Character
Nottawa is a hamlet in the northwest corner of Clearview Township, just south of Collingwood's town limits on County Road 124. It's one of the older settlements in what was Nottawasaga Township, which opened for settlement in 1832; Nottawa was already listed as a community centre in 1853. Nottawasaga Township became part of the new Township of Clearview on January 1, 1994. Today it's a quiet village with farmland and the escarpment to the west and Collingwood minutes to the north.
Homes you'll find
Expect a mix of village homes and rural properties rather than large subdivisions. Servicing is worth checking early: a 2008 Township study found that most of Nottawa relied on private wells and septic systems, with a small municipal water system serving one subdivision. Confirm how any specific property is serviced, and plan for well and septic inspections as part of your offer.
Amenities & things to do
The Nottawa Memorial Community Centre at 4129 County Road 124 has been the village's gathering place for more than 60 years and is one of the venues for the Small Halls Festival. For groceries, the hospital, restaurants and most day-to-day errands, residents head into Collingwood, a few minutes up the road.
Trails & outdoors
The Pretty River, a coldwater stream, flows through the hamlet on its way to Collingwood and the bay. Collingwood's trail network and the Georgian Trail are a short drive north, and the Niagara Escarpment rises to the west.
Who it suits
Nottawa suits buyers who want a village or country setting with Collingwood close by: people who want more room and less traffic, and families who like the idea of a small local elementary school.
Schools
Nottawa Elementary School, run by the Simcoe County District School Board, is at 81 Batteaux Road and teaches JK to Grade 8. Catholic schools in the area are run by the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. School boundaries and busing depend on the exact address, so check the board's school locator for any home you're considering.
Short-term rental rules
Clearview passed a short-term rental accommodation licensing by-law (By-law 26-62) on September 28, 2026. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and applications open that day, with a licence fee of $650 a year. Draft details reported during consultation included a cap on the number of licences and limits on which housing types can be licensed in settlement areas such as Creemore and Stayner. Check the final by-law on the Township's site before you buy with rental plans.
Content checked November 1, 2026. Rules change; confirm with your lawyer or the municipality.
Peter's take
Nottawa gives you a quieter, more rural setting while keeping Collingwood only minutes away. With village and country homes, the well, the septic system and the driveway in winter matter as much as the house, so build the right inspections into your offer and ask me about recent sales nearby.
Last updated November 1, 2026. Municipal rules (especially short-term rentals) and school arrangements change. Details come from the public sources below, so please confirm anything important for a specific property.