Civic addresses are assigned by the Township at the time a new lot (severance or subdivision) is established and when an entrance is being created or changed, regardless of whether there is a structure on the property. A civic address is also required prior to the issuance of a building permit.

Once the application and payment has been received, the Township will visit the location and measure/calculate the address number and install the proper signage.

 Civic/Rural Addressing Application Form

  Civic Address - Replacement

If the civic address blade and/or post are subsequently damaged or stolen, it is the responsibility of the property owner to purchase a new post and/or blade.

Civic Address Sign & Post $120.00 (Township installs)
Replacement Sign only, $50.00
Replacement Post only, $40.00

Township Roads

An Entrance Permit  is required to establish an entranceway onto a property from a Township road. A payment of $1,000 ($100 fee, $900 deposit) must be submitted with the application. Residents will need to post an entrance permit ‘placard’ in the proposed entrance location prior to township staff conducting a preliminary inspection.

While residents may download the entrance application and mail it in with a payment, the Township cannot process an application until the resident has picked up and posted the placard to mark the preferred entrance location.

County Roads

An Entrance Permit is required from the County of Lanark Public Works Department to establish an entranceway onto a property from a County road.

Provincial Highways

An Entrance Permit is required from the Ministry of Transportation to establish an entranceway onto a property from Provincial Highway 7.

Municipal roads are subject to a seasonal reduced load limit during the "spring break up" period when the road base is at its weakest. The posting of load restrictions may vary; however, the signs are generally posted to restrict loads to five thousand (5,000) kilograms per axle between March 1st and May 15th of each year. Signs will be posted when it is deemed advisable to protect the road base from damage and removed when the restrictions are no longer needed.

If you have a concern that noxious weeds, located on the Township's road allowance, are negatively impacting agriculture or horticulture, please contact the Public Works Department to assess. In the case where the Township and landowner do not agree, the landowner may file a complaint with the County and the Weed Inspector will conduct an assessment to determine if an order should be issued to destroy the weeds.

For more answers to other frequently asked questions you can also refer to the Ministry of Agriculture & Food's and the Weed Control Act.

The County of Lanark has further information on their website regarding noxious weeds and in particular the invasive Wild Parsnip.

For further enquiries contact the County Weed Inspector at 613-267-1353 or Toll Free 1-888-952-9675.

The Township may need to deal with potential flood threats caused by beaver dams, where dams occur on township property, the municipality has authority to remove or alter the dams to ensure the negative impacts of flooding on a Township road or property is minimized or controlled.

While preforming routine road patrols or in receiving comments or complaints from the public the Public Works Department may become aware of beaver activities that represent potential problems for municipal property or infrastructure. In these instances the Public Works Department will make an assessment as to whether municipal property is or soon will be damaged as a result of beaver activities and identify the safest and most effective method to address problems associated with these activates.

If the beaver dam or blockage is located on municipal property, the Public Works Department will remove the dam or blockage if there are risks to public safety or property, and may contact a licensed trapper to trap or dispatch the beaver(s).

If the beaver dam is located on private property, the landowner will be asked; in writing by the Public Works Department to have the dam removed or altered in such as manner as to prevent flooding damage to adjacent municipal property. Alternatively, the landowner’s permission will be obtained in writing for a Township representative to enter onto the property to remove or alter the dam.

There are different rules and regulations for the use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) on Township, County, Provincial and Private Roads.

As per the Township All Terrain Vehicle Bylaw 2020-035:

• An all-terrain vehicle shall have visible reflective strips maintained on all four sides of the vehicles.
• An all-terrain vehicle shall NOT have chains or studs on its tires.
• Curfew. Despite any section in this By-law, no person shall operate an all-terrain vehicle on a highway between the hours of 11:00 p.m. on any day and 4:00 a.m. of the next following day.
• Boundary Roads. Regulations will be posted on boundary roads by the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley where the regulations under All Terrain Vehicles By-Laws are different or non-existent in neighbouring municipalities.

County Roads

The County of Lanark also permits the operation of off-road vehicles on their roads, except in Perth, Carleton Place and Almonte; County Roads 1, 7B, 10, 16A, 17 and 29 cannot be driven on.

