Leonard Lake Real Estate, Muskoka Lakes Waterfront

Leonard Lake Real Estate

Leonard Lake is in the Township of Muskoka Lakes and is 1.95 square kilometres in size, according to the District of Muskoka (District Municipality of Muskoka, n.d.-c). The District lists it in the Lake Muskoka watershed (District Municipality of Muskoka, 2025), and the Township lists a public dock, boat launch and parking at 2008 Muskoka Road 118, Milford Bay (Township of Muskoka Lakes, n.d.-b).

This guide covers what is for sale on the lake right now and what to check before you buy waterfront here: shore road allowances, setbacks, dock and boathouse permits, septic systems and water quality. Kimberly lives in Orillia and owns waterfront herself.

Homes for sale on Leonard Lake

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Listings in Muskoka Lakes, and Bracebridge where a listing is recorded there, where the MLS® System records Leonard Lake as the water body, updated as listings change. A listing entered without a water body will not appear here, so search all waterfront in Muskoka Lakes as well. Registered clients also see sold prices and more listing details.

The lake and its shorelines

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks confirmed a blue-green algae bloom on Leonard Lake on September 28, 2018, which led to the lake being classified as vulnerable in the Muskoka Official Plan and to a District causation study (District Municipality of Muskoka, n.d.-c). The District reports that the studies found development was not the cause of the reported water quality indicators, that the primary cause of the reported bloom was climate change, and that the lake has been removed from the vulnerable list (District Municipality of Muskoka, n.d.-a).

The District scheduled Leonard Lake for water quality monitoring in 2025 (District Municipality of Muskoka, 2025). The Muskoka Watershed Council’s 2023 report card gives it an average total phosphorus of 5.9 µg/L for 2001 to 2022, and grades its phosphorus trend “Not Stressed” (Willison, 2023). None of the 36 conservation authorities in Conservation Ontario’s directory is named for Muskoka (Conservation Ontario, n.d.); the District monitors lake water quality through its Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program, part of its Lake System Health program (District Municipality of Muskoka, n.d.-b).

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. On Leonard Lake that is the Township of Muskoka Lakes.

What to check before you buy on Leonard Lake

Muskoka waterfront comes with provincial, District and township rules that an inland home rarely raises. These are the ones Kimberly works through with every Leonard Lake buyer, early, before conditions run out.

Where the lot ends

In Ontario, the beds of most lakes and rivers are Crown land (Government of Ontario, 2026). Some waterfront lots have an original shore road allowance, commonly 66 feet wide, between the lot and the water; the Township of Muskoka Lakes may sell it to the abutting owner at Council’s discretion (Township of Muskoka Lakes, 2018). Since June 10, 2026, where such an allowance lies in front of the lot, the Township requires the owner to own it before it will issue a boathouse building permit (Township of Muskoka Lakes, 2026). Your lawyer, and a surveyor where needed, should confirm what the title includes before you firm up.

Setbacks and shoreline buffer

The Township’s 2013 Official Plan generally locates buildings at least 20 metres from the normal or controlled high water mark of a waterbody, unless the Plan specifies otherwise and with exceptions such as minor accessory buildings and docks, and calls for a natural undisturbed buffer at the water’s edge with a general target depth of 15 metres (Township of Muskoka Lakes, n.d.-d). Confirm the zoning and any lake-specific rules for the lot with the Township.

Docks, boathouses and shoreline work

A provincial work permit may be needed for a structure in physical contact with more than 15 square metres of shore lands that are Crown land or close to Crown land; a floating structure does not count as being in contact (Government of Ontario, 2026). In Muskoka Lakes, adding any new dock crib area needs a building permit, and the Township’s checklist asks for a Ministry of Natural Resources land use permit or letter of authorization with the application (Township of Muskoka Lakes, 2023). A boathouse permit will not be issued until the dock permit has been inspected and closed (Township of Muskoka Lakes, n.d.-a).

Septic systems

Muskoka Lakes requires a septic permit for a new or replacement system (Township of Muskoka Lakes, n.d.-a) and inspects systems zone by zone on a rotating cycle (Township of Muskoka Lakes, n.d.-c). Ask for permit and inspection records, and make inspection and water testing part of your conditions.

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

Public launch

The Township lists a public dock, boat launch and parking on Leonard Lake at 2008 Muskoka Road 118, Milford Bay (Township of Muskoka Lakes, n.d.-b).

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

South Muskoka Memorial Hospital is at 75 Ann Street in Bracebridge (Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, n.d.).

Thinking about Leonard Lake?

Kimberly helps buyers compare frontage, exposure, water depth, access and shoreline permits, and helps owners price Leonard Lake 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 · Lake Muskoka guide

Questions people ask about Leonard Lake

Where is Leonard Lake?

Leonard Lake is in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, in the Lake Muskoka watershed. The Township lists a public dock, boat launch and parking at 2008 Muskoka Road 118, Milford Bay.

How big is Leonard Lake?

The District of Muskoka gives its size as 1.95 square kilometres.

Is Leonard Lake on Muskoka’s vulnerable lake list?

It was added after a confirmed blue-green algae bloom in 2018. The District reports that its causation study found development was not the cause, and that the lake has since been removed from the vulnerable list.

Can I buy the shore road allowance in front of a Leonard Lake lot?

The Township of Muskoka Lakes may sell an original shore road allowance to the abutting owner at Council’s discretion, and since June 10, 2026, where an original shore road allowance lies in front of the lot, the Township requires the owner to own it before issuing a boathouse building permit.

How far back must a cottage be from the water?

The Township’s 2013 Official Plan generally locates buildings at least 20 metres from the normal or controlled high water mark, with exceptions such as minor accessory buildings and docks. Confirm the zoning for the specific lot with the Township.