As of April 1, 2024, NVCA will follow a new regulation under the Conservation Authorities Act to review permit applications.
The current regulation, Regulation of Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses (O. Reg. 172/06) will be replaced with Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits (O. Reg. 41/24).
NVCA will continue to be responsible for regulating activities in natural and hazardous areas in order to avoid the loss of life and damage to property due to flooding and erosion. Under the new regulation, pollution and conservation of land will no longer be considered in permit reviews.
The permit application and review process will mostly remain the same.
There are a few changes that may affect property owners in NVCA’s regulated areas. These include:
- NVCA will review your application within 21 days, and let you know if your application is complete, or if there is missing information. Regardless of whether a permit is minor or major, NVCA staff have 90 days make a decision on your permit application once it has been deemed complete.
- Permits may be issued for up to 60 months (maximum validity period) including any extensions.
- The regulated area around wetlands will be 30 m, including provincially significant wetlands. This change will be reflected in NVCA’s regulated mapping shortly. In the interim, NVCA will follow the text in the regulation.
Some projects will no longer require a permit. Expand the arrows below to learn more:
- is not within a wetland or watercourse,
- is incidental or subordinate to the principal building or structure
- is 15 square metres or less, and
- is not placed within a watercourse or wetland, and
- is 15 square metres or less
- does not utilize any method of cantilevering
- is 10 square metres or less
- does not require permanent support structures, and
- can be removed in the event of flooding
- are not within a wetland or watercourse
- are not within 30 metres of a wetland or within 15 metres of a watercourse, and
- have an outlet of water that is not directed or connected to a watercourse, wetland or river or stream valley
- is not connected to or within a watercourse or wetland, and
- excavated material is not deposited within an area that is regulated by the NVCA.
- are not within a watercourse, and
- do not have any outlets of water that is directed or connected to a watercourse, wetland or river or stream valley
- is outside of a wetland or the maintenance or repair of a public road
- the driveway or road is not extended or widened, and
- the elevation, bedding materials and existing culverts are not altered
- with no basement
- the reconstruction does not exceed the existing footprint of the garage, and
- does not allow for a change in the potential use of the garage to create a habitable space.
- in accordance with the Drainage Act and the Conservation Authorities Act Protocol (DART)
How do these changes affect my project?
For permit applications submitted before April 1, 2024, NVCA’s Planning staff will review permit applications using the Ontario Regulation 172/06. This the regulation in effect at the time the application was received.
Under to the new regulation (Ontario Regulation 41/24), NVCA’s regulated area has changed. If the application for the proposed development is outside of NVCA’s new regulated area, NVCA will follow up with a written correspondence confirming that a permit is not required from the NVCA.
For applications received on or after April 1, 2024, NVCA’s Planning staff will review permit applications under the new regulation (Ontario Regulation 41/24).
Property owners with permits issued prior to April 1, 2024, and have expiry dates beyond April 1, 2024, must follow the conditions stated on the permit until the permit expires.
If your permit was issued before April 1, 2024, you may be considered for an extension. This includes extensions requests submitted after April 1, 2024. The extension will be considered using the new regulation (Ontario Regulation