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Removal or Decommissioning of Cottage Lot Structures and Sewage Systems

This fact sheet explains the process and rules associated with structure and sewage system removal. Cottagers may be removing cottage lot structures or sewage systems from their cottage lot as part of eligibility, in order to replace a structure or because they have chosen not to enter into a new occupational authority after December 31, 2017.

Structure removal must be done to the satisfaction of the Ministry and a site inspection will be conducted usually prior to work starting, and once the work is complete. Please contact the cottage lot program well in advance of conducting any work so that a site visit can be arranged. Staff may be able to provide advice specific to your lot that may make your structure removal project easier.


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Table of Contents

  • What portion of my structure(s) must I remove from the park?
  • Where do I obtain fill to backfill holes after removing structures?
  • What do I do with the waste materials?
  • Can I burn my structures or building materials?
  • What kind of equipment may I use to tear down my building?
  • Can I use a barge to get equipment to my cottage lot and/or remove the waste materials?
  • Decommissioning Sewage Systems

What portion of my structure(s) must I remove from the park?

When removing a structure, you must remove all portions of the structure with some exceptions for below ground foundations or footings. If your cottage has concrete footings that extend below ground, you must remove them down at least 30 cm below grade, and then backfill the holes.

Where do I obtain fill to backfill holes after removing structures?

Sand, gravel or any other fill material represent a significant risk for the introduction of invasive species to Algonquin. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find clean (seed and plant free) fill. For this reason, the Ministry may recommend that you use existing material on site and permit you to re-grade the surrounding area to fill the holes. During the initial site visit cottage program staff will assess your site and advise if you will be able to do this rather than having to import fill. For this reason it is important to request a site meeting with the cottage lot program during the planning stage for any structure removal so that these type of considerations can be explored.

If fill does have to be brought in, sand and coarse gravel tend to have fewer seeds and plants in them and are the most appropriate types of fill to use for backfilling holes created from removing structures, footings and septic systems. There is no one place where you must obtain your fill, however, it cannot be sourced from within the park (other than re-grading discussed above). You will need to purchase it from a pit, quarry, landscape supplier or other supplier. When you are sourcing your fill, talk to the company and ask if they have areas of their pit that are deeper from the surface, and free of plant material. If there are any visible plants or plant material in the fill, then it would not be appropriate for bringing into the park and could be considered an offence.  Topsoil should NOT be brought into the park. Instead, after final grading of any backfilled areas, organic material from other areas of the cottage lot can be spread over the site to allow native plants to grow in that location.

If you have brought fill material to your cottage lot and are continuing as a cottager (not vacating the park), you should monitor the areas that you filled for the emergence of non-native plants. As noted in the Algonquin Provincial Park Cottage Lot Policy (2018-2038), you are responsible for the removal of any new or re-emerging non-native species on your cottage lot. The sooner you control new populations, the easier it will be to get rid of all of them. You may need to monitor the site for several seasons as seeds can persist in the soil for a long time before growing. Cottage program staff can help if you have questions about what is growing on your site or how to control them. See the invasive species fact sheet on the toolkit for more information on non-native and invasive species.


What do I do with the waste materials?

All waste building materials must be removed from the park at the cottagers expense. The park’s Molok waste management system is not designed to handle construction and demolition waste and waste cannot be disposed of on the cottage lot or elsewhere in the park. Adjacent municipalities may or may not accept waste from Algonquin cottage lots if you are not a resident of that municipality. Check with each municipality to determine if you can take material to their landfill site. Another option is to dispose of building materials through a waste disposal company or use a local contractor for decommissioning. You may consider having a bin brought in to deal with your construction waste, however, please contact the cottage lot program well in advance to discuss the logistics of having a bin brought to a public access point. In some situations a cottager may even choose to bring a bin to the cottage lot on a barge (see section on barges below).



Can I burn my structures or building materials?

Cottagers may not burn structures, building materials or contents removed from structures. Most building materials cannot be burned in Ontario to prevent toxins from being released into the environment. Paint, shingles, pressure-treated building materials, plastics etc. are all common building materials that release significant toxins into the environment when burned. Burning of such materials would be a violation of the Environmental Protection Act.

What kind of equipment may I use to tear down my building?

Ontario Parks may authorize cottagers to bring a small backhoe or other similar equipment into the park for the purpose of demolishing a cottage or other structure. Contact the cottage lot program well in advance to obtain approval and advice. Equipment that has to be barged to a cottage lot will have to be brought to shore in an already disturbed area of shoreline. Cottage program staff will provide advice on site prior to authorizing the use of the equipment. Any equipment will be required to comply with the clean equipment protocol to ensure that no foreign soil which may contain invasive plant fragments or seeds is still attached to the equipment. You can find a copy of the clean equipment protocol at:
http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Clean-Equipment-Protocol_June2016_D3_WEB-1.pdf

Can I use a barge to get equipment to my cottage lot and/or remove the waste materials?

Cottagers may be able to make use of a barge for bringing a garbage bin or large equipment to their cottage lot. Barges may not be left at access point docks. When anchored to the shoreline at the cottage lot, they must be connected to shore in an area that is already disturbed, and efforts must be made to minimize impacts to shoreline areas. Please seek advice from the cottage lot program if you are considering hiring or otherwise bringing a barge to your cottage lot.

Decommissioning Sewage Systems

The requirements for decommissioning a sewage system will depend on the type of system you have and the materials that were used. To decommission or relocate an outhouse, you will simply need to remove the above-ground structure and then backfill the hole up to normal ground level. It is a good idea when digging a new outhouse hole to leave the earth piled nearby to be used when you need to backfill in the future. If the above ground structure is not going to be used in another location, dispose of it in the same manner as any other building, by removing the material from the park.

If you have a septic tank and weeping bed, then decommissioning will depend on the material that the tank is made from. If the tank is concrete, then the tank should be fully pumped out by an approved sewage pumping service. At that point, you can either remove the tank or the tank can then be crushed and buried where it is (if it is a concrete tank). If the septic tank is plastic or metal, then the tank must be pumped and then removed from the park and the hole backfilled. The tiles in the weeping bed may be left in the ground where they are if they are clay tile. If they are plastic tile they will have to be removed.