ATVs cannot be driven at speeds of greater than 20 kilometers per hour on roads with limits of not greater than 50 km/h, and they cannot exceed 50 km/h on roads with speed limits of greater than 50 km/h.

The County has also established a curfew prohibiting ATV operation between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on county roads. Other provisions include the necessity of having reflective strips on all four sides of the vehicles and no chains or studs on the tires. ATVs must be driven in the same direction as traffic on the same side of the road, and multiple ATVs must ride in single file. As well, they must be driven on the shoulder or, if there is no shoulder, as close to the right edge of the road surface as possible. When making a left turn, ATVs can move away from the shoulder or right edge when it is safe to do so.

Lanark County - By-Law No. 2015-030

Provincial Highways

The Highway Traffic Act allows ATVs on listed provincial highways, for recreational purposes. A list of prohibited and permitted provincial highways can be found in Schedules A and B of Ontario Regulation 316/03 - Operation of Off-Road Vehicles on Provincial Highways.

Private Roads

Unless you have permission from the property owner, you cannot drive your ORV on private property, including a private road.

Additional Information

• Off-Road Vehicles Act
• MTO - Drive an ATV
• What you need to know to operate an ATV in Ontario
• GoTour Ontario
• Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicles (OFATV)

It is the responsibility of the homeowner to install and maintain a rural mailbox. Please click on the link below to access the Canada Post website and a PDF giving the Rural Mailbox Guidelines.

Please Note:
The Township is not responsible for damages to mailboxes or other privately owned objects erected on a Township right of way or road allowance.

The Township will only replace a mailbox if it has been physically hit by the snowplow. Mailboxes damaged by snow flying off the plow will not be replaced by the Township.

How to install a mailbox

Information about the temporary closure of Township roads will be posted on our News and Public Notices  and  511.ca webpages.

If a street light is out of order, please call the Township Office at 613-267-6500. We will need the pole number, or the road name and the closest civic address number, in order to arrange repair of the streetlight.

The Township is responsible for new construction, reconstruction and ongoing maintenance of Township-owned roads. The Public Works Department conducts regular road patrols to determine what maintenance and repair is required.

Grading and Shouldering

Grading of roads is dependent upon the impact the weather and traffic has upon the condition of the roadway. The first grading is light in nature to rid the road of the pot holes, and late spring grading is to shape the road and prepare it for dust suppression and base stabilizing calcium chloride applications. In general you cannot grade when the road is wet or about to receive heavy rain.

Shouldering is conducted as required to ensure good drainage of water from the roadway.

Dust Control/Base Stabilization

Calcium Chloride is applied to freshly graveled roads and newly graded roads from May to June. This activity reduces the dust generated from traffic and helps maintain the graded shape of the road in the summer months.

Roadside Mowing

Roadside vegetation is cut back from the shoulder to provide proper driving sight lines.

Brushing and Ditching

These activities take place on selected lengths of roadway when growth of roadside brush begins to interfere with sight lines and road drainage.

Culverts

Culverts draining from one ditch to the opposite side are replaced when they have corroded and no longer drain properly and/or are unable to properly support the compressive forces of road traffic.

Patching

Hot or cold mix materials are used in filling potholes, depressions, and restoring edges.

Sweeping

Hard-Top roads are swept in April and May, preferably when wet to keep dust to a minimum.

If there is a tree on your property line that has died, or is in danger of falling there are several things to check before calling the Township: Is there a main hydro line that is within a distance that it could be damaged when the tree falls or is felled? If there is, call Hydro One at 1-888-664-9376. Hydro will only attend to this if it will interfere with the main line. If it is the secondary line that leads to your house that will be affected, it is your responsibility.

If there are no hydro lines in the vicinity, is the tree in the Township's road allowance? As a general rule, the municipal road allowance is 33 feet from the centre line. If you are uncertain, Public Works will take a look to help determine this. If the tree is within the Township's right of way, please contact the Public Works Department at 613-267-6500 ext. 243.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain trees on private property. However, if branches are overhanging onto municipal property the Township has the right to remove them in the interest of public safety.

The Public Works Department is responsible for the sanding, salting and plowing of approximately 250 kilometres of municipal road.

The Public Works Department conducts its operational activities in such a way as to provide safe driving conditions on all roads owned and maintained by the Township. Winter maintenance activities and priorities are based on the roadway classification and the associated level of service, as well as legislated hours of work, manpower and municipal budget.

