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MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2025 - Ontario
Ontario’s inland lakes and rivers are facing an emerging challenge: Floating Accommodations (FA). Structures such as repurposed shipping containers or wood-frame dwellings placed on flotation devices are appearing more frequently on Ontario waterways, raising significant environmental, regulatory, and taxation concerns.
The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) is sharing a new position paper developed by the Floating Accommodations Not Vessels Coalition, which offers practical guidance for municipalities across Ontario to manage or restrict these unregulated structures within their jurisdictions.
“This position paper brings clarity to a complex and evolving issue,” says Lesley Lavender, CEO of FOCA. “It’s an opportunity for municipalities to consider proactive approaches that balance environmental stewardship, fair taxation, zoning issues and responsible lake planning.”
FOCA has shared its voice on this issue since 2022, helping to raise awareness of the gaps in existing policy, and continues that work today by supporting this effort to provide municipalities with the tools and information they need.
The paper outlines two core regulatory pathways for municipal governments:
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Prohibit Floating Accommodations entirely through zoning by-laws, as recently enacted by the Township of Severn and the Township of Georgian Bay.
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Allow Floating Homes in specifically zoned, fixed-mooring locations with permanent sanitary, hydro, and water connections—similar to regulated developments like Bluffers Park in Toronto or False Creek in Vancouver.
FOCA supports the right to navigation for boaters using Canada’s waterways for commerce, transportation, and recreation. However, the use of our waterways for long-term habitation is not an intended or desirable use, and it compromises the safety and free enjoyment of Canada’s waters by boaters, shoreline residents, and other users.
The environmental implications are significant. Floating Accommodations can release contaminants and disrupt fish habitat, especially when stabilized with steel ‘spuds’ embedded into lakebeds. The position paper identifies the absence of sanitary infrastructure as a major concern, posing risks to water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
In addition, the structures currently fall outside local taxation frameworks yet may still rely on emergency and waste management services. Without clear zoning definitions, municipalities risk losing oversight over development on their waterways.
The frameworks recently adopted by Parks Canada, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Ontario Provincial Police now provide enforcement mechanisms for federal, provincial, and private lakebeds. However, key regulatory gaps remain—particularly in cases where FAs float over privately owned lakebeds, dock at marinas without proper zoning, or move short distances frequently, to avoid enforcement.
The Glaspell v. Ontario ruling, cited in the paper, clarified lakebed ownership and has become central to the legal tools now available to municipalities. The paper encourages local governments to consult legal counsel and consider how zoning by-laws can reflect and reinforce their planning priorities.
“This is not just a legal issue—it’s a community and environmental one,” adds Lavender. “By working together, we can ensure Ontario’s lakes remain healthy, safe, and well-managed for generations to come.”
FOCA encourages its member associations and local councils to review the position paper and consider what approach best reflects their local environmental, community, and planning priorities.
To download a copy of the 13-page position paper, or to learn more about Floating Accommodations and emerging municipal strategies, visit FOCA’s webpage: https://foca.on.ca/floating-accommodations/
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