Highlands East Council Breakdown: What Every Waterfront Property Owner and Resident Needs to Know Right Now

As your trusted local real estate expert, I keep a close eye on our municipal chambers so you don't have to. The Municipality of Highlands East held a critical Regular Council Meeting on June 23, 2026, tackling operational upgrades, major planning changes, and shoreline updates that directly impact your property rights, community lifestyle, and real estate values.

Here is your comprehensive, deep-dive breakdown of what happened and why it matters to your pocketbook.

1. The Big News & Controversy: Revisions to Short-Term Rental (STR) Licensing & The Online Tracking Map

• The Staff Report: The Bylaw Enforcement Department submitted Staff Report SR #2026-153 regarding the initial rollout of the Short-Term Rental Licensing By-law 2024-32. Staff identified multiple operational and enforcement hurdles and proposed a series of sweeping amendments to tighten definitions, eliminate ambiguity, and streamline enforcement.

• The Debate: Council was asked to provide immediate direction on these updates, specifically regarding the continued use and public accessibility of the contentious online STR dashboard map. This tracking system has sparked intense debate between privacy-conscious property owners and local groups seeking strict municipal oversight.

• The Local Perspective: In the Kawarthas and Highlands, our peaceful lakeside culture is everything. This bylaw update is a public service designed to protect community peace, manage lake-capacity issues, and curb disruptive commercial-style operations in residential cottage zones, keeping our neighbourhoods family-friendly.

• Property Impact: Tightening STR rules stabilizes long-term property values by preventing neighbourhood friction, but it also creates stricter hoops for buyers looking for vacation rental income. If you are planning to buy or sell an investment cottage, compliance with these new definitions is mandatory to protect your equity.

2. The Waterfront Update: Shoreline Road Allowance (SRA) Closures & Zoning Clampdowns

• The Staff Report: The Planning Department brought forward several highly specific applications to close and purchase Original Shoreline Road Allowances (OSRA) across our major lakes.

• The Decisions: Council granted approval in principle for several properties, but with major conditions attached to clean up non-compliant zoning:

  • 1025 Marsh Crescent (Jackson): Must resolve a zoning amendment to recognize an existing deck and completely remove a lean-to structure encroaching onto the neighbouring property.

  • 4464 West Eels Lake Road (Jackson & Braganza): Must pass a zoning amendment to formally recognize a deck built inside the shoreline road allowance.

  • 1239 Abrams Road (Rudderham & Kennedy): Must obtain a zoning amendment to recognize a frame boathouse and clear up all zoning non-compliance.

  • 1203 Balmoral Lane (Chubb): Must address structural infractions involving an attached deck, frame sheds, and an unauthorized guest cabin in the shoreline setback. They must also pass a qualified septic inspection cleared by the Chief Building Official.

  • 1122 Burnt Point Trail (Kohut): Must address over-coverage issues and setbacks for a shoreline frame shed and deck via a zoning amendment, alongside a site visit report from a Bylaw Officer.

  • 1041 Solitude Lane (Mahut) & 1063 Joe Bay Lane (Cecchetto): Successfully passed final bylaws to fully stop up, close, and convey their shorelines.

• The Local Perspective: Protecting shoreline integrity keeps our lakes clean and healthy. By requiring owners to fix unpermitted guest cabins and failing septic systems during the SRA purchase process, the municipality protects the natural beauty of the Kawarthas.

• Property Impact: Purchasing your shoreline road allowance instantly boosts your land value, secures your waterfrontage rights, and makes your property significantly cleaner to sell. However, unpermitted structures will hold up your deal. If you're planning a sale, we need to audit your shoreline compliance immediately.

3. Public Works: The Massive $60K Comprehensive Roads Needs Study

• The Staff Report: Public Works Manager Perry Kelly presented Staff Report SR #2026-160 regarding the municipality's aging infrastructure.

• The Decision: Council officially approved Jp2G Consultants Inc. to execute a comprehensive Roads Needs Study, a provisional Traffic Study, and a Traffic Count for a total cost of $60,934. To avoid a direct hit to the taxpayers, this unbudgeted item will be fully offset by lease revenues received from Tri-Star Electric.

