If you’re bringing your dog along to your Short Term Rental property, please ensure that they are under care and control at all times, and that they don’t wander on to neighbouring properties.
Visitors
Welcome to Kawartha Lakes, We're glad you're here!
Whether you're staying at a cottage, vacation home or Airbnb-style rental, a little planning helps everyone enjoy their time here safely and respectfully. Use this page to learn about local rules for garbage, parking, noise, campfires, fireworks and pets.
While Short Term Rental owners or operators can be held accountable for the actions of their guests, guests can also be held accountable for their own actions. If a Municipal By-law is broken, By-law fines can be charged to the individuals who violated the regulation and inspection fees can be charged to the property owner.
Staying in a short-term rental
Fire Pit and Open Air Burns
Bonfires can be an important part of the cottage experience, but remember that they can also be dangerous. Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service implements a Burn Ban if the weather conditions make fires unsafe. Be sure to visit the Fire Burn Bans, Permits and By-Laws page to view the current Burn Ban status and view other important rules and regulations before doing any open air burning.
Important things to remember:
- Fire pits may be no more than 60 centimetres diameters and must be 15 metres from buildings and 5 metres from property lines
- Fire pits must not be under any vegetation such as trees or overhangs like porches
- Fire pits must be attended at all times
- Smoke cannot disrupt people on neighbouring properties
- Water must be readily available to extinguish the fire
Garbage and Recycling
Kawartha Lakes is beautiful, and we want to keep it that way. Proper disposal of garbage and recyclables is essential to keeping our community and waterways clean.
Always:
- Ensure garbage is disposed of in clear bags
- Separate fiber and container recyclables
- Ensure waste is not disposed of in waterways such a lakes or rivers
Visit the Waste and Recycling page to learn more about proper disposal of waste and waste collection days and to view the Municipal Waste Calendar.
Parking
For everyone’s safety, roadways and road access must be kept clear to ensure residents, visitors and emergency vehicles have access to properties.
Parking should occur entirely on the property that you are visiting, however, if parking use of the roadways occurs please be considerate of your neighbours. Ensure vehicles are parked legally on roadways and are parked on the correct property. To learn more visit the Roads and Parking page.
Noise
Municipal By-law Enforcement can respond to noise complaints along with local Police Service.
Please be sure that you’re respecting your neighbours by following the following noise By-laws:
- Amplified noise such as stereos is prohibited from 11pm to 11am
- Yelling, shouting or the playing of musical instruments is prohibited from 9pm to 7am
- Persistent noise made by any pet, such as a dog barking, is prohibited at all times
Pets
Fireworks
As part of Firework By-Law 2007-236 (download), you do not need a permit to use consumer fireworks on the following dates, or the 1 day preceding or the 1 day following:
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Family Day
- Indigenous Peoples Day
- Labour Day
- New Years Eve
Requirements to follow when using consumer fireworks include:
- Children shall not discharge fireworks
- Fireworks may not be discharged into any motor vehicle, building or structure
- Fireworks shall be discharged a minimum of 30 metres from any structure or property line
- Fireworks may not be discharged during a burn ban
Visit the Fire Services page to read the full By-law, for firework permit applications, and for important guidelines on fireworks safety.
