By Alex Antsyferov, Broker, and the AA Properties team | CENTURY 21 Leading Edge Realty Inc., Brokerage, Whitby
Short answer: Moving to Claremont, Ontario means buying in a small hamlet in north Pickering, on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Expect a community centre, library, park and conservation trails in or near the hamlet. Before you buy, confirm the water and septic setup, find out which Moraine and conservation rules apply to the lot, and ask about drainage on the street.
My family and I are making Claremont home, so I have a personal reason to want you to get this right.
This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s the checklist I’d hand a friend: what Claremont is, what’s there day to day, and what to check before you make an offer. The facts below come from the City, the Province and the conservation authority.
What is Claremont, exactly?
Claremont is a hamlet in north Pickering. A planning document on the City of Pickering’s website refers to it as the “Hamlet of Claremont” and notes that the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan designates the area as a “Rural Settlement” within the Moraine’s Countryside Area. The Province describes Rural Settlements as existing hamlets or similar small, generally long-established communities.
The Oak Ridges Moraine is a ridge of land about 160 kilometres long, and the Province’s conservation plan covers 190,000 hectares of it. The Moraine is part of the Greenbelt. Durham’s Regional Official Plan limits growth in hamlets to minor infilling, subject to the ability to service it with individual on-site water and sewage services (policy 6.5.9).
One more fun fact, since a village this size deserves a celebrity. Tom Thomson, the painter, was born in Claremont on August 5, 1877. His parents moved the family to Leith when he was two months old, so Claremont’s most famous native son didn’t stay long. We’ll still take the credit.
For the neighbourhood overview, see our Claremont real estate page.
What’s there day to day?
A small hamlet can surprise you. Here’s what the City and the conservation authority list:
- Community centre and library. The Dr. Nelson F. Tomlinson Community Centre is at 4941 Old Brock Road, in the heart of the hamlet. It was renamed in 2016 in honour of a long-time Claremont resident and community physician, and its gym or hall holds 100 people. The Claremont library branch shares the same address.
- Claremont Memorial Park. The City lists ball hockey, a playground, swings, a softball diamond and public tennis courts, plus a natural outdoor ice rink in the winter months. Natural means Mother Nature gets a vote on the skating season.
- Trails. The Claremont Field Centre sits on the banks of Duffins Creek East and Mitchell Creek, on the Trans Canada Trail, on Westney Road north of Seventh Concession Road. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) manages it. The building isn’t open to the general public, but the site is open for hiking.
- Nature programs. TRCA’s Claremont Nature Centre, at 4290 Westney Road North, is on a 160-hectare property with Duffins Creek running through it. It opened in 1970 and runs school, camp and community programs.
- School. Claremont Public School is part of the Durham District School Board. Confirm which school serves a specific address with the board directly, and don’t rely on a listing’s description.
Getting around: the City describes the community centre as less than 15 minutes north of Highway 2 on Brock Road. Before you fall in love with a house, drive it at the times you’d actually commute.
What to check before you buy in Claremont
Water and septic
This is the big one. Because of that Durham policy, plan on a private well and septic system unless the listing says otherwise, and confirm it in writing. Our guide to buying a house with a well and septic in north Pickering walks through the water test, well records, septic file and conditions to discuss with your lawyer.
Moraine and conservation rules
Planning a pool, an addition or a big shed? The Province says that to find out how the Oak Ridges Moraine plan affects a specific area, you check the land use designation map and talk to the municipality. Some lots also fall in a TRCA regulated area, where a TRCA permit is needed before the municipal building permit. Ask before you buy, not after you’ve drawn up the plans.
Drainage
The City of Pickering completed a Class Environmental Assessment, the Claremont Drainage Plan, to look at the drainage system and ways to reduce localized surface flooding within the hamlet. The notice of study completion is dated December 15, 2022. The City studied it, so ask the seller about grading, past water in the basement, and any work done on the property.
A small market
Hamlets are small. Some months there may be nothing that fits. Set up listing alerts for Claremont so a new listing finds you first, and keep your financing and your questions ready.
Thinking about Claremont?
Tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll tell you honestly whether Claremont fits, and what to check on the homes that do.
Book a free buyer consultationPrefer to talk it through over coffee? Call me at 416-845-8433. The coffee’s on me.
Nurse, police officer or firefighter? Our Everyday Heroes program offers 25% of the commission AA Properties earns, paid on closing, anywhere in Ontario. Buying in Durham Region? Good Neighbours offers 10%. Conditions apply: cash back is paid by CENTURY 21 Leading Edge Realty Inc., Brokerage, on a completed purchase or sale where we represent you under a signed agreement. Details on the program pages.
Related reading
- Claremont real estate: life in north Pickering’s hamlet
- Buying a house with a well and septic in north Pickering
- Welcome to Pickering
- 10 things I wish every buyer knew before moving to Pickering
- Best parks and playgrounds in Durham
- Comparing nearby towns? See Whitby real estate
- Comparing nearby towns? See Ajax real estate
Frequently asked questions
Is Claremont part of Pickering?
Yes. Claremont is a hamlet in the City of Pickering, in the north of the city. The City lists the Dr. Nelson F. Tomlinson Community Centre and Claremont Memorial Park among its facilities, and Pickering Public Library has a Claremont branch.
Do Claremont homes have well water and septic systems?
It depends on the property. Durham’s Regional Official Plan limits hamlet growth to minor infilling, subject to the ability to service it with individual on-site water and sewage services, so confirm the servicing for each property in writing and talk to your lawyer about inspection conditions.
What is there to do in Claremont?
The City lists Claremont Memorial Park with ball hockey, tennis courts, a playground and a natural outdoor rink in winter. The Dr. Nelson F. Tomlinson Community Centre and the library are on Old Brock Road, and the TRCA Claremont Field Centre site is open for hiking.
Does the Oak Ridges Moraine affect what I can build in Claremont?
It can. The Province says to check the land use designation map and speak with the municipality to see how the plan affects a specific area. Some lots are also in a TRCA regulated area, where a TRCA permit is needed first. Check both before you plan a pool or addition.
How far is Claremont from Highway 2?
The City of Pickering describes the Claremont community centre as less than 15 minutes north of Highway 2 on Brock Road. Drive your own commute at rush hour before you decide.
The information in this blog is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. It’s for general purposes only and isn’t legal, financial or tax advice.
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