Bulidng a "Fort" In Woodlot- Illegal?

[Kasakato]

While walking home from school today I decided to take a path through a woodlot/ravine in a residential area since it was a nice day. The area has a narrow path with trees (dead, alive, mostly fallen) and a stream. There is at least 20m of wooded area on either side of the path before you get to the houses.

About half way into my trip I come across some kids/teenagers (three people aged 10-14, I assume) building some sort of fort in a fallen tree. I had a few minutes to check out what they were doing as the path looped around the area. They had stacked a bunch of fallen branches on a large tree making a rough teepee. They were using a hammer and some nails to secure it all together.

While watching them construct their fort (which was quite impressive, at least 8m high) I hear a local guy yell from his backyard. He said something to the effect of, "YO! What you doing?" The kids did not answer. He went on to say, "If your building a fort, ITS COMING DOWN!" I could not get a clear view of the guy but he appeared to be middle age and probably had kids as there were child toys in the backyard. After that, I was out of ear shot.

This is what prompted me to start this thread. Is there some law against building a "fort" in a public space, off the trail? Or was the guy just really 'pissy'? The only thing that would have bothered me was the little bit of noise from the hammer, but as a passer-by, I see nothing wrong.

[UrbanPoet]

yeah. thats against zoning by-laws of most municipalities.
Its also against conservation laws. RAvines are actually conservation areas.... Basically kept in place so some areas of the City still have 'wild life'.
Its also against provincial and federal law... i believe its illegal to build random stuff on Crown property without permission. But you can if your a registered trapper.

if its in a city (even a small town) it would be against city by-law.
they wont get charged or anything... but they will have to take it down at their own expense.

[gordholio]

Gee, they're just kids. Anyways, I guess they have no area on their lot to build a treehouse or a fort.
When I was young, we lived out in the country and we built a little treehouse. Really neat - every kid should experience this.

[UrbanPoet]

Gee, they're just kids. Anyways, I guess they have no area on their lot to build a treehouse or a fort.
When I was young, we lived out in the country and we built a little treehouse. Really neat - every kid should experience this.

yah... when you were a kid..
but now we have law suits, green belts (many ravines are part of green belts), conservation laws, strict zoning, blah blah blah.
but i agree. the most that'll happen is the city will get them to tear it down... But that'll only happen after complaints (usually by some lonely old man like the OP mentioned).

[Kasakato]

yah... when you were a kid..
but now we have law suits, green belts (many ravines are part of green belts), conservation laws, strict zoning, blah blah blah.
but i agree. the most that'll happen is the city will get them to tear it down... But that'll only happen after complaints (usually by some lonely old man like the OP mentioned).

Just wondering but how would the guy find the kids? It was a moderately wooded area and someone could hide behind a tree. If he was to utter a threat, against a person (causing harm), would it be illegal? How about if he was to touch one of them? What is the max punishment for erecting such a structure? Iv got a million "what-if" ideas going thought my mind :lol: Maybe I should switch to law. :razz:

[UrbanPoet]

Just wondering but how would the guy find the kids? It was a moderately wooded area and someone could hide behind a tree. If he was to utter a threat, against a person (causing harm), would it be illegal? How about if he was to touch one of them? What is the max punishment for erecting such a structure? Iv got a million "what-if" ideas going thought my mind :lol: Maybe I should switch to law. :razz:

charge them the cost and labor of tearing the thing down.. thats about it.
I doubt anything would happen tho... theres people in Toronto that build illegal house additions and nothing happens, so i doubt a lil fort will do anything..
what i mentioned was what technically can be against the law.

[gordholio]

They'll probably arrest the kids, who knows?
In the States, kids that are 6 years old have been arrested (and put in handcuffs) at school for causing a disturbance - it's crazy.
I know this isn't the States, but common sense and dealing effectively with kids seems to be going out the window.
Sure, give them a bit of a warning if it's not appropriate - talk to their folks, but kids these days that live in cities have no outlet for good adventure such as building forts.

[UrbanPoet]

They'll probably arrest the kids, who knows?
In the States, kids that are 6 years old have been arrested (and put in handcuffs) at school for causing a disturbance - it's crazy.
I know this isn't the States, but common sense and dealing effectively with kids seems to be going out the window.
Sure, give them a bit of a warning if it's not appropriate - talk to their folks, but kids these days that live in cities have no outlet for good adventure such as building forts.

well... these days theres kids with guns that kill 32 people and terrorist :| thats the type of atmosphere they have in the states

[sfu_engineer]

well... these days theres kids with guns that kill 32 people and terrorist :| thats the type of atmosphere they have in the states

At 23 years old you are an adult and you should know what you are doing.

But I agree that the type of atmosphere in the states is very different.