2023-Dec-19
Milestones from the Floating Homes Committee
It’s been a productive year for our Floating Homes Committee. A little more than a year ago, GBA started a collaboration with Gloucester Pool Cottage Association (GPCA) to bring awareness to the need for appropriate regulation of pop-up floating homes. Our main concerns centred around safety, environmental oversight and licensing.
Transport Canada’s designation of floating cottages as “vessels” is our major concern as it exempts these structures from adhering to building codes, municipal zoning regulations and taxation. In 2001 British Columbia declared that float homes ARE NOT VESSELS. We are asking Transport Canada for the EXACT SAME POLICY in Ontario.
Earlier this year, the Float Homes Not Vessels Coalition was formed in concert with GPCA which now includes:
- Over 40 cottage associations
- Over 35 Mayors
- 5 MPs
- And thousands of cottagers
Progress made to date
Provincial Headway:
- In July, Ontario Regulation 161/17 was amended to clarify that floating accommodations cannot be placed or used for outdoor accommodation or camping purposes on public land covered by water.
- Ontario Regulation 326/94 was also amended to make the same clarification for non-residents camping on public land in northern Ontario.
Federal Headway:
- Two weeks ago the OPP, Parks Canada, Ministry of Transport had a meeting to discuss the issue.
- Parks Canada has jurisdiction on lake beds and is developing mooring regulations which should be in place next spring. These regulations will focus on the spuds currently used by floating homes to stabilize the structures.
- In October, Transport Canada solicited comments via a Let’s Talk: Long-term Anchoring consultation to find out if changing the current regulations would be a good way to manage vessels that anchor long-term.
We are making slow progress, but people are listening. We feel we have the right people at the table to solve this issue.
Thanks to all of our GBA members that have supported our efforts!