Waterfront Development

On this page:

• Shore road allowances
• Shoreline buffer requirements
• Importance of shoreline buffers
• Importance of fish habitats

Before you build on a waterfront lot you must enter into an agreement with the Town. You must provide a site plan drawing that outlines:

• Location and size of all existing or proposed buildings and structures, including dimensions and setbacks to lot lines
• Landscaping
• Pathways, parking areas and driveways
• Location of wells and septic systems
• Natural features on site (such as wetlands, streams, etc.)
• Shoreline buffer area within 15 metres of the shoreline
• Port Sydney aerial view

Many of the original shore road allowances (OSRAs) along the lakes and rivers in Huntsville are owned by the Town.

If you have structures or plan to build on the OSRA abutting your property (such as docks and boathouses), you will be required to purchase it or enter into a license of occupation.

• Maintain in a natural state except for removal of dead and decaying vegetation.
• Maintain across a minimum 75% of the lot, measured along the shoreline.
• Maintain a minimum depth of 15 metres measured back from the shoreline.
• Total width of all structures and amenity areas cannot exceed 15 metres or 25% of the lot frontage, whichever is less

See the re-vegetation of shoreline buffers policy for more information.

Shoreline buffers protect the health of waterbodies and contribute to the natural beauty of Huntsville.

The shallow water and the first 20 metres of the land around lakes and rivers forms a “ribbon of life”. Most lake life is born, raised and fed in this area. A healthy shoreline buffer supports fish habitat and reduces erosion and runoff into the water.

The Province provides the Town with the location of fish habitats. Type 1 fish habitat is very sensitive to the impact of development. Disturbing fish habitat can result in the loss of fish population.