Gloucester Pool Real Estate, Waterfront Homes

Gloucester Pool Real Estate

Gloucester Pool lies on the Trent-Severn Waterway between Lock 44, the Big Chute Marine Railway (Parks Canada, n.d.-c), which lifts boats over a ridge between the Severn River and Gloucester Pool (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-g), and Lock 45 at Port Severn (Parks Canada, n.d.-d). The Township of Georgian Bay is home to both lockstations, and the Township of Severn lists Gloucester Pool and Little Lake in its discretionary septic inspection program area, suspended in June 2026 (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-g; Township of Severn, n.d.-b).

This guide covers what is for sale on the lake right now and what to check before you buy waterfront here: who owns the lakebed, which permits a dock needs, and how access works. Kimberly lives in Orillia and owns waterfront herself.

Homes for sale on Gloucester Pool

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Listings in Georgian Bay Township and Severn where the MLS® System records Gloucester Pool as the water body, updated as listings change. Little Lake listings may not appear here. A listing entered without a water body will not appear here, so search all waterfront in Georgian Bay Township and Severn as well. Registered clients also see sold prices and more listing details.

The lake and its shorelines

Parks Canada places Lock 44, Big Chute, at kilometre 374.1 of the waterway and Lock 45, Port Severn, at kilometre 387.1 (Parks Canada, n.d.-c, n.d.-d). Big Chute’s current marine railway opened to the public in 1978 and lifts boats an average of 17.7 metres (Parks Canada, n.d.-c); Port Severn is the waterway’s northern gateway and its smallest lock (Parks Canada, n.d.-d). The Gloucester Pool Cottagers’ Association describes the lake as 13 kilometres long with at least 20 islands (Gloucester Pool Cottagers’ Association, n.d.).

Parks Canada’s policy for in-water and shoreline works lists the “Severn River including Gloucester Pool and Little Lake” among the waterbodies under its jurisdiction (Parks Canada, 2007), and Parks Canada regulates water levels and flows on the waterway (Parks Canada, n.d.-f).

Which municipality a property sits in also matters day to day: it sets the zoning, issues building permits, and sets the municipal share of property tax. The Township of Georgian Bay and the Township of Severn have their own rules.

What to check before you buy on Gloucester Pool

Waterfront on a federal waterway comes with questions an inland home rarely raises. These are the ones Kimberly works through with every Gloucester Pool buyer, early, before conditions run out.

Where the lot ends

Parks Canada has ownership and jurisdiction over the bed of the Trent-Severn Waterway and its lakes and rivers up to the original upper controlled water elevation, and a title search is needed to confirm how far a property’s ownership extends (Parks Canada, n.d.-b). Your lawyer, and a surveyor where needed, should confirm it before you firm up.

Docks, boathouses and shoreline work

All work on, over or under the bed and waters of the waterway needs a Parks Canada permit, the maximum dock length is 32 feet unless Parks Canada grants an extension for site conditions, no in-water structure is grandfathered, and Parks Canada advises applying several months ahead (Parks Canada, n.d.-b); its listed fee for individual private-use repair or new work is $63.25 (Parks Canada, n.d.-e). Severn requires the Parks Canada permit before its own building permit (Township of Severn, n.d.-a). In the Township of Georgian Bay, other approvals may be needed for in-water or shoreline work, and a building permit needs an approved zoning certificate (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-b).

Shore road allowances

Many waterfront lots in the Township of Georgian Bay have a 20-metre (66-foot) shore road allowance between the lot and the water, owned by the Township unless an abutting owner has bought it, so an owner may not own to the water’s edge (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-e). The Township can sell the allowance, except any part covered by water, at Council’s discretion (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-e). Your lawyer, and a surveyor where needed, should confirm what the title includes before you firm up.

Water-access property

The Township of Georgian Bay requires 911 signs visible at the end of the driveway or dock (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-a), and its large-item waste pick-up is available to residents with water access only (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-c). Confirm where you will park, launch and store a boat before you buy.

