SF Trailer Bylaw

J David Hallworth | Dec 04, 2024

I live in Harrowsmith, on a private 27 acres that I bought in 2019.

We had a very unpleasant surprise recently, when I was told that S Frontenac has a bylaw prohibiting the use of any form of RV, trailer, motorhome or variation, in any way shape or form on any property in the township.

I am from S Frontenac but only just moved back here 5 years ago after spending 30 years on Vancouver Island, where I was in Real Estate for 25 years.

No such municipal restrictions on the use of your own property, on your own property, exist in BC on any rural or agricultural land. Indeed tens of thousands of people, family, extended family, property and farm helpers, mortgage helpers, its needed and necessary. Of course, it is a lot easier and more practical to winterize them there.

Here, just like in BC, there are lots of Municipal bylaws in place that address the bulk of concerns that trailers present. Such as those which prevent causing your neighbors any loss of enjoyment of their properties, unsightliness, noise, and of course health code requirements, but by far the most common tool used by governments is through the zoning bylaws. I’m sure there are more.

We love our home but realized, as the years rolled on we would need help with the work of country living. I checked with the township zoning dept and was told that indeed I could have 2 additional dwellings on my property. We bought an older park model trailer a few years back and chose a secluded spot, off of our very long driveway to put it, close enough to our home to make workable but also pretty much unnoticeable.

We never moved forward with a plan until last year when it had become almost impossible to find local hires to help with firewood and maintenance. Local hires had become a nightmare since the pandemic, and if we did find a good guy, he would never be around long. The cost of such hires just kept going up.

This spring my wife noticed and ad posted on a local social media site, a man from Sunbury road was selling off the contents of the family home which had been forced to sale by his siblings after the passing of their mother. He had a footnote that he was looking for accommodation in the country that he could trade for property maintenance and firewood work.

I went and met with him, nice fellow, 56, was looking like a great fit for us and we set about making it happen.

We cleaned up the old park model, added a small prefab cabin to the side of it for some Living room space as well as a small porch and barbq deck between them. We have added water and septic holding tanks and full skirting and winterizing of it all.

The Sunbury’ family home sold and he came to us late August.

Just now as we were rushing to finish I am served notice of the “No Trailer” bylaw and he has to magically disappear.

I strongly believe that S Frontenacs’ bylaw flies in the face of common sense and decency. It is an unfortunate example of, well intentioned, government overreach, that I am willing to bet would not stand up in any court. I really hope we don’t have to find out.

I spoke with Mayor Ron Vandewal, an impressively accessible mayor with a lovely demeanor and the clerk, James Thompson, has put us on the agenda to address council on the 17th of December.

I invite anyone interested in joining this little crusade to contact me or show up.

J David Hallworth