Original Shore Road Allowances
Many waterfront properties have a shore road allowance because Crown surveyors originally reserved a 66' wide road allowance around the edges of most Ontario lakes.
Many were not opened as roads but are still owned by the municipality. Waterfront property owners often do not own their lots right up to the water's edge. In many cases, property owners have encroached onto these allowances and occupied them with buildings, structures, landscaping, etc.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a mapping system that is up to date of who owns their Original Shore Road Allowance (OSRA) and who doesn’t. To determine that, the Township of Lake of Bays looks at the legal description of the property and their records to determine if the OSRA has been purchased.
If your Shore Road Allowance has been closed (i.e. you own it), you should see "SHORE RD ALLOW RP ###" in the Legal Owner & Legal Description section on your tax bill.
Shore Road & Road Allowance Closure ApplicationShore Road & Road Allowance Closure Policy & Procedures
What's The Damage?
- Application Fee: $900.00
- Survey: $ Varies
- Legal Deposit for Township’s legal fees: $3,500.00 (paid directly to the Township solicitor later in the process. Billed on an hourly basis)
- Land Acquisition Fee: $1.15/sq ft for Echo Lake (Category #2 Lake), plus HST
- Frontage of Property x 66 feet x $1.15/sq ft = $x,xxx plus HST
To initiate the application process
- Application Fee
- OSRA application completed (single page)
- Summer pictures of the shore road or road allowance
- A detailed sketch or site plan of your property
Need help?
Contact Corporate Services - Lands and Agreements Coordinator, Samantha Woods