ) Ordinance |
| Ontonagon | Adopted 10-21-08 | Ontonagon 1 Ontonagon 2 | (906-884-4255) Ordinance |
| Schoolcraft | Adopted 10-21-08 | Schoolcraft 1 Schoolcraft 2 | Not Verified (906-341-3618 ) Ordinance |
| | |||
| Lower Peninsula (all eligible counties are listed) | |||
| County | Last Action | Websites (Click) | Web Notes (County Clerk Phone #) |
| Alcona | Adopted 6-3-09—Effective 6-11-09 | Alcona 1 Alcona 2 | Ordinance (989-724-9410) Board Announcement |
| Alpena | Adopted 10-28-08 | Alpena | (989-354-9520) |
| Antrim | Adopted 11-12-09 | Antrim 1 | Ordinance (231-533-6353) |
| Arenac | Adopted 10-14-08 | Arenac | Ordinance Unavailable (989-846-4626) |
| Bay | Townships Will Adopt Individually (6-09) | District 1 E-mail | Commissioner Michael Duranczyk (989-895-4280) |
| Benzie | Adopted 5-13-2009 Effective 7-1-09 Roads Closed 12/1 – 3/31 | Benzie 1 Benzie 2 | Draft Ordinance (231-882-9671) Map (800-315-3593) |
| Charlevoix | Adopted 4-9-09—Effective 5-1-09 | Charlevoix | Map and Ordinance (231-547-7200) |
| Cheboygan | Adopted 6-9-09 Effective 7-9-09 | Cheboygan 1 Cheboygan 2 Cheboygan 3 | Proposal (231-627-8808 or 8866) See “Old Business” Ordinance |
| Clare | Adopted 10-15-08 | Clare | Ordinance (989-539-7131) |
| Crawford | Adopted 5-20-09—Finalized 5-27-09 Roads Closed 11/15 – 3/31 | Crawford 1 Crawford 2 | Ordinance—Note Appendix A Maps (989-344-3200) |
| Emmet | Adopted August 14, 2009 Effective (60 days) 10/13/09 | Emmet Map Emmet Ordinance | Road Map (Open to ORV Traffic) MMRC Information (231-348-1744) |
| Galdwin | Adopted 3-10-09 | Gladwin Ordinance County Map Gladwin City Map Beaverton Map | Ordinance (989-426-7351) |
| Grand Traverse | Adopted 8-28-09 Effective 9-1-09 | Grand Traverse | Ordinance, Road Restrictions (231-922-4760) |
| Gratiot | Adopted 10-4-11—Effective 11-1-11 Wheeler Twp. Open – Effective 6-20-11 | Ordinance Ordinance | (989-875-5215) May Board Minutes |
| Huron | Adopted 6-22-2010 – Effective 7-1-2010 | Huron 1 | Ordinance (989-269-9942) |
| Iosco | Adopted 1-7-09 | Iosco 1 Iosco 2 | See 09-010 (989-362-3497) Ordinance |
| Isabella | Ordinance | Press Release | (989-772-0911) |
| Kalkaska | Adopted 2-10-09—Effective 4-1-09 | Kalkaska | Ordinance (.pdf download) (231-258-3300) |
| Lake | Adopted 5-13-09—Effective 5-21-09 Roads Closed 12/1 – 3/31 Pleasant Plains Township | Lake No Info Available | UPDATED 4-10-11 Ordinance & Map Limited Access (231-745-4641) |
| Leelanau | Rejected (2008 ) Off & On Consideration | Leelanau 1 Leelanau 2 | No Ordinance Listed (231-256-9824) Not in Minutes (866-256-9711) |
| Manistee | County Wide Rejected 9-22-11 Townships Open to ORV Road Use: Arcadia, Bear Lake, Dixon, Elk, Onekama, Pleasanton and Springdale….Villages of Onekama and Kaleva also have their own ORV ordinances. | Manistee | Daily News Article (231-723-3331) |
| Mason | 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. Under Consideration-Victory Twsp. | Mason 1 Hamlin Twsp. Sherman Twsp. Treasurer Treasurer 9-20-2011 9-20-2011 | Left up to townships after 7-17-09 Bottom Right of Page (231-843-8202) Ludington Daily News Barb Wilson 231-462-3550 Judith VerSluys 231-898-3913 |
| Mecosta | Adopted 9-16-11—Effective 9-17-11 | | (231-592-0783) |
| Midland | Adopted | Ordinance | (989-832-6739) |
| Missaukee | Adopted 10-14-08 | Missaukee 1 Missaukee 2 | (231-839-4967) Ordinance |
| Montcalm | Adopted 6-28-2010 Effective August 25, 2010 | Montcalm 1 Montcalm 2 | County Website Ordinance (989-831-7339) |
| Montmorency | Adopted 4-28-09 | Montmorency | Ordinance (1st 2 pages blank (989-785-8022) |
| Muskegon | See HB-6159 Information Above | | Currently not allowed by state law. |
| Newago | Approved | Ordinance | (231-689-7235) |
| Oceana | Under Consideration 8-31-11 | | (231-873-4328 ) |
| Ogemaw | Adopted 9-11-08 | Ogemaw | Ordinance (989-345-0215 / 0218 ) |
| Osceola | Adopted 11-4-08 | Osceola 1 Osceola 2 | Ordinance (231-832-3261) Ordinance (Alternate site) |
| Oscoda | Adopted 4-14-09 – effective 5-15-09 | Oscoda | Ordinance (989-826-1110) |
| Otsego | Adopted 5-26-09 Effective 7-24-09 | Otsego 1 Otsego 2 | Ordinance (989-731-7500) Maps |
| Presque Isle | Adopted 1-9-09 | Presque Isle | Ordinance - Old, but current (989-734-3288 or 800-334-5698 ) |
| Roscommon | Adopted 5-2009 | Roscommon ORV fines Roscommon | Changed To Open All Roads Brochure/Map (989-275-5923) |
| Saginaw | No Current Legislation | | |
| Sanilac | Adopted 5-25-10—Effective 6-7-2010 Sandusky – Adopted 5-2010 | Sanilac Townships Sandusky | Ordinance (810-648-3212) City has adopted |
| St. Clair | No Current Legislation | | |
| Tuscola | Adopted 02-14-2012 | Tuscola | Map |
| Wexford | Adopted 4-15-09 | Wexford 1 Wexford 2 | See 4-15-09 board minutes Ordinance (231-779-9450) |
Compiled by Hitechman
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