• The Local Perspective: Rural road maintenance is a primary concern for everyone living in the Highlands. Getting a professional, data-backed roadmap ensures our winding routes, cottage lanes, and transit corridors receive strategic paving and repairs, enhancing safety for daily commuters and seasonal visitors alike.

• Property Impact: Good roads drive property values up. Buyers are heavily deterred by poorly maintained municipal infrastructure. This study guarantees smarter capital spending, ensuring that the roads leading to your rural home or premium waterfront estate remain accessible and well-maintained.

4. Parks & Recreation: Total Ban on "Bring Your Own" Alcohol Events

• The Staff Report: The Property Supervisor submitted a report assessing the province's legislative allowance for municipalities to permit "Bring Your Own" (BYO) alcohol at designated public events.

• The Decision: Council took a firm stance and explicitly ruled that the Municipality of Highlands East will not permit the public to bring their own alcohol onto municipal lands, parks, and green spaces.

• The Local Perspective: This proactive decision prioritizes community safety, liability management, and family-oriented park spaces. It keeps our local beaches, public docks, and community parks welcoming for families without the added risks of unmonitored alcohol consumption.

• Property Impact: Maintaining safe, clean, and family-friendly community spaces preserves the long-term desirability of Highlands East as a premium relocation and cottage destination, reinforcing steady neighbourhood demand.

5. Building Department: Going Paperless with Field Technology

• The Staff Report: Chief Building Official Tracy Evans presented Staff Report SR #2026-151, requesting an unbudgeted $8,600 transfer from reserves to equip inspectors with three field iPad tablets and monthly data plans.

• The Decision: Council approved the transfer. Inspectors will now use these mobile devices directly in the field to manage the CloudPermit platform and execute the municipal septic maintenance program.

• The Local Perspective: This is great news for local small businesses, contractors, and owners. Moving away from slow, paper-based workflows means faster building inspections, real-time updates on structural issues, and quicker building permit turnarounds.

• Property Impact: A faster, modernized building department means fewer delays when you are trying to close a building permit, install a new septic system, or get final occupancy approval before a property sale.

6. Emergency Services & Administration Upgrades

• The Staff Reports & Decisions: * Fire Services: Fire Chief Chris Baughman secured approval for a new Automatic Two Department Response Bylaw to optimize emergency scene coverage. Additionally, Brent McKean was appointed to the firefighting roster for Station 2 in Highland Grove.

  • Privacy & FOI: Under Staff Report SR #2026-142, Council passed a bylaw delegating official authority under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) to the Municipal Clerk to protect public records and streamline information requests.

  • Tech & AI Governance: Deputy Treasurer Heath Swannell detailed that the town is vetting advanced technology, including a security assessment of a Claude AI Microsoft 365 Connector and developing a responsible regional AI policy framework.

• Property Impact: Robust fire protection and modern municipal administrative security directly protect your physical real estate assets and support favourable local home insurance ratings.

Looking Back: What Happened at the Last Meetings?

To ensure you have the full picture, Council also formally approved the minutes from the May 12 Regular Meeting and the June 15 Special Meeting:

• May 12 Meeting Recap: Council advanced the Clean and Clear Bylaw Update, reviewed stricter Recreational Vehicle Bylaw Updates, and received the widespread public survey results regarding Short-Term Rentals, which kicked off the current round of strict revisions.

• June 15 Meeting Recap: Council participated in an essential, facilitated session with the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) regarding a community-wide Affordability and Governance Structure Study, looking at how to make the region more economically sustainable for full-time residents.

Navigate the Market with a Local Expert!

Local laws, shoreline bylaws, and municipal zoning updates alter your property rights and your real estate equity overnight. Whether you are looking to purchase a peaceful waterfront retreat or maximize your return when selling a family estate in the Highlands, you shouldn't have to guess how these changes affect you.

As a dedicated local expert with Re/Max Professionals North, I am on the ground every day monitoring these exact shifts. I know how to navigate unpermitted shoreline structures, STR compliance, and municipal boundaries to protect your interests.

I will come directly to you to solve your real estate needs. Let’s make sure your next move is completely protected.

DM or text me to get started. 

Questions? Let’s chat.

📞 705-927-6236 👤 Brad Sinclair | Re/Max Professionals North 📍 Your Inside Source to the Highlands/Kawartha Real Estate Market

Families love the Kawarthas. Let’s find your place in it.