Pete Pettersen Boat Launch

Pete Pettersen Boat Launch

Address: 159 Marina Park Avenue
GPS Coordinates: -79.89888, 44.75670

Midland’s Pete Pettersen Boat Launch offers easy public access to southern Georgian Bay, serving as a convenient and scenic starting point for boating, fishing, and exploring the nearby Thirty Thousand Islands.

Launch permits are required to use the launch, and permits include parking (as available) for the duration of permit validity. The boat launch parking lot is reserved for trailer parking only.

Permit Types & Fees

A staff report regarding boat launch user fees was considered by Town Council at the April 28th meeting.
Permit Type for Residents Fee
Season Resident Boat Launch Permit Free 
Permit Type for Non-Residents & Commercial Businesses Fee
Daily Permit $40 
3-Day Permit $75
Weekly (7-day) Permit $100 
Season Permit (May 1 to Oct. 31) $250

How to Obtain Your Launch Permit

Please complete the Pete Pettersen Boat Launch Permit application form. Upon form submission, your licence and vehicle information will be entered into the enforcement system; however, proof of residency and vehicle ownership is required to validate your Season's Resident Boat Launch Permit. 

You will need to bring proof of residency and proof of vehicle ownership to one of the following locations during office hours. Staff will look up your name, validate the permit in our system, and provide you with a sticker to place in your windshield.

Proof of residency can include a driver's licence, utility or water bill from within the last 60 days, cell phone bill from within the last 60 days, or tax bill from current year. Proof of vehicle ownership is the green permit provided by ServiceOntario.

Location Office Hours*
Town Hall, 575 Dominion Ave. 8:30am–4:30pm, Monday–Friday
Bourgeois Community Centre, 527 Len Self Blvd. 9am–4:30pm, Monday–Friday
Midland Harbour Marina, 165 King St. 8am–6:30pm daily, May 1 – Oct. 31
  *Excluding statutory holidays

Please complete the Pete Pettersen Boat Launch Permit application form. Upon form submission, your licence and vehicle information will be entered into the enforcement system. No further action is required if you pay online.

If you opt to pay in person, you will need to visit a Town facility to complete the transaction:

Location Office Hours*
Town Hall, 575 Dominion Ave. 8:30am–4:30pm, Monday–Friday
Bourgeois Community Centre, 527 Len Self Blvd. 9am–4:30pm, Monday–Friday
Midland Harbour Marina, 165 King St. 8am–6:30pm daily, May 1 – Oct. 31
  *Excluding statutory holidays

Commercial launch permits are handled in person at the Midland Harbour Office exclusively. Located at 165 King Street, the Midland Harbour Office is open 8am–6:30pm daily, May 1 to October 31. Please call 705-526-4610 or email harbour@midland.ca with any questions.

Boat Launch Terms of Use

  • The boat launch is unsupervised.  Use at own risk.
  • Children must be supervised at all times.
  • No fishing, swimming, jumping, or diving from docks or piers. 
  • As a Clean Marine facility, we encourage eco‑friendly boating practices:
    • Do not spill fuel, oil, sewage, or chemicals on docks or in the water. Report any spills to the Harbour Office by calling 705-526-4610 immediately.
    • Use the garbage and recycling bins provided. Only household waste may be disposed of on site; all other materials must be taken to proper facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions are anticipated for the 2026 season.

No. All boat launch permits are non-transferrable and tied to the vehicle to which they're registered.

There is no limit to the number of resident boat launch permits a resident may obtain in a single season (May 1–Oct. 31), provided that proof of vehicle ownership is submitted and matches the name on the proof of residency.

Overnight parking is permitted at the Pete Pettersen Boat Launch lot up to 7 days with the purchase of a boat launch permit.

Placing the Season's Resident Boat Launch Permit sticker on your windshield will help by-law enforcement officers when patrolling the area.

Your information (licence plate, vehicle, and confirmation that proof of residency and vehicle ownership was provided) is also stored in our system for lookup from enforcement officers, so displaying the sticker is not mandatory.

Proof of residency can include a driver's licence, utility or water bill from within the last 60 days, cell phone bill from within the last 60 days, or tax bill from current year. 

By-law enforcement officers can use a mobile app to confirm whether a licence plate has a valid permit. While displaying your Season’s Resident Boat Launch Permit sticker or a non-resident permit receipt on the windshield or dashboard is helpful, officers can also verify permits using the licence plate number alone.

As long as the proof of residency and proof of vehicle ownership are valid and the name on both documents corresponds with the permit application, the vehicle owner does not need to be present to obtain the resident permit.

Related Links

Boat Launch Permit Application Form
Marine Forecasts and Warnings for Canada
Boating Safety
Clean Marine Program
A sunlit waterfront boat launch with wooden docks, calm water, and marina boats in the background. Trees frame the scene, and a beam of sunlight streaks across the image during golden hour.

Who to Contact

Midland Harbour Office
705-526-4610
harbour@midland.ca