Roads and Parking

Kawartha Lakes manages 5,400 lane kilometres of roads and 170 kilometres of sidewalks. Read on to see how we fund, build, repair, and maintain this vital network across our communities.

On This Page

• Your Route to Road Services
• Permit Central
• Road Maintenance
• Roads 101
• Road Crew Safety
• Parking
• Banner Installation
• Boundary Roads
• Provincial Highways
• Unassumed Roads
• Private Roads
• Seasonal Load Restrictions and Closures

Permit Central

Permit Central is the new online portal for Roads Operations Permits.

The following permits are available exclusively through Permit Central:

• Event in the Right-of-Way (parades, events, temporary road closures)
• Work in the Right-of-Way (contractors or work within the road allowance)
• Oversize/Overweight Load – Annual
• Oversize/Overweight Load – Trip (single trip or reduced load exemption)
• Entrance Permits

Applications and payments must be submitted online through Permit Central.

Read the Permit Central How-to Guide for step-by-step instructions. Need help? Contact Roads Operations at 705-324-9411 ext. 1171.

What’s Not in Permit Central

The following applications remain the same and are not available online:

• External Locate Request
• Banner Application
• Seasonal Level of Service Application
• Municipal Consent (utilities)

Utility companies must receive Municipal Consent (Engineering & Corporate Assets) and a Road Occupancy Permit (Public Works) before starting work in the City’s right-of-way. Consent is typically reviewed within 30 days depending on project scope.

Contact Engineering & Corporate Assets to begin a Municipal Consent application.

Did You Know About Road Maintenance?

Watch Councillor Tracy Richardson in the short video below and learn how road maintenance operations work in Kawartha Lakes:

Road Crew Safety

Our crews are always making sure our roads are safe and well maintained. Often, their work includes being on the roads and exposed to traffic-related dangers. Passing traffic can present a serious hazard, which is why our crews always identify their work areas with signs, pylons and/or barriers. The most important thing you can do as a passing driver, cyclist or pedestrian is to pay attention to the signs. This includes stopping when needed, slowing down and safely going around the working crews. Thank you for putting safety first.

About Public, Private and Unassumed Roads

Boundary Roads

We share boundary roads with our neighbouring municipalities. Some of these roads are unassumed.

Each section of boundary road falls under a particular agreement with a neighbouring municipality. Residents on boundary roads should make themselves aware of which municipality is responsible for their particular section of road.

If you are unsure about municipal responsibility on a section of boundary road contact your nearest Municipal Service Centre.

Provincial Highways

Provincial Highways and their intersections with municipal roads are the responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, which usually tenders maintenance operations to private contractors. All provincial highways within the municipality are currently tendered to Emcon Services Inc., which can be reached at:

Emcon Services Inc. - Bancroft Division
6611 Highway 7,
Cavan Monaghan, Ontario
1-877-979-0998

There are four provincial highways with segments in Kawartha Lakes including:

• Highway 35
• Highway 115
• Highway 7A
• Highway 7
  
  

Unassumed Roads

Publicly accessible road allowances owned by the municipality may be signed as Unassumed or Unimproved. These roads usually do not meet the minimum standards that the municipality considers acceptable for assumption. The municipality absolves itself of liability in connection to these roads.

The municipality may assume a previously unassumed or private road in the future provided the road meets the minimum standards outlined in the Assumption of Private and Unassumed Roads Policy CP2017-010. 

Seasonal Levels of Service for Unassumed Roads

• Review the Seasonal Level of Service Policy before applying to understand the minimum road standards.
• The application is for unassumed roads only; we no longer accept applications for private roads.
• The road must meet the minimum standards before you submit your application.
• Include a Letter of Consent that names a Designated Representative to serve as the main contact.
• City staff will inspect the road before making a decision on your application.
• If the application is declined, the City will explain why and may offer a chance to correct any issues for a second inspection.
• Approved roads will receive seasonal service as defined in the policy, when time and resources permit.

Seasonal Load Restrictions and Road Closures

Kawartha Lakes 2025 load restrictions effective 12:00am Tuesday, March 4, 2025

To protect the integrity of the City’s road network, the City is imposing load restrictions on roads throughout the City effective 12:00am on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Road conditions will be continually monitored, and the restriction will be lifted when road conditions merit. 

Restrictions are put into place in accordance with By-Law 2022-190 (download), when road damage is most likely to occur due to heavy loading.  This program identifies and imposes load restrictions on roads, or portions of roads that are weakened by excess water in the road base. Once the road has been determined to be structurally sound, load restrictions may be rescinded.

Due to changing weather patterns, the roads affected and the duration of the restricted period may change.

Permits to exempt activity from reduced load requirements may be issued by the City where Staff review and confirm there is no risk of damage to municipal infrastructure and/or where an emergency situation exists.  In general, there is risk to infrastructure during periods where roads are thawing from winter weather and subsurface road structures are saturated with water. 

Applicants seeking an exemption to the load restriction By-law should consider their proposed activity and environmental conditions prior to submitting an application for review.  Note there is a non-refundable application fee, at a rate in accordance with Schedule H of the Consolidated Fees By-law (download), as amended. Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with merit given to the condition of the specific road or route of travel, weather and the load details. Any permit granted, may also be subject to conditions.

The application and associated fee to request an exemption from Reduced Loads can be found through our Oversize/Overweight Load Trip Permit (OO Trip) on Permit Central here.

The table below lists roads in the City of Kawartha Lakes that will not be load restricted.  All other roads will be in a load-restricted state per the date on this notice, in accordance with By-Law 2022-190 (download).