Septic and water systems

The Township of Georgian Bay requires a permit for the construction of any new or existing septic system, inspects systems in the Port Severn intake protection zone every five years, and runs a discretionary program aimed at waterfront properties reached by road or by water (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-f). Severn scheduled Gloucester Pool for 2026 septic inspections (Township of Severn, 2026), then suspended its discretionary program for five years at the June 17, 2026 Council meeting (Township of Severn, n.d.-b). Ask for permit records, and make inspection and water testing part of your conditions.

Which township, which rules

Lots on Gloucester Pool may fall in the Township of Georgian Bay or the Township of Severn, and each sets its own zoning, building and septic rules. Kimberly confirms which apply to the specific property, then points you to the municipality for the final word.

Kimberly is a REALTOR®, not a lawyer, surveyor or permitting authority. This checklist is a starting point for your own due diligence with those professionals and agencies.

On and around the lake

Boating the waterway

Big Chute is the only marine railway of its kind in North America (Parks Canada, n.d.-c). Lock 45 at Port Severn is the waterway’s northern gateway (Parks Canada, n.d.-d), and the Township of Severn describes Port Severn as the gateway to Georgian Bay (Township of Severn, n.d.-c). In 2026 the locks run from May 15 to October 12, and Parks Canada notes times are not guaranteed (Parks Canada, n.d.-a).

Parking and launches

The Township of Georgian Bay’s Port Severn Park lot at 17 Port Severn Road North is pay and display, and its Whites Falls Road lot across from Big Chute Marina allows parking for up to 7 consecutive days (Township of Georgian Bay, n.d.-d).

Speed near shore

On Ontario waters, power-driven and electric boats are limited to 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore, with set exceptions (Government of Canada, n.d.).

Services nearby

Georgian Bay General Hospital is at 1112 St. Andrew’s Drive in Midland (Georgian Bay General Hospital, n.d.), and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital is at 170 Colborne Street West in Orillia (Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, n.d.).

Thinking about Gloucester Pool?

Kimberly helps buyers compare frontage, exposure, water depth, access and shoreline permits, and helps owners price Gloucester Pool waterfront using recent sales. She owns waterfront herself, so she knows the questions from both sides.

Based in Orillia · Serving Simcoe County, Georgian Bay & Muskoka · Lock 43 to Lock 44 guide

Questions people ask about Gloucester Pool

Where is Gloucester Pool?

Gloucester Pool lies on the Trent-Severn Waterway between Lock 44, the Big Chute Marine Railway, and Lock 45 at Port Severn. The Township of Georgian Bay is home to both lockstations, and the Township of Severn lists Gloucester Pool and Little Lake in its discretionary septic inspection program area, suspended in June 2026.

Who owns the lakebed in front of a Gloucester Pool property?

Parks Canada lists the Severn River, including Gloucester Pool and Little Lake, among the waterbodies under its jurisdiction, and has ownership of the waterway’s bed up to the original upper controlled water elevation. A title search confirms how far a property’s ownership extends.

Do I need a permit to build a dock on Gloucester Pool?

Yes. Parks Canada requires a permit for all work on, over or under the bed and waters of the waterway, the maximum dock length is 32 feet unless an extension is granted for site conditions, and no in-water structure is grandfathered. Severn and the Township of Georgian Bay also have their own permits.

Can you boat from Gloucester Pool to Georgian Bay?

Yes. Lock 45 at Port Severn is the Trent-Severn Waterway’s northern gateway, and the Township of Severn describes Port Severn as the gateway to Georgian Bay. In 2026 the locks run from May 15 to October 12.

Where can I park for a water-access property?

The Township of Georgian Bay lists a pay-and-display lot at Port Severn Park and a lot on Whites Falls Road across from Big Chute Marina, where vehicles may stay up to 7 consecutive days.