Phone: (906) 343-6535 | Fax: (906) 343-6550 | Email: onotatwp@tds.net
Welcome to
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Onota Township
Centrally located in the Upper Peninsula, we're a place of natural beauty, rich local heritage, scenic landscapes and friendly residents – a special place to live and visit.
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Public Notices
Notice of Special Meeting
The Onota Township Board will be holding a special meeting on September 21, 2025 at 10:00am for the purpose of security camera and dumpster signs.
See the full notice here.
- Dumpster Roll Off -
Roll off for 2025 will be on:
Friday September 26 and Saturday September 27
from 10am to 4pm.
Accepting Bids for Snow Plowing
Bids shall be for snow plowing the Onota Township Hall and Fire Hall as well as keeping 1 additional dumpster cleared of snow with a minimum snow depth of 4". Must have a valid drivers license and proof of current insurance.
Please submit sealed bids by October 31 , 2025. Bids can be mailed, dropped off at the Onota Township Hall drop box or emailed to Onotasupervisor@tds.net. All bids will be presented at the November 3rd board meeting. See the full notice here.
Contact the Supervisor with any questions.
Short Term Rental Notice
By recommendation of the Planning Commission, the Board made a motion to put an immediate moratorium on short term rentals effective immediately (7/10/2025) for 12 months or until the Planning Commission ordinances are adopted by the Board.
See the July 10th Special Meeting Minutes here.
Monthly Meeting Schedules
TOWNSHIP BOARD:
1st Monday of each month
7:00 pm
PLANNING COMMISSION:
2nd Tuesday of each month
7:00 pm
Fire Fighters
Wanted
The Onota Township Fire Department is welcoming anyone interested in joining the volunteer Fire Department. If you are interested, please contact Patrick Carey for more information.
Onota Historical
Society
Public is invited for anyone who may be interested in joining or contributing to the Onota Historical Society. Normal meetings are held the 3rd Monday each month at 6:00 pm at the townhall.
Township Hall Rental
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The Onota Township Hall is available for rent by township residents. It has a newly remodeled kitchen available for use. There is currently no fee. You must provide a copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy for safety & liability reasons. Contact the clerk for availability, details, rules, and a lease form.
There are five distinct areas within the township from east to west – Rock River, Shelter Bay, Onota, Deerton, and Sand River. A number of small businesses are in the township, mainly recreational and service-oriented. Area information is in the Master Plan.
The AuTrain-Onota School in Deerton teaches students pre-K-8. The school is respected in the area. Students from outside the district often enroll. Older students attend Superior Central, Munising, and Marquette schools.
Onota Township lies along the southern shore of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP), with an area of 92 square miles (30% is within the Hiawatha National Forest). The population (2015) was 336, with 43% as year-round residents.
Onota Township has a rich history in producing lumber for buildings as well as charcoal manufacturing (for smelting iron ore). Early on, Scandinavians settled in the area to work and homestead. Read about the area history.