Roadway Classification System

(There are no Class 1, 2 or 3 roads within Townships road network)

Class 4 – Max Speed Limit 80 km/hr
2,000 to 3,999 vehicles per day

Class 5 – Max Speed Limit 80 km/hr
50 to 1,999 vehicles per day

Class 6 – Speed Limit less than 80 km/hr
less than 50 vehicles per day

Winter Parking Restrictions

The public is reminded that under the Highway Traffic Act it is an offence to:

• Park or stand a vehicle in such a manner as to interfere with the movement of traffic or the clearing of snow from a highway (Section 170.);
  Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $20 and not more than $100. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 170 (14).
  Repeated offences will result in enforcement of the Highway Traffic Act by the OPP.
• Deposit snow or ice on a roadway without permission in writing to do so from the road authority for the maintenance of the road (Section 181.) The removal of such snow piles by the Township will be charged to the offending property owner. Every person who contravenes this Act or any regulation is guilty of an offence and on conviction, where a penalty for the contravention is not otherwise provided for herein, is liable to a fine of not less than $60 and not more than $500. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 214 (1).

Repeated offences will result in enforcement of the Highway Traffic Act by the OPP.

Parking on Township Roads and Streets from 12 am (midnight) to 7:00 am will not be permitted.

The Township of Drummond/North Elmsley will not be responsible for damages to mailboxes, newspaper boxes or parked vehicles where these objects interfere with snowplowing operations.

Winter Plowing Restriction By-law #2001-49

A Zoning By-Law Amendment is required to recognize a change in land use or allow development that does not meet the current zoning but complies with the intent of the Official Plan.

When submitting the application include a site plan or survey with the required information as outlined on pages 8-9 of the Zoning By-Law Amendment application.

The Application fee is $1,075. The fee may be paid by cash, cheque, debit or upon request by E-transfer. Cheques should be made payable to “Drummond/North Elmsley Twp”

Application has been submitted

Once an application is submitted to the Township, staff will determine if it is “complete” based on the criteria set out under Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 545/06. Pre-consultation with staff is strongly recommended prior to the submission of an application.

Notice of your application will be sent to all landowners within 120m of the subject property as well as to other stakeholders, as required. The Ontario Planning Act requires that notice be provided 20 days prior to the holding of a public meeting. During this 20 day notice period, staff will review the application, conduct a site inspection/visit, consult with the applicant and interested stakeholders, and write a report with a recommendation to council.

Public Meeting

At the public meeting, staff will present the application and staff report to the Committee. The applicant has the opportunity, during the meeting, to address the Committee and answer any questions that may arise. Other individuals or agencies in attendance will be permitted to voice their support or objection to the application.

After the Public Meeting

If the recommendation is to approve the Zoning By-Law Amendment, the necessary by-law will be considered at a subsequent Council Meeting. Council will then adopt a By-Law approving the necessary Zoning Amendment for the specific parcel of land.

If Council approves the proposed amendment and passes a by-law, the by-law will be circulated to give interested parties the chance to appeal. If no appeals are received during the 20-day appeal period, the amendment is in full force and effect.

Appeal Provisions

The process for dealing with zoning amendments is the same as for a zoning by-law. If local council refuses your zoning amendment application, or if it does not make a decision within 180 days of the receipt of your application containing the prescribed information, you may appeal to the Local Appeals Planning Tribunal (LPAT).

Additional Residential Units are permitted on most properties in the Township. For further information please see Additional Residential Units By-Law 24-008

Use this interactive map to determine if your home or business is located in a drinking water protection zone. If you live in a drinking water protection zone, you’re encouraged to take easy steps to protect drinking water for yourself and your neighbours.

Depending on your property’s location and land uses, you may also be required to follow a prescribed risk management plan for your property or subject to additional protective restrictions. Learn more here: https://www.mrsourcewater.ca/en/risk-management-and-environmental-compliance/risk-management-plans

Drinking water protection zones have been determined through a series of technical studies completed by the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region. These studies identified municipal drinking water sources, areas vulnerable to contamination and what the potential sources of contamination might be.  The results of those technical studies were used to direct source protection policy decisions and determine the areas where policies apply.

