Bay City is a river-and-bay city of about 32,700 people in the Great Lakes Bay region, with historic neighborhoods, a walkable downtown and miles of parks. If you are planning a move, this guide covers the practical side: who to call, how services work and what to do in your first month.
Bay City at a glance
• Population: 32,661 in the 2020 census
• Size: about 10.4 square miles on the Saginaw River, roughly five miles south of Saginaw Bay
• Region: part of the Great Lakes Bay region with Midland and Saginaw, all within about 20 miles of each other and linked by I-75
• Distances: Flint 51 miles, Lansing 87, Ann Arbor 98, Detroit 111, Grand Rapids 130
• Airport: MBS International Airport, about 15 miles away, with Delta and United service
Details in this guide are summarized from the City of Bay City's website and may change. Confirm with the city before you act.
Utilities: set them up first
The city's Utility Customer Service handles water, sewer and electric service for city customers. To start service, call (989) 894-8104 and choose option 7, or use the new utility service page on the city website. Bills can be paid online or by phone. To report a power outage, call the electric dispatch line at (989) 894-8350. Our City Info page has the links.
Trash, recycling and yard waste
- Trash: the city provides a 96-gallon cart. Put it at the curb after 4 pm the day before pickup and before 7 am on pickup day, and bring it in before 8 am the next day.
- Recycling: curbside pickup is every other week in a 96-gallon recycling cart.
- Yard waste: weekly pickup runs April 1 through November 30 in paper bags, labeled containers or tied bundles under 40 pounds.
- Drop-off: the Bay City Recycles Drop-Off Center accepts recyclables, general refuse, tires and more by appointment.
- Find your day: use the "When is my collection day?" tool on the city's Sanitation pages.
Snow, streets and public safety
From the third Monday of November through the first week of April, the city keeps a salt-and-plow crew on standby and clears emergency routes and major streets first, then school routes, business districts, residential streets and alleys. The Street Division is at (989) 894-8312. Police, fire and emergency medical service are combined in the Bay City Department of Public Safety, created in 2013. In an emergency call 911. For non-emergency police, call (989) 892-8571. You can report potholes and similar problems through the city's Report a Concern form or the SeeClickFix app.
Permits and home projects
Many projects inside city limits need a permit. Start with the Building Department at (989) 894-8162 and its "Do I need a permit?" guide. Code Enforcement, at (989) 894-8175, handles issues such as long grass and weeds and rental registration, and Planning & Zoning, at (989) 894-8180, handles zoning and historic districts. Bay City has historic districts and a Historic District Commission, so check before changing the exterior of an older home. Our Contractors page lists local roofers, plumbers, electricians, heating and cooling companies, remodelers and more, and you can send a project description through Request a Pro. Verify any contractor's license with Michigan LARA.
Getting around
Downtown and the riverfront are walkable, and the city has roughly 10 miles of Riverwalk and Rail Trail. Bay Metro provides local bus service, and Greyhound and Indian Trails serve intercity travel. I-75, US-10, M-84, M-13, M-25 and M-15 are the main state routes. Most daily errands, such as grocery shopping on Wilder Road and Euclid Avenue, are easiest by car.
Groceries and everyday shopping
Our Groceries page lists Kroger, ALDI, Meijer, Walmart, Save A Lot, Gordon Food Service Store and local favorites such as Jack's Fruit & Meat Market, along with butchers and a seasonal farmers market on Thursdays in the summer and fall.
Parks, recreation and community
The city manages about 238 acres in 25 park areas, plus a marina, boat launches and the Riverwalk. Bay City State Park, with its beach and Tobico Marsh, is just north of town. Pavilions at some parks can be reserved for $100 to $150 a day. For culture, there is the State Theatre, the Historic Masonic Temple, Bay City Players and a calendar of festivals, including the Fireworks Festival on July 1-3, 2027. Faith communities are plentiful, and the Churches page lists about 30 congregations.
Your first-month checklist
- Set up water, sewer and electric with Utility Customer Service.
- Look up your trash and recycling day, and learn the curb times.
- Save key numbers: non-emergency police, the electric outage line and the Street Division. See City Info.
- Sign up for the city's Notify Me alerts and download the SeeClickFix app.
- Update your voter registration through the City Clerk and Michigan's voter information site.
- Check whether your project or home needs a permit before work begins.
- Explore: walk the Riverwalk, visit the farmers market and pick a favorite coffee shop. Our Weekend Planner can build a plan.
Sources
Facts come from the City of Bay City: demographics, trash and recycling, snow and ice, parks and the staff directory, plus the 2020 census figure from Wikipedia. This site is not run by the city.