THE GENERAL LAW VILLAGE ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 3 of 1895
HARBORS, WHARVES, AND HARBOR MASTERS.


67.35 Public wharves, piers and levees; construction, regulation, leasing of privileges.

Sec. 35.

     The council of any village located upon or adjacent to any of the navigable waters of the state shall have the power to establish, construct, maintain, and control public wharves, docks, piers, landing places, and levees, upon any lands or property belonging to or under the control of the village, including property at the foot or end of public streets; and the council may lease wharfing and landing privileges upon any of the public wharves, docks, or landings, but not for a longer time than 10 years, and in such manner as to preserve the right of all persons to a free passage over the same with their baggage.


History: 1895, Act 3, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1895 ;-- CL 1897, 2803 ;-- CL 1915, 2674 ;-- CL 1929, 1583 ;-- CL 1948, 67.35





67.36 Public wharves; conformity with grade; line limit.

Sec. 36.

     The council shall have authority also to require and cause all docks, wharves and landings, whether upon public grounds or upon the property of private individuals, to be constructed and maintained in conformity with such grade as may be established therefor by the council, and to prescribe the line beyond which any such wharf, dock, or landing shall not be constructed or maintained.


History: 1895, Act 3, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1895 ;-- CL 1897, 2804 ;-- CL 1915, 2675 ;-- CL 1929, 1584 ;-- CL 1948, 67.36





67.37 Public wharves; rates and charges.

Sec. 37.

     The council shall have authority to prohibit the encumbering of the public wharves and landings, and to regulate the use of all wharves, docks and landing places within the village; to regulate the use and location of wharf-boats; and to regulate and prescribe the rates and charges for landing, wharfage, and dockage at all public wharves, docks and landings, and to collect wharfage and dockage from boats, water-craft, and floats landing at or using any public landing place, wharf, or dock within the village.


History: 1895, Act 3, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1895 ;-- CL 1897, 2805 ;-- CL 1915, 2676 ;-- CL 1929, 1585 ;-- CL 1948, 67.37





67.38 Preservation of purity of water; regulation of navigable waters; duties of council.

Sec. 38.

     The council may do all of the following:
    (a) Provide by ordinance for the preservation of the purity of the waters of any harbor, river, or other waters within the village.
    (b) Control and regulate the anchorage, moorage, and management of all boats, watercraft, and floats within the jurisdiction of the village.
    (c) Regulate and prescribe by ordinance, or through a harbor master or other officer, the location of any boat, craft, vessel, or float, and the changes of station in, and use of the harbor as may be required to promote order and the safety and convenience of all boats, craft, vessels, and floats.
    (d) Regulate the opening and passage of bridges.
    (e) Adopt and enforce ordinances and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the United States, or this state, as in the opinion of the council shall be most conducive to the orderly, safe, and convenient use and occupancy of the harbor, navigable waters, wharves, docks, piers, and landing places within the village.


History: 1895, Act 3, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1895 ;-- CL 1897, 2806 ;-- CL 1915, 2677 ;-- CL 1929, 1586 ;-- CL 1948, 67.38 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 255, Imd. Eff. July 13, 1998





67.39 Harbor master; appointment; duties; compensation.

Sec. 39.

     The president may nominate and the council may appoint a harbor master. The harbor master shall enforce all such ordinances and regulations as the council may lawfully enact and prescribe in respect to and over the navigable waters, harbors, wharves, docks, landings, and basins within the village, and in respect to the navigation, trade, and commerce of the village. The council may prescribe the powers and duties of the harbor master and fix his or her compensation.


History: 1895, Act 3, Imd. Eff. Feb. 19, 1895 ;-- CL 1897, 2807 ;-- CL 1915, 2678 ;-- CL 1929, 1587 ;-- CL 1948, 67.39 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 255, Imd. Eff. July 13, 1998



Rendered 8/15/2025 9:33 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov