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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 12:04
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Hi,
I'm new to this forum. Just looking for advice on how to build a bunkie on my land without requiring a permit or at least paying minimal fees to have one. I purchased land in Mcdougall twp. as that area is gorgeous and I hope to retire up there one day. In the mean time we want to use our land with our 4 children as they grow up.
Any advice would be great,
Thanks
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 12:29
Reply
In ontario the maximum size for a bunky is10 sq m. or 108 sq ft. some townships allow them without a perment ,most in the south do not . the only way to find out is to ask the township. I am presently in the planing stages to build one for a friend this spring . they have a family of 4 so two double beds in the loft and one double pull out down stairs .. that might work for you . this one will be in Karrney Ont.
good luck
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 12:36
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Check with your township Building Dept and see what the rules are first off. Many of them allow a building of certain size before requiring a permit. Typically, these are 100 square feet, some allow bigger and some smaller. There are often some reg's that require an existing structure or other requirements.
When talking to Building Dept. do NOT tell them you are doing anything but rather considering what options are possible and what you can do. The whole Septic, Well and other related issues also come into play, usually depending on size, # of people (If designated as a habitable structure) and more.
Enquire about options such as "Recreational Use" & "Hunt Camps" as well, depending on the region, township sometimes these are options for building something a bit bigger or better without as many hurdles to leap over.
You may want to also consider issues like Power, Water, Heating etc when defining your "needs / wants / like to have's & nice to have's" which will help to guide you as to minimums you need & want and better when looking at building requirements and how you can flex around some of the rules & demands by the govern-mental goobers.
Hope that helps,
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 13:26
Reply
Thanks, We're looking at DIY kits at 108 sq. feet.
I know the regs for Mcdougall req. an existing principal res. but I read something about getting a survey which would avoid requiring a permit, just didn't know if it was true. Hoping someones done this in the twp before.
Cheers!
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 13:29
Reply
Thanks for the advice,
Know of any builders in the Parry Sound area who build these bunkies and would know how to deal with the twp. I'm heading up there soon to pay my taxes for the year.We live in the Brantford area so 3 hrs. commute for us.
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 15:26
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You could use it for camping till you save up for a cottage..there are rules about that also you should ask.
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 16:00
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Unfortunately McDougall does not allow camping on any vacant land including your own
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 16:46
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save your money. find out what the minimums are. sounds like it my take some time. but it will be wourth the wait..
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TerraLove
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 17:26
Reply
I found that in Ontario the municipal by-laws are very uniform with very minor differences. Some municipalities allow certain little things, others do not, but as regards to the small 100sq.ft structures the general rule seems to be that they are allowed as long as there is a primary residential building. Some municipalities only allow them temporarily while construction of a residential building or another outbuilding is going on. Others allow them temporarily, but I get an impression that nowhere in Ontario you can live in those 10'x10' structures.
Go onto the municipal web and download their zoning by-law to begin with. I quickly glanced over, did not find an answer to your question, but noticed that some provisions are more restrictive than elsewhere in Ontario.
People of Ontario should really wake up to the unchecked and unchallenged dictatorship of the municipalities, who believe they can regulate anything they want the way they want.
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TerraLove
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 17:27
Reply
* Sorry, I meant to write "Others allow them permanently"
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 19:40
Reply
Been through the bylaws a number of times, the only thing I think is questionable is the reference to sleeping cabins, might try to work that angle.
Thanks
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 19:45
Reply
Also just a comment, we are only sleeping in it , no water or electrical, there was a privy and deck already on the property when we bought it.Any other ideas out there would be great. Thanks to everyone who responded so far.
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Ontario lakeside
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2017 20:57
Reply
We had a bunkie for several years on our land with no issues. It was technically not allowed but never an issue. When the building inspector came to look at out permanent cottage he saw several of my neighbours bunnies on the boat ride in and there has been no problem. Of course it will be different in every area, but my experience has been that if your neighbours don't complain and you are not drawing attention with environmental issues you can likely have a bunkie for a few years.
https://www.youtube.com/user/OntarioLakeside/featured
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jan 2017 11:05
Reply
Good luck.
For decades we camped on our property in Northern Ontario.
Property in a unorganized township.
Hauling everything needed for a two-three week trip over the border because we were not allowed to build a small shed until we started building our primary cabin.
It was a struggle but we obeyed the rules because when the time came we wanted to be on the good side of the rulers up there.
We were and changing the by-laws was a piece of cake.
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jan 2017 11:44
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Quoting: silverwaterlady changing the by-laws was a piece of cake
How were the by-laws changed?
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jan 2017 11:49
Reply
I love the Parry Sound area and our property is only 10 minutes north east just off the124. By laws are so difficult. At least in whitestone twp. you can purchase permits to camp on your property that are relatively cheap, wish all townships had this rule.
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jan 2017 11:53 - Edited by: silverwaterlady
Reply
By-laws were changed by allowing us to build a cabin and storage shed.
It was a easy process for us,submit a sketch of the area and proposed buildings and pay the fee,I think it was $250.00.
It had to go before the board and was approved.
Edited to include: we were asked if we were absolutely sure of the placement of our cabin and shed because once you get the by-laws changed you must build exactly in that area,no changing your mind because you found a better place on your property.
Unless I suppose you want to go through the process all over again and IDK if they would approve it or not. I had the feeling it was a friendly warning to not change our minds. We have 220 acres but because we camped and visited our property in all four seasons we knew there would be no changes.
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jan 2017 12:09
Reply
[quote=silverwaterlady]By-laws were changed by allowing us to build a cabin and storage shed[/quot
Thanks for the info, something to think about
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 4 Jan 2017 14:06
Reply
Quoting: silverwaterlady It was a easy process for us,submit a sketch of the area and proposed buildings and pay the fee,I think it was $250.00.
What size is your cabin? Are you able to post your sketch just so we have an idea of how to proceed?
Thanks,
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 11:53
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Our cabin size is 24' by 34' with a loft.
I do not have the sketch here it's in Canada.
The biggest concern to the municipality was that we built far enough back from the lake,beyond the high water line.
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 13:33
Reply
Quoting: silverwaterlady Our cabin size is 24' by 34' with a loft.
Thanks again
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 14:06
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try reading bushbunky's thread lots of similarites there..
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 14:09
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Quoting: Just try reading bushbunky's thread lots of similarites there.
Thanks
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 14:13
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Where do I find Bushbunkys threads?
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 14:47 - Edited by: Just
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go to members projects and photos above .Then scroll down to100 sq. ft. ,cabin, in ontario first post bushbunky
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 16:10
Reply
Thanks Just,
Cheers 
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bushbunkie
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 18:41
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Hi Just, Jason,
Just got on line.......yup, just check out my thread re."100 Sq ft Cabin in Southwestern Ontario - Lake Huron" and it will give you an idea of our journey. All these posts are good advice and if you are 3 - 4 hours from TO, the rules all seem to be the same.
Putting up a Bunkie will be a risk if you do not have a main residential structure already onsite. Unorganized townships seem to be more flexible, but for me, that would have meant a much longer drive (live in Sarnia area) and was not going to do more than 3.5 hours.
If you do put up a Bunkie, just be prepared if someone calls bylaw on you, they will make you remove it. They are doing fly overs now as well to keep tabs on property development.
Advice?
-Keep a low profile
-Make friends with all your neighbours
-Never loan your property out to friends
-Spend $$ locally with local contractors
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2017 20:12
Reply
You could also try,, building a cabin in ontario ,, by '' spee''
in the property catigorie. .2011 i think
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Jason
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jan 2017 07:16
Reply
Hey Just and Buushbunkie,
Thanks for the advice, my wife and I looked at the Bruce for a while but after contacting the municipality
opted not to go that way as they seemed so strict. I'm starting to get the same feeling from these guys in Mcdougall. We are trying to see if the board will allow us to make a change in our site plan to allow us to go off grid, I know the chief building inspector is a letter of the law kinda person and I get all the concerns she has, just hope she's willing to try to work something out with us. We're more than willing to do whatever needs to be done but can't afford anything big right now, just want to enjoy the area with our kids for a few years before they get older and move out.I'll let you know how it turns out. We were blessed with this land and hope to be blessed by it.
Thanks again, Jason
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silverwaterlady
Member
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# Posted: 6 Jan 2017 10:42
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IDK if this is the case where you are thinking of building.
We are off grid because the power lines are to far away.
It was easier to get the by laws changed because our cabin is considered a seasonal cabin.
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