Under certain circumstances, the following can be significant threats to our drinking water, as prescribed under the Clean Water Act, 2006:

• Waste disposal sites
• Septic systems
• Sewage treatment plants and sewers
• Manure, bio-solids, and livestock
• Fuel and oil
• Commercial fertilizer and pesticides
• Road salt and snow storage
• Chemicals and organic solvents
• Aquaculture
• Oil or gas pipelines

The goal of the Source Protection Plan is to work with property owners to manage or eliminate activities that are or could become significant threats to drinking water sources. In most cases, property owners can reduce the risk and allow the activity to continue with mitigation in place. The Clean Water Act provides several tools to accomplish this, such as education and outreach, risk management plans and changes to municipal land use planning documents. Often a combination of tools works best.

Provincial Ministries, Conservation Authorities, and Municipalities all have different responsibilities for implementing Source Protection Plans. Municipalities have the primary responsibility to implement and enforce policies locally to manage drinking water threats and to implement planning and restricted land use policies.

Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Office
3889 Rideau Valley Drive
P.O. Box 599
Manotick, ON K4M 1A5

613-692-3571 

Toll Free: 1-800-267-3504

Website

Before filing an application, applicants should speak with Township staff to discuss the requirements of a Site Plan Control application.

When submitting a site plan control application include a site plan or survey with the required information as outlined on page 8 of the site plan control application. 

The Application fee is $725. The fee may be paid by cash, cheque, debit or upon request by E-transfer. Cheques should be made payable to “Drummond/North Elmsley Twp”

Application has been submitted

The application is circulated to other Township Departments and various agencies for their comments. All correspondence will be reviewed, and the Township Planner will approve the necessary Site Plan Control Agreement that lists the various conditions for the specific development.

Site Plan Agreement has been Finalized 

Once the Site Plan Agreement is approved, both the Township and the Applicant sign the agreement. The legal agreement is then registered on title so that it is binding on subsequent owners of the property.

Appeal Provisions

Only the Applicant can appeal the conditions of the Site Plan Control Approval to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

The indiscriminate division of land without anyone’s approval could have a long-term, negative impact on your community. For example, it could result in the over-extension of municipal services, such as snow plowing, school busing and garbage collection. Or it might result in damage to the natural environment because lots are too small to accommodate adequate sewage disposal systems. 

Official approval is required to ensure that:

• land severances are considered within an established community planning framework
• new lots and new land uses do not conflict with the overall future planning goals and policies of your community
• Consideration is given to the effects of the division of land on the site, on the neighbours and on the community as a whole.

The County of Lanark was given approval authority for consents (severances) in June 1973. This task is handled by a Land Division Committee who meet monthly. 

Before you apply for a land severance, you must complete the pre-consultation with the Township’s Planner. They will be able to tell you how to apply, what supporting material you must submit (e.g. sketches, plans) if there are any special land severance requirements set out in the Official Plan and what other permits and approvals may be required.

The Township’s pre-consultation fee is $475 for the first lot and $200 for each additional lot. The fee may be paid by cash, cheque, or debit. Cheques should be made payable to “Drummond/North Elmsley Twp”

Further information and application forms are available on the Lanark County website.

In considering each application for land severance, the proposal is evaluated against criteria such as:

• conformity with the Official Plan and compatibility with adjacent uses of land
• compliance with local zoning by-laws
• suitability of the land for the proposed purpose, including the size and shape of the lot(s) being created
• adequacy of vehicular access, water supply, sewage disposal
• the need to ensure protection from potential flooding, etc.

The application is reviewed by the Lanark County Land Division Committee with comments received from The Township of Drummond/North Elmsley, the applicable Conservation Authority, the Township’s Septic Department, and the public.

A severance approval may have certain conditions attached to it including requirements for road widening, parkland dedication, or a rezoning (or minor variance) to allow a new land use. In addition, the property owner may be required to enter into an agreement with the municipality to provide future services or facilities. Severance conditions must be met within two years.

When all the conditions have been met by the applicant, a certificate is issued by Lanark County, and the severance goes into effect after it has been registered in the Land Registry Office. 

• Lanark County Consent Application
• Lanark County Subdivision Application Form
•  Citizen's Guide to Land Use Planning
• Minimum Distance Separation - Data Sheet