Eligibility Fact Sheet Algonquin Cottage Program
The Algonquin Provincial Park Cottage Lot Policy (2018-2038) (referred to as the cottage lot policy in this fact sheet) outlines a number of eligibility requirements that cottagers must meet in order to be eligible for 2038 occupational authority. For clarity, these requirements must be met for cottagers to be able to keep their cottage lots for the time period of 2023-2038. The only requirements that cottages must meet for the term of 2018-2022 are that cottagers must submit a complete application package not later than March 31, 2017, and must not be in arrears for any payments or debts related to their cottage lot including rent, service fees or taxes.
This fact sheet will focus on the eligibility requirements that cottagers must meet to obtain 2038 occupational authority. All of the eligibility requirements are listed within this fact sheet along with a more detailed explanation of the requirement and/or a link to a more detailed fact sheet on that specific eligibility requirement. Cottagers who have questions about the eligibility requirements specific to their cottage lot can contact the cottage lot program at Algonquin.cottages@ontario.ca or at 705-645-7436. During the summers of 2017 and 2018 The Ministry cottage lot liaison staff are planning to visit cottage lots to discuss eligibility requirements with cottagers and answer any questions that you may have.
Table of Contents
- 1. Property Survey
- 2. Resizing, Relocation and/or Removal of Existing Structures (if required)
- 3. Sewage Systems
- 4. Removal of Existing Non-native and Invasive Species
- 5. Shoreline Naturalization / Restoration
- 6. Removal of Waste
- 7. Payment of Arrears
- 8. Submission of Application Package for 2038 Occupational Authority
1. Property Survey
Section 4.1 of the cottage lot policy requires that all cottagers complete a property survey. The survey is intended to confirm where the property boundaries are, and ensure that all cottage lot structures are on the lot. Where existing cottage lot structures are not located within the current lot boundaries, some adjustments may be made at the time of the survey to try and include them in the final cottage lot boundary. The final cottage lot boundary will be established during the survey according to instructions issued by the Ministry. Where necessary, the Ministry will instruct the surveyor to adjust the lot boundaries to capture previously approved cottages and sleep cabins. Further lot “shifting” may be permitted to capture other ancillary structures or sewage systems, but the lot cannot increase in area or frontage to accomplish this, and therefore there is the potential that some ancillary structures or sewage systems may remain off lot.
The survey will require two parts: a Crown Land Reference Plan (will show the lot lines) and a Surveyors Real Property Report (will show the size and location of structures in relation to the lot). Survey instructions will be sent to all cottagers who apply for 2022 occupational authority. You cannot initiate your survey until you have the specific instructions from the Ministry and your surveyor has obtained permission from the Ministry to begin the survey.
A separate fact sheet for surveys has been prepared and is posted on the toolkit. Please refer to the Survey Fact Sheet Algonquin Cottage Program.
It is important that cottagers hire a surveyor and have their survey completed as soon as possible. Although cottagers have until March 31, 2022 to complete all eligibility requirements (including the survey), the property survey is required to determine whether any cottage lot structures or sewage systems are located off lot, and require removal or relocation onto the cottage lot. The survey will also confirm the exact footprint (area) for all structures which will be used by the Ministry to determine if a reduction in ancillary structure footprint is required (see section 2, Resizing, Relocation and/or Removal of Existing Structures). As such the survey should be done early enough to allow cottagers time to deal with resizing or removal of cottage lot structures as necessary to meet eligibility.
2. Resizing, Relocation and/or Removal of Existing Structures (if required)
Section 4.2 of the cottage lot policy outlines eligibility requirements related to cottage lot structures (cottages, sleep cabins and ancillary structures).
Once the property survey for your cottage lot has been completed, including any boundary adjustments that the Ministry may approve, the Ministry will review the surveyor’s real property report to determine if there are any remaining off-lot structures. During the survey all previously approved cottages and sleep cabins will be included within the final cottage lot boundary whether they were located on the existing lot or not. Other types of structures, including sewage systems or ancillary structures that remain off lot will need to be relocated or removed. You will receive specific direction about the need to relocate or remove any structures after the Ministry has reviewed your survey.
Further, if the total combined footprint (area) of all ancillary structures on your lot exceed the limits as identified in the Algonquin Provincial Park Management Plan (as amended), the Ministry will direct you to remove or resize ancillary structures (generally of your choice) in order to become compliant with the maximum footprints. Your survey will identify the actual area of each of your structures and the Ministry will send you specific direction to reduce ancillary structures if the combined total ancillary footprint exceeds the limit.
Additionally, if there are any cottages or sleep cabins that were identified as being built or modified without authorization, or were built, modified or expanded with a work permit but are not compliant with the conditions attached to the work permit (i.e., built larger than approved, built with a second storey, etc.), then after discussion and clarification with Ontario Parks staff you will be directed to remove or bring these structures into compliance with the original work permit, as applicable. Please note, unauthorized ancillary structures may remain subject to the total combined ancillary footprint limit.
3. Sewage Systems
Section 4.3 of the cottage lot policy outlines the eligibility requirements related to sewage systems on your cottage lot. Sewage systems include all septic and wastewater systems including grey water systems, outhouses, septic tanks, tile beds, etc.
