Kids and outdoor enthusiasts may soon be allowed to camp in their yards in South Bruce Peninsula.
Town staff have an update Tuesday for council on potential changes to the Town’s tent bylaw.
It currently doesn’t allow tents or trailers as accommodation anywhere but campgrounds unless a person is building a home on the property.
In September, Council asked staff to look into allowing tents in the interest of allowing people to enjoy the outdoors from their own backyards and for short visits like when grandkids come to town to see their grandparents. At the time, Deputy Mayor Caleb Hull said, “There needs to be a legal doorway for citizens to be able to take in our dark skies, to gain further appreciation for nature and enjoy time together outside while camping at home.”
During that September discussion, staff noted they were unsure if proposed changes to Bruce County’s Official Plan would prohibit the use of tents if they were to be considered an additional dwelling unit.
Staff say in their latest report today, they’ve had a discussion with County staff and that no zoning bylaw or official plan amendments would be needed to allow tents.
The report notes council isn’t looking to implement a tent licensing program and have prepared a draft of an updated tent and trailer bylaw. The draft includes updated definitions of a tent that does not include dining tents, event tents, garage tents or tent-trailers.
Only three tents would be allowed on a property at a time and they’d have to be at least five feet in from the property line.
Tent occupation wouldn’t be permitted on vacant property, and no one would be able to rent or receive any compensation for the use of one. They would not be allowed as short-term rental accommodation.
The proposed bylaw would have to be looked at by the Crown Law Office and then after that could come back to council for consideration.
Council can decide Tuesday to stick with the existing bylaw that generally doesn’t allow tents, they can direct staff to go ahead with having the wording finalized, or they can direct staff to make more changes to it.