Community News

LOOKING TO BUILD IN AREA?

HERE ARE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW FIRST

SARAH COOKE scooke@metroland.com

You did it — you bought that sweet piece of real estate in an Almaguin unorganized township, nice choice, but what comes next?

Do you need to build to code, or can you just live off-grid in a mobile home or tiny house?

Almaguin News is here to help you out with some pro-tips from real estate agents David Sheepway and Julie Rainville who specialize in selling properties in unorganized townships.

There are 11 unorganized townships in the Parry Sound district and eight of them are in Almaguin including: Arnstein, Restoule, Port Loring and district.

So, what do you need to know?

NO BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED

According to Sheepway and Rainville, building permits are not required however when building in an unorganized township, all structures must comply with the Ontario Building Code.

"You still need to build to the Ontario Building Code as a minimum," he said, adding it's the first thing they tell people.

While individuals are required to build to code, there's no permit process and nobody coming to inspect after, according to Rainville.

"You can have included in any offer purchase a home inspection clause," said Sheepway. "Sometimes that's a good thing and other times it's just not necessary based on what you can see."

SEPTIC, HYDRO PERMITS ARE REQUIRED

While you don't need a permit to build, septic system and hydro permits are required, Sheepway said, but nobody might tell you that.

The costs associated

with setting up hydro to a property depend a lot on the distance from the poles the property is.

"Hydro needs to come in and do a site assessment, give the quotes and go from there," said Rainville.

BUT WHAT ABOUT A DRIVEWAY

Some properties will come with a driveway already included. But what about the properties that don't?

"You've got the Ministry of Transportation if (the property) is on a highway or a side road," Sheepway explained. "But some of the side roads fall under local road boards, which are made up of volunteers."

Whether the property is on a ministry maintained highway/side road or falls under a local road board, it is important all driveways have a safe entrance.

"They all would require a permit or oversight permission," said Rainville. "If you're talking about new severances in our area, that's actually one of the requirements prior to the board granting a severance."

LOWER TAXES, LESS SERVICES

Living in an unorganized township does mean less taxation but less taxation

means less services which could make-orbreak someone's decision to purchase.

"You're paying for less service so therefore you're paying less tax ... You have to haul your own garbage to the dump," said Sheepway.

"That's not necessarily a downside, but it's a consideration."

However, for some in unorganized townships, the dump is a social gathering spot.

"You show up at the dump on Saturday morning and you end up hanging out there for an hour because you meet people and up chatting," said Rainville with a laugh.

IS THERE A DOWNSIDE

Asked if there were any challenges to living, building in unorganized townships, Sheepway said it ultimately depends on the individual.

"We don't have garbage pickup, the fire department is volunteer in typically all of the unorganized (townships)," he said. "The drawback is that where you can do almost anything you want on your property, so can your neighbours."

The Loring and District Local Services Board has helpful links for permits required and local roads board online.

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2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281526524662738

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