The first eligibility requirement relates to any sewage systems currently located less than 15m from the water’s edge. All sewage systems must be located within the cottage lot boundary and at least 15 m from the water’s edge (at spring levels). Any systems that do not meet these requirements must be relocated or removed. The relocation of an existing system or the placement of a new (replacement) system will require a permit from the local septic authority (except for an outhouse) as well as a work permit from the Ministry (Ontario Parks).
The second eligibility requirement is that a sewage system inspection must be completed for all sewage systems on the cottage lot. Cottagers must hire a qualified inspector and have an inspection completed prior to March 31, 2022. The Ministry must be copied on all inspection reports. Sewage system inspections conducted prior to October 2016 will not be accepted.
Please see the Sewage Systems Inspection Fact Sheet.
4. Removal of Existing Non-native and Invasive Species
Section 4.4 of the cottage lot policy outlines the requirement to remove all non-native and invasive species from your cottage lot. During the 2015 cottage lot inventory, the Ministry documented the incidence of any invasive plant species located on each cottage lot as well as the presence of other non-native species in flower beds or simply in the ground. A summary of these findings were provided to you in your initial package which was mailed in October, 2016 within the document titled “Summary of Findings”. This information will also be provided in a letter of direction, which will be sent to you in the early spring of 2017 after the Ministry has received your application for 2022 occupational authority.
Cottagers will be required to remove (on their own) or work with the Ministry to have all species of plants not native to the park removed from their cottage lot. This will include plants in hanging baskets, planters, window boxes, flower beds etc. Cottagers may plant species of plants that are native to the park so long as the plants (and/or their seeds) originate from local suppliers or seed stock. Species of plants considered native to the park are those identified as native within the Checklist of the Vascular Plant of Algonquin Provincial Park.
The Ministry has prepared a separate Invasive Species Factsheet on the toolkit. This fact sheet provides information on why the Ministry is concerned with invasive and non-native species, and provides information on the identification of some of the more significant invasive species. It also outlines methods for the removal of invasive species from your cottage lot.
5. Shoreline Naturalization / Restoration
Section 4.5 of the cottage lot policy outlines the maximum amount of shoreline on each cottage lot that may be disturbed or be occupied by structures. The total amount of shoreline disturbance per cottage lot may not exceed 20 metres or 20 percent of the shoreline (whichever is less) and may not occur in more than two shoreline segments. In the initial package that cottagers were sent in October 2016, was the report “Summary of Findings”. Under the heading “Shoreline Development” you will find how many activity areas (shoreline segments) that were noted and the number of metres of shoreline that were estimated to be disturbed during the 2015 cottage lot inventory. Please note that this number was an estimate and that verification will have to take place to determine the exact amount of shoreline that is actually disturbed.
If your cottage lot was identified as having more than 20 metres of shoreline disturbed or more than two shoreline activity areas, then the Ministry staff will work with you on your cottage lot to determine what areas of your shoreline will be permitted to remain disturbed, and which areas must be allowed to restore naturally (e.g., where you will not be permitted to clear vegetation or otherwise disturb). In extreme cases cottagers may be required to work with the Ministry to conduct active restoration (where the extent of shoreline disturbance is extreme or where passive restoration may not be successful). This would involve the planting of native shoreline trees and shrubs.
The Ministry will be providing a fact sheet on the cottagers toolkit to outline why it is important to limit shoreline disturbance, and methods for both passive and active restoration of your shoreline areas. Please watch for this factsheet on the toolkit.
6. Removal of Waste
Section 4.6 of the cottage lot policy outlines requirements to remove all waste that is currently on or adjacent to the cottage lot. It was noted during the 2015 cottage lot inventory that garbage and other waste items are present on some cottage lots including items such as old tires, discarded appliances, used building materials, can and bottle dumps etc.. As part of eligibility cottagers will be required to remove these items from their lot. Since most of this material is not suitable for Algonquin Provincial Park’s Molok system, it will have to be removed from the park at the cottager’s expense.
The initial package that cottagers were sent in October 2016 contained the document “Summary of Findings”. Within that document under the heading “Additional information, Hazard Waste/Garbage?” there will be an indication if any such materials were noted on your cottage lot during the 2015 inventory. You will also receive a notice in the spring or summer of 2017 after you have applied for 2022 occupational authority indicating if garbage was noted on the lot and instructing you to remove it. However, regardless of whether garbage was noted during the 2015 inventory, failure to remove new garbage or garbage that was not originally noted could result in failure to meet eligibility.
7. Payment of Arrears
As per section 4.7 of the cottage lot policy, to be eligible for 2038 occupational authority, cottagers must not be in arrears for any payments or debts related to their cottage lot including rent, service fees or taxes. As the application, audit and issuance of the 2038 occupational authority will be completed over more than one year, cottagers must ensure that they remain up-to-date with payments at all times.
8. Submission of Application Package for 2038 Occupational Authority
The final requirement to obtain occupational authority for the period of 2023-2038 is for cottagers to submit an application package for 2038 occupational authority. Cottagers must submit this application by December 31, 2020.
The Ministry will provide a copy of the application to cottagers well ahead of this date both through the toolkit and also directly by mail.