Lake Info
New Members Sign Up
Member Annual Renewal

Short Term Rental

MPOA recognizes that occasional rental of our cottage properties has become a financial reality for some cottage owners. We hear from members interested in finding out about how to rent, and also from those who have been frustrated by experiences with poorly-managed rental properties in their vicinity.

We support a philosophy of responsible use, that encourages cottage owners to:

  • educate and inform guests about cottage country living and etiquette.
  • work with neighbours to promote harmonious relationships
  • be environmental stewards by ensuring the sustainable use of cottage properties, recognizing the limits of the existing septic system, road capacity and other community considerations.

Here are a few resources that will benefit both you and your renters. Feel free to edit to make it yours.  If you have questions or suggestions, please contact us at communications@lakemazinaw.ca.

  • This is a simple ‘Visitor Information’ brochure. It works wonders if positioned in a highly visible location in the cottage. Thank you to Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) for creating it.

Welcome to Cottage Country

  • Township Brochures:

Addington Highlands Cottage Kit

North Frontenac


Short Term Rental for Commercial Purposes

MPOA received several complaints in the summer of 2021 about disruptions caused by renters of a few commercial properties on the lake. Our initial approach to North Frontenac township proved ineffective. After much discussion within the MPOA Board of Directors and with MPOA members it was decided to create a petition to get the attention of the township.

Following is the content of the petition:

North Frontenac has a growing unaddressed issue regarding the lack of supervision and control of short-term cottage rentals. This unregulated rental situation has already led to a deterioration in the quality of enjoyment for many adjacent property owners. The Mazinaw Property Owners Association (MPOA) believes remedies are past due and that this festering situation needs to be urgently addressed by Council.

While there is a distinction to be made between the cottage owner who rents for only short periods of time vs. those who do so as a business, we feel that clear policies must be in place, and enforced to regulate this growing rental concern.

Prior to a recent North Frontenac Township special council meeting on short term rentals, the staff at the North Frontenac Township received numerous letters from concerned cottagers. Complaints included:

  • Unsupervised tenants having no relationship with, or respect for, neighbours,
  • Excessive noise late at night,
  • Large campfires that may, or may not, be effectively tended.
  • Late night fire works disturbing both neighbours and wildlife,
  • Unsafe boating practices with both powered and unpowered watercraft,
  • Use of foul language within a family-oriented cottage community.

In short, we see and are concerned with many of the practices that officials at Bon Echo Provincial Park and the OPP work diligently to control and address but are not being adequately addressed at various unsupervised commercial cottage rental enterprises.

Our Executive has had discussions with other member organizations from the North Frontenac Lake Association Alliance which indicate similar concerns are widespread across the Township.

Through our contacts at the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations (FOCA), we know that many municipalities are being proactive on this fast-growing issue and that a variety of bylaw options are being actively explored or have been enacted. We need to learn from their research and experience.

We recognize that the Council recently agreed to provide information on its website dealing with the good practices for such renters. While it is a first step, this action by itself is completely inadequate to deal with many of our concerns. Effective regulation and enforcement is absolutely required. In addition, the township needs to establish clear guidelines concerning the zoning designations of Rural and Commercial and manage these appropriately.

We urge Council to move on this issue by forming an Advisory Committee with an aggressive schedule to develop options and recommendations for Council’s consideration.

Update Fall 2021:

The petition was circulated  along with a covering letter in the summer of 2021. It generated 96 signatures and 40 letters to the NF Council. Meetings are ongoing with a committee established by Mayor Higgins in late 2021.The committee includes representatives from the North Frontenac lake Association Alliance, South and Central Frontenac as well as Addington Highlands, all of whom have received requests from residents to introduce stricter control over commercial rental operations.