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Ebbie
Member
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# Posted: 29 Nov 2017 10:57pm
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Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the construction of a "private cabin" on their property? Do you need a cottage / home on the property, or can you build a "private cabin" on a property that has no dwelling?
I am in the process of buying a lot in Huntsville, Ontario and was curious about this. My understanding is that a "private cabin" is permitted on 1+ acres of land, to a maximum size of 645.8 square feet.
Would anyone know if a bathroom or kitchen would be permitted as well? Haven't been able to locate information on the internet about that.
Thanks so much.
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 30 Nov 2017 06:44am
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You will have to check with the Huntsville Town Building Dept, fortunately they have a website but you'll have to peruse it and get the details, or call and ask.
https://www.huntsville.ca/en/doingBusiness/BuildingPermitsInspections.asp?_mid_=36035
Below is the various By Laws ! NOTE ! there is a section on "Private Cabin" which they view as Bunkie and accompanies a full house on the property.
http://www.huntsville.ca/en/doingBusiness/resources/HuntsvilleZoningBy-law2008-66P.pd f
2.21 CABIN, PRIVATE means a detached accessory building or structure, located on the same lot as the principal dwelling, for sleeping accommodation only or for the occasional accommodation of guests, from which there shall be no monetary gain and in which sanitary facilities may be provided, but shall not contain cooking facilities.
http://www.huntsville.ca/en/townHall/resources/DEV_OP_Section11_Jan2015.pdf
11.1.3 Hunt camps, which are used only as a temporary base for hunting or trapping activities, may be permitted within the Rural designation. A hunt camp shall not be required to front on a public road and may be serviced by any type of sewage disposal system approvable under the Building Code Act. The Town will encourage all levels of government to have regard to the policies of the Plan wherever possible, and will recognize existing hunt camps on former lots that do not meet the size requirements of these policies
Town of Huntsville Official Plan Section 9 Rural Area
http://www.huntsville.ca/en/townHall/resources/DEV_OP_Section9_Jan2015.pdf
Hunstville has a real mix including protected / scheduled lands with restrictions and/or limits so be diligent when looking at the property, it's zoning & class and then approach building dept with Serious Caution !... Using the wrong term could create issues as you say above "Private Cabin" and their view is that is a Bunkie (no kitchen & washroom) on a property with an existing house and that Locks a Mindset and without a house there it is a NO GO... But if land is zoned as Rural in the right class, a Hunt Camp can be acceptable, so watch how/what you say... I do NOT have direct exp with Huntsville but I spoke with our building inspector a couple of time before even drafting my plans and starting... we decided a "Recreational & Hunt Camp" was the right choice for my intended use (Grey Water, Compost Toilet, 500 sq', no services like hydro). BEFORE BUYING: Verify the Zoning / Class, If Restrictions / Limitations exist, possibly even call Bldg Dept. and verify what you can build on it and "ask their opinion, do not tell them, they will be far more pleasant & helpful that way.
IF you want a Septic there are all sorts of conditions depending on the land, proximity to water etc... Grey Water can be used in Hunt Camps it seems. Wells are typically no problem to drill BUT if at all possible, find a driller who uses a Cable Drill versus a Bore Drill. Cable Drill pounds through the rock fracturing it and giving better water flow at higher levels, bore drill does not fracture the rock the same way, has to on average go 20% deeper (per my own Well Guy) and when you figure cost, ouch. My well cost $35 a foot to drill + $10 a foot for 6" casing which has to go 10' into bedrock and stick up 2' above soil grade. My Well is around 280', so with everything all in (seals, pump, pressure tank etc) around 13K.
BTW: I'm also in Ontario, a few of us here, I believe a couple of folks from Huntsville too, so maybe they can pipe in with Tips, Suggestions & Thoughts..
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Ebbie
Member
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# Posted: 7 Dec 2017 05:39pm
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Thank you so much Steve_S for your detailed response. I really appreciate it.
The property does have a rustic cabin, measuring 800 + square feet. I really like the cabin, although by today's standards most would say it is a shed / tear down. Like a wooden structure, no plumbing, electricity, close to 100 years old etc... However, if it stood for 100 years, withstanding some rough Muskoka winters, why not let it stand for 100 additional years?
Before I do anything, I will have a building inspector check it out. I'm debating whether or not to "reno" it... it appears to be a sturdy building, but most likely, I would have to gut pretty much everything in order to bring it up to code. I just love it's character / charm. Maybe keep the floor and a few pieces of old wood from the walls? :P
For example - it's been sitting on the same wooden foundation for close to 100 years. Do I lift the building up? Or dig out a foundation and then slide it over? Would a building like that be able to withstand such movement? Ahhh. Decisions, decisions!
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 11 Dec 2017 05:36pm
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I'm in a private lake community. We have somewhat relaxed standards. Technically, my cabin was permitted as a "shed". Getting electric to it was pretty straightforward, as there was an existing electric service on my road. I only had to install my own pole, meter base, and service panel.
Nobody from the community or the county ever came out to inspect anything on my build, except for the electric service that checked on the install of the pole. I even asked if they needed an inspection of my underground from pole to cabin, and they said no. What you do after their demarcation line don't concern them in the slightest. The community 'inspector' only came by to eyeball that I adhered to the boundary setbacks. He never even got out of his truck. Not even sure if the county even gives a crap.
The only hang up is water. Long time community rules prohibit a well without having a drain field or other septic system. Used to be that a 300+ gallon buried holding tank was sufficient, and some homeowners are grandfathered in on them. But newer well permits require actual septic systems. The hitch comes that the county does will not permit septic unless you have a home of (i think) 900 square feet or more, and the community rules say houses that big require a double-lot. As I have neither, we have to make due with hauled in water, and a Porto-potty. Not ideal, but we make it work.
All in all, I am fortunate. I see that some of you fight oppressive regulations that do more harm than good. Sure, we get some real 'winners' as far as structures go, but I can live with that.
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 12 Dec 2017 09:29am
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Quoting: Ebbie Before I do anything, I will have a building inspector check it out.
You sure you wanna do that? Once you get the Gov't involved....
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2017 02:50am
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Quoting: Borrego You sure you wanna do that? Once you get the Gov't involved....
yup
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