The following information is provided for convenience purposes only. Consult the Township of Algonquin Highlands Zoning By-law 03-22 for verification and additional information.
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Under the new Ontario Building Code requirements, all plans, drawings and specifications submitted for building permit approval must be prepared by a certified designer registered with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. A certified designer will have a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN).
The qualification and registration status of a designer may be verified through the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's public registry, accessible online through their Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS). To search the Public Register, enter the designer's surname or business name.
The Ontario Building Code allows a property-owner to prepare and submit their own building plans provided that the plans are legible, drawn at an appropriate scale, and contain all the required information (see Information to accompany a building permit application form).
If your brother-in-law is a certified designer and has a registered BCIN number with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, his drawings would be acceptable for submission with your building permit application. He would need to fill out and sign the Schedule 1: Designer Information sheet, included with your building permit application form.
If there is an existing home or cottage on your property, you may also be able to erect a sleeping cabin, depending on the zoning. *Please Note: Not all zones permit sleeping cabins, so be sure to check the Zoning By-law.
The maximum allowed floor area of a sleeping cabin is 45 square metres (485 ft²). This includes covered decks and verandas. The maximum permitted height is 5 metres (16 ft).
A bathroom is permitted in a sleeping cabin, conditional upon approval for a septic system.
No, a kitchen is not permitted in a sleeping cabin.
No. These types of structures are considered “accessory” to the principal building, such as your home or cottage. They are not permitted as the principal building.
Yes. The Zoning By-law has a number of regulations concerning accessory buildings, including setbacks from property lines, the high water mark, and your home or cottage. This includes small buildings 9 square metres (108 ft²) or less, even if a building permit is not required.
Maybe. A building or structure that does not meet current requirements is considered “non-conforming”. There are many variables that determine whether you can re-build or build an addition onto a non-conforming structure. For more information refer to section 4.7 of the Zoning By-law or contact the Planning or Building Department.
The setback is measured from the respective property line to the closest outside wall.
No. Check with Hydro One for their setback requirements from a hydro line or pole.
The high water mark is usually taken to be the line where the land-based vegetation ends. If in doubt, a Building Inspector may be able to assist you.
If you do not own the adjacent shore road allowance, you may be permitted
to build stairs or other means of pedestrian access, a deck, dock, or pump
house. A boathouse is only permitted if you own the shore road allowance,
and the location and setbacks of this will depend on the zone. Contact the
Building Department to determine if your proposed project would be permitted
and if a building permit is required.
You can apply to the Township to purchase the shore road allowance adjacent to your property. However, because it is a dedicated road allowance, there is a specific legal procedure that must be followed. The whole process could take 6 months or more to complete and there are no guarantees of approval.
It depends on the zoning of your property, but generally the minimum size is 74 square metres (796 ft²). Check the Zoning By-law to be sure.
A Health Approval is required from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit if you are (1) constructing a new building, (2) adding a bedroom, sleeping cabin, or washroom, (3) increasing the number of fixture units (sink, toilet, bathtub, shower, laundry, dishwasher, etc.), or (4) increasing the total floor area of the building by 15 percent or more.
Yes, you do need to get approval prior to installing any new septic system or replacing or repairing an old one. This includes greywater leaching pits, leaching pits for overflow from composting toilets (known as a cesspool), septic tanks, tile beds and holding tanks. Contact your local septic installer or the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit in Haliburton at 705-457-1391 for more information and an application form.
Land severance applications are administered by the County of Haliburton. Contact the Planning Department at the County office at 705-286-1333 in Minden for more information and an application.
No. This is not a permitted use in any zone, except in a designated campground or trailer park.
Yes, Township by-laws are enforced on a written complaint basis only. Telephone calls will not be accepted. The written complaint must include your name, address and telephone number or other contact information. Failure to provide this required information will render the complaint incomplete and it will not be investigated. Anonymous complaints or third party complaints that attempt to hide the identity of the complainant will not be investigated. Where the Township has determined that a complaint has been filed for a malicious or vexatious reason or as part of an ongoing pattern of harassment, the Township may cease the investigation and close the file.
The Township is often asked to become involved in matters over which we have no legal authority.
Civil matters such as,
- private right-of-way disputes,
- trespassing, and
- neighbour disputes over property lines, tree cutting or fence locations
are not within our jurisdiction. If the matter cannot be resolved between you and your neighbour, you may wish to consult legal counsel.
