Middle Bass lake homes

Middle Bass at a glance

Middle Bass Island is in Lake Erie, in Ottawa County, just north of South Bass Island and Put-in-Bay. It has no village government of its own. The island is part of Put-in-Bay Township. The Village of Put-in-Bay is on South Bass Island, not here. The mailing city is Middle Bass, ZIP 43446.

Miller Ferry leaves from Catawba and carries cars and passengers to Middle Bass and to Put-in-Bay. In 2026 that season runs roughly mid-March to late November, with no winter service. Air service also reaches the island. Confirm the operator and any winter flights before you plan a January trip or a winter closing.

The state park and marina

Middle Bass Island State Park is on the island and includes a marina. The park season and the slip rules are set by Ohio State Parks, and the marina is not a year-round service. Confirm dates and fees with the park before you count on a slip.

Island practicalities

Golf carts are used to get around the island. Confirm any permit or rental rule locally. This page does not state a village permit, because there is no village government here.

Ask whether a house is on a well and septic or another system, who services it, and how it is closed up in winter. Also ask how you, and a contractor, get to the island when the car ferry is not running.

Rentals

As of October 2026, Middle Bass is in Put-in-Bay Township, where zoning treats non-owner stays of 7 to 90 days as a conditional use with a 7-night minimum. Ottawa County has a lodging tax and registration for stays under 30 days. Confirm the rule for the exact parcel with township zoning and the county auditor. This is general information, not legal advice. Details and sources: Lake Erie short-term rental rules.

Winter living

In winter Middle Bass is reached by small plane. Griffing Flying Service and Island Air Taxi (Put-in-Bay Airport page) both list Middle Bass, by reservation and weather permitting (checked Oct 24, 2026).

Put-in-Bay Township EMS keeps one of its ambulances on Middle Bass, per the Put-in-Bay tourism directory (checked Oct 24, 2026). A year-round grocery store on Middle Bass was not confirmed for this page. Plan on shopping on South Bass or the mainland.

More on winter, utilities, and moving a car or furniture across: islands year-round guide.

Schools

The National Center for Education Statistics lists Middle Bass Local as an open Ottawa County district with no school of its own. Put-in-Bay Local School District, on South Bass Island, records that the Middle Bass school closed in 1982 and that students enrolled at Put-in-Bay after that. Confirm the current arrangement for the address. This site does not rate or compare schools.

Prices

A median is not cited. Realtor.com's Middle Bass place page, as of October 2026, does not publish a median sold price. It showed 3 homes listed. That is not a sale price, and a handful of island sales would swing a midpoint. Ask for recent sales of similar houses.

Good to check for any Middle Bass address

• That the address is on Middle Bass, in Put-in-Bay Township, and not in the Village of Put-in-Bay.
• Ferry and air access for the months you will use the house. There is no car ferry in winter.
• Water, septic, and winter shut-down.
• The rental rule for that parcel. Township rules are not the village rules on South Bass.
• The school arrangement for the address. Middle Bass Local has no school of its own.

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 · Catawba Island · Marblehead · Put-in-Bay · Kelleys Island · Oregon · Point Place