9 rules for unincorporated Ottawa County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Ottawa County does not zone; your city or township sets grass limits. Holland Charter Township caps grass and weeds at eight inches; Grand Haven, Zeeland and other cities set similar limits under the adopted Property Maintenance Code.
Holland Charter Twp. Code § 7-26(f) (adopting IPMC § 302.4)
Insert in the blank contained in section 302.4 of the Property Maintenance Code "eight inches." Add as the last sentence the following: "The eight inch limitation shall not apply to the following locations: 1. On portions of undeveloped property behind a wooded tree line..."
No county rule; cities and townships require owners to keep trees and vegetation from obstructing sidewalks, driveways and streets. Holland Charter Township's Property Maintenance Code requires trimming any branch or dying-tree portion that blocks passage or threatens people or property.
Holland Charter Twp. Code § 7-26(h) (adding IPMC § 302.11)
302.11 Yards. Every owner shall be responsible for maintaining yard areas in compliance with this section. Every bush, shrub, tree, or other vegetation or portion thereof shall be kept from obstructing or interfering with passage on a sidewalk, walkway, driveway, or street... including any portion of a dying tree that presents a hazard to any person or property.
Ottawa County has no tree-removal permit; it does not zone. On private residential land, removing your own tree usually needs no permit. Cities and townships only require removing hazardous or dead trees and control public right-of-way and street trees.
Holland Charter Twp. Code § 7-26(h) (IPMC § 302.11)
Every owner shall be responsible for maintaining yard areas in compliance with this section... including any portion of a dying tree that presents a hazard to any person or property.
Ottawa County does not enforce a general weed ordinance; cities and townships do. Holland Charter Township's Property Maintenance Code (IPMC 302.4) keeps premises free of weeds or plant growth over eight inches, with narrow exceptions for undeveloped and setback land.
Holland Charter Twp. Code § 7-26(f) (IPMC § 302.4, Weeds)
Insert in the blank contained in section 302.4 of the Property Maintenance Code "eight inches." Add as the last sentence the following: "The eight inch limitation shall not apply to the following locations: 1. On portions of undeveloped property behind a wooded tree line..."
There is no county-wide watering ban. Restrictions come from your water supplier. Communities on the City of Wyoming water system, including Holland, Georgetown, Hudsonville and Jamestown, follow an odd/even outdoor-watering pattern during peak supply periods.
Holland Charter Twp. Odd/Even Outdoor Water Restrictions FAQ
Odd/even outdoor water restrictions apply to residences and businesses on the City of Wyoming water system. This includes the following communities: Wyoming, Olive, Blendon, Holland, Georgetown, Jamestown, Gaines Township, Byron Township, Hudsonville, Grandville... Are there any hourly restrictions? No, there are no hourly restrictions.
Michigan places no statewide restriction on collecting rainwater, and Ottawa County has no rule against it. Residents may harvest rooftop rainwater in barrels or cisterns for lawn and garden use. No county permit is required for typical residential rain barrels.
Native and natural landscaping is allowed. Ottawa County does not zone, so rules come from your city or township. Holland Charter Township exempts undeveloped and wooded areas from the eight-inch limit; the City of Holland lets residents register natural lawns.
Holland Charter Twp. Code § 7-26(f) (IPMC § 302.4 exceptions)
The eight inch limitation shall not apply to the following locations: 1. On portions of undeveloped property behind a wooded tree line; 2. On portions of un-subdivided property more than 25 feet from a public sidewalk or public street...
Ottawa County sets no rule on artificial turf, and it does not zone. Whether synthetic lawn is allowed depends on your city or township zoning, and often on drainage and setback standards rather than a turf-specific ban. Most residential yards may use it.
Backyard composting is allowed and actively encouraged in Ottawa County, which runs home and food-scrap composting programs. No county permit is needed for a residential compost pile. Agricultural composting is protected as a farm operation under Michigan's Right to Farm Act.
Michigan Right to Farm Act, MCL 286.473(1)
A farm or farm operation shall not be found to be a public or private nuisance if the farm or farm operation alleged to be a nuisance conforms to generally accepted agricultural and management practices according to policy determined by the Michigan commission of agriculture.
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