Catawba Island lake homes

Catawba Island at a glance

Catawba Island Township is in Ottawa County, on a peninsula between Port Clinton and the Marblehead peninsula. It is a mix of year-round houses, seasonal cottages, and condominiums. Many homes are near a marina, a channel, or the open lake. A lot of township mail uses Port Clinton as the city.

The Miller Ferry dock is at the north tip of the peninsula, at the end of State Route 53. That boat carries cars and passengers to Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island and to Middle Bass. In 2026 the season runs roughly mid-March to late November, with no winter service.

Water and marinas

Boat access is a big part of this shore. Some houses have a private dock. Others use a marina slip or a channel lot. Ask which one a house has, who maintains the dock, and whether the water is deep enough for the boat you have in mind.

Rentals and utilities

As of October 2026, Catawba Island Township zoning prohibits overnight rentals of a dwelling. Rules change. Confirm with township zoning and the Ottawa County auditor before you count on rental income. Details and sources: Lake Erie short-term rental rules.

Also ask whether the house is on public water and sewer or a private well and septic, and how those systems are handled if the house is closed up in winter.

Winter on the peninsula

Catawba is on the mainland, so winter is a drive, not a boat. Downtown Toledo is about 69 minutes and 47 miles away by car, a free-flow estimate from the OSRM route service on OpenStreetMap data, computed Oct 24, 2026. Many cottages here are still closed for winter, so ask whether a house was built and plumbed for year-round use. See the islands year-round guide.

Schools

Public schools for Catawba Island Township are Port Clinton City Schools. Confirm the district for the exact address. This site does not rate or compare schools.

Prices

Realtor.com's Catawba Island place page lists a median sold price of $518,750 as of October 2026 (checked Oct 24, 2026). The same page shows that figure down about 34 percent from the prior month. That is what a small number of closings does on this shore. It is not a value for one cottage, and it is not a ZIP median for 43452.

Good to check for any Catawba Island address

• Whether the address is in Catawba Island Township or in the City of Port Clinton. Taxes and services can differ.
• Dock, channel, or marina access, and who maintains it.
• The current overnight-rental rule for that parcel.
• Water, sewer, well, or septic, including winter use.

Flood insurance can now be bought online: since October 20, 2026, FEMA sells National Flood Insurance Program policies directly through FloodSmart.gov, or you can still buy through an insurance agent. Source: FEMA press release HQ-26-170, Oct 20, 2026.

Year-round waterfront in the Toledo metro is a different market. See Oregon and Point Place.

Also on this shore: Port Clinton · Marblehead · Put-in-Bay · Kelleys Island · Middle Bass · Oregon · Point Place