Frequently Asked Questions

For a detailed breakdown of your bill is calculated visit our Water and Sewer Billing web page.

Your water and sewer bill contains a combination of both fixed charges and usage charges. Fixed charges allow the municipality to ensure that it has the money required to maintain and service all of the pipes, pumping stations and water treatment plant costs.

Most municipalities with water and sewer systems use a combination of fixed and usage charges in their billing so that people who use more, pay more, but also that the entire system can be maintained to the legislative requirements set by the Province.
More information is available on our Water and Sewer Billing web page.

The money recovered with water and sewer billing goes towards the cost to maintain the water and wastewater systems. If costs are lower than expected in a given year, this money is held in reserves to fund future costs of maintenance and/or replacement of equipment within the two systems.  

How do I set up a water and wastewater billing account?

There is a $60 fee for creating a new water and sewer account.

Tenants may have the water and sewer bills sent directly to them with written authorization from the property owner. Property owners are responsible for notifying the Township of any new changes of tenancy to set up new accounts.
Property owners are responsible for any unpaid balances. An Authorization Form must be completed and the new tenant must also complete a Move-In form. These forms are on the Water and Sewer billing section of the website. 

If you have sold your house or you’re a tenant moving out, you must complete a Moving Out Form before the move-out date. You can also visit the Township office and complete the form in person.

If you are a tenant, the landlord must complete the landlord authorization form. A final meter read will be completed at the property and a final bill will be sent out during the next billing cycle. Please be aware the Township must be notified before the move-out date. If notification is not provided additional charges may be incurred, and a late meter reading will result in consumption variances.

The Township of Cavan Monaghan currently has a road patrol that monitors road conditions on all Township and County Roads from November to the end of March. Depending upon the timing and nature of the pending storm, crews are brought in and put on stand-by. Once the storm starts, sand trucks are sent out on designated routes to apply sand as necessary.  Operator call-ins on a winter storm event is 4:00 a.m. both during the week and on weekends.  In order to minimize winter maintenance costs, operators are only called in specifically on bad storm events.  Routine winter maintenance and clean up is usually completed during regular working hours. 

The municipality has approximately 235km of roads to maintain or about 470km lanes of road.  At the onset of a storm, Staff prepare the roads by applying sand or salt to all routes to give drivers more traction.  Sand/salt trucks typically travel a little faster than snow plows averaging about 35km/hour.  It would take one truck about 7 hours to sand one side of all of the roads in the Township; 14 hours to cover both travel lanes.  As snow accumulates, snow plows are dispatched when a depth of about 8cm or 3 inches is reached.   Snow plows travel slightly slower at about 30km/hour.  To cover all roads in the Township it would take about 8 hours or 16 hours for both lanes.

According to the Highway Traffic Act, a snowplow operator can work 13 hours.  After that they cannot drive again in the same day and must have a minimum of 8 hours off duty before another shift can be started.  This can be challenging during a full call-out for operators in a storm situation.  The Municipality must prioritize roads for snow removal.  Main routes or main arterial roads that are travelled most are addressed first followed by roads in subdivisions and neighbourhoods. 

1. Be patient – In heavy snow falls, it takes us longer to get all streets clear.
2. Leave room for plows - When you see the flashing lights on the winter maintenance equipment, remain a safe distance behind them. Also, never pass a snow plow. This is an extremely dangerous practice.
3. Keep parked cars off streets wherever possible. By-law 2019-25 prohibits overnight parking in Millbrook Ward between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. 
4. Keep fire hydrants clear and visible.
5. Throw snow on your lawn, not on the street. Shoveling snow back onto the street creates unsafe road conditions for motorists and is prohibited by the Highway Traffic Act. 

What can I do when my mailbox is struck by the plow?

If your mailbox is damaged by a snow plow, you may be eligible for a reimbursement of a new mailbox for up to $35. Please contact the Public Works Clerk for more information: 705-932-9323.

Please note: Mailboxes that are damaged or dislodged by the direct weight and force of snow thrown from the plow are not eligible for reimbursement.

• how land may be used
• where buildings and other structures can be located
• the types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used
• the lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street

You can find the zoning of your property:

• by viewing the Township of Cavan Monaghan Zoning By-law 2018-58 as amended Maps  (please note that the Maps may not reflect the most up to date information and therefore you are advised to verify the zone through the two options below);
• as a layer on the County of Peterborough Public GIS Website; or
• by contacting our Planning Department at 705-932-9321.
• Once you have the zone category for your property, you can look up the corresponding permitted uses in the text of the Zoning By-law.

Info:

Information Package
Your Septic System Friend

Applications:

Installation or Alteration
Inspection of Existing Septic Systems
Copy of Sewage System and/or Installation Report

• by viewing the Township of Cavan Monaghan Zoning By-law 2018-58 as amended Maps (please note that the Maps may not reflect the most up to date information and therefore you are advised to verify the zone through the two options below);
• as a layer on the County of Peterborough Public GIS Website; or
• by contacting our Planning Department at 705-932-9321.
• Once you have the zone category for your property, you can look up the corresponding permitted uses in the text of the Zoning By-law.

• Single-family dwellings – 10 business days
• Small buildings other than houses – 15 business days
• Large buildings – 20 business days
• Complex buildings – 30 business days

The Township of Cavan Monaghan applies load restrictions during the "spring break up" period when a road base is at its weakest condition as ground frost thaws and melts. Signs will be posted for March 1st, 2021 and will be removed on May 1 or when it is deemed that the restrictions are no longer needed.

Periods of reduced vehicle loading is enforced on select Township roads that may be susceptible to damage.  Load restrictions apply only when the signs are displayed on the roadway. 

Vehicles exceeding the 5 tonne per axle load restriction must take alternate routes or will be subject to penalties described in the Highway Traffic Act.

The Township of Cavan Monaghan municipal addresses are assigned at the time an entrance permit is approved. Civic addresses are numbered based on the placement of the driveway.

There is a fee of $55.00 plus applicable taxes for administration and the placement of a green metal blade civic address sign at the property entrance.

Generally, even numbers are assigned to the north and west sides of the road and odd numbers are assigned to the south and east side of the road. However, this is not always the case as some numbers were assigned to properties prior to the amalgamation of the three townships in 1998 and adoption of the numbering policy.

For information regarding 9-1-1 numbering, please contact the Public Works Clerk at 705-932-9323

Low income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities may be eligible for a tax rebate of up to $200.00 in any given year. A full outline of eligibility can be found on the Relief of Tax Increase Application Form

Tax Relief for Seniors and Low-Income persons with disabilities

How can I find out how the Municipality is spending my tax dollars?

Each year the Municipality is responsible for determining the costs of providing services to residents in the form of a budget. The budget contains estimated revenues and expenditures for the Municipality for a given year. The budget serves as a guide for Council and Staff to ensure they are providing services in an effective and efficient manner.  A copy of the current year's budget and consolidated financial statements are available on the Township's website.