Understanding Shoreline Road Allowances: A guide for a waterfront property owners or prospective buyers.

 

What You Need to Know About Shoreline Road Allowances in Ontario

If you own property near a lake or river in Ontario, you may have heard about the "shoreline road allowance" (SRA) before. But what exactly is an SRA, and how does it impact waterfront property owners?

In the late 19th century, the Crown (the government) instructed its surveyors to lay out 66-foot road allowances along the banks of lakes and rivers in Ontario. These road allowances were originally used for commercial purposes like logging and transporting goods. However, over time, they became less important for commercial transportation.

As a result, the Crown eventually transferred ownership of the SRAs to the individual municipalities where the lakes and rivers were located. Today, most SRAs are publicly owned by the local municipality.

Over the years, some property owners have been allowed to purchase the SRA adjacent to their land from the municipality for exclusive use. However, not all property owners have taken advantage of this opportunity. Municipalities also may not have consistently enforced rules around the use of SRAs in the past, leading to some cottages, boathouses, and docks being built on these publicly owned SRAs.

However, this situation has changed in recent years, with municipalities enforcing rules and environmental regulations more strictly around using SRAs. This can lead to problems for property owners who do not own the SRA adjacent to their land. On the other hand, if you own the SRA, you generally have fewer restrictions on how to use and build on that land.

Even if you don't own the SRA, you may still have "riparian rights" - the legal rights of property owners whose land abuts a body of water. This means you could potentially still build a dock or use the shoreline, albeit with the proper permits from the municipality.

The rules and processes around SRAs can vary significantly between different municipalities. Some municipalities may limit the number of SRAs they will sell to property owners each year, while others are more open to these sales. It's essential for anyone interested in an SRA adjacent to their property to research the specific policies and procedures in their local area.

This nuanced understanding of SRAs is not always known by all real estate agents, especially those in the GTA who may be less familiar with these types of rural/cottage country properties.  This lack of comprehensive knowledge can lead to misinformation or oversight regarding properties with shoreline road allowances.

As a result, property buyers and sellers should carefully investigate the status and ownership of any SRA associated with a lakefront or riverfront property rather than rely solely on the advice of their real estate agent. Consulting with the local municipal planning department or a real estate lawyer specializing in waterfront properties can help ensure all the relevant details around the SRA are understood before proceeding with a transaction.

Brought for you by: Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell, contact me at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Team Lead at The Brad Sinclair Team

Royal Heritage Realty

Your inside source to cottage country

Not intended to solicit clients under contract 

Understanding Shoreline Road Allowances: A Guide for Waterfront Property Buyers

When this question comes up, do you know the answer? Does your GTA agent know?

First of all, what is a shoreline road allowance (SRA)? Well, in the late 19th century, the Crown instructed their surveyors to lay out 66-foot road allowances along the banks of lakes and rivers in Ontario. These road allowances were used for logging and transportation of goods. Today, there is very little use, if at all, commercially, for road allowances. Since road allowances were no longer of interest to the general public for commercial uses, the Crown turned over the road allowances to the individual municipality in which the lakes were located. This leaves the road allowances being owned publicly.

Over the years, individual landowners were offered the opportunity to purchase the SRA from the municipality for exclusive use. Having ownership of the SRA would mean there would be fewer restrictions the seller would have on usage and building. Many did purchase the SRA, but many did not. Municipalities would not enforce rules in the past, so many cottages, boathouses and docks were built on these SRA’s. In today's tighter enforcement and environmental protection, problems can arise with current and future usage if the SRA is not owned. That said, “riparian rights” does say you could build a dock on the SRA, for example, and enjoy it without any problems with the proper permits.

For property owners whose existing access and use of the shoreline are not dependent on the SRA, there may be less need to purchase it. As long as they have secured riparian rights—the legal rights of property owners whose land abuts a body of water—they can often continue using the shoreline without owning the SRA. In these cases, the property owner may decide the costs and hassle of purchasing the SRA outweigh the benefits.

The rules and processes around SRAs can vary considerably between different municipalities. Some have limited the number of SRAs they'll sell yearly, while others are more open to property owners purchasing them. It's essential for anyone interested in an SRA adjacent to their property to research the specific policies and procedures in their local area.

However, this nuanced understanding of SRAs is not always known by all real estate agents, especially GTA agents. SRA is not part of the city business. Many may be unaware of the varied municipal regulations, the options for purchasing the SRA, or the implications of riparian rights versus owning the SRA. This lack of comprehensive knowledge can lead to misinformation or oversight regarding properties with shoreline road allowances.

Property buyers and sellers should carefully investigate the status and ownership of any SRA associated with a lakefront or riverfront property rather than rely solely on the advice of their real estate agent. Consulting with the local municipal planning department or a real estate lawyer specializing in waterfront properties can help ensure all the relevant details around the SRA are understood before proceeding with a transaction.

Brought for you by: Your local Realtor®

If you are looking to either Buy or Sell, contact me at 705-927-6236

Brad Sinclair, Sales Representative

Team Lead at The Brad Sinclair Team

Royal Heritage Realty

Your inside source to cottage country