A Toronto man has lost his appeal of an order to dismantle a 10-square-metre boat-treehouse in his west-end backyard.

John Alpeza vowed to fight an order issued in April to tear down the treehouse in the Bloor-West Village neighbourhood, which he says cost $30,000.

Alpeza, a contractor, said he spent three years working on the naval-themed treehouse for his boys Kristian and Matheas, now 10 and 8. He said he doesn’t normally work on residential projects and didn’t know he needed a permit for a treehouse.

He brought letters of support from neighbours and had petitions on his side, but after hearing from Alpeza and the neighbour who complained that the treehouse was too large, the city’s committee of adjustment today unanimously rejected his application.

Alpeza can appeal today’s decision to the Ontario Municipal Board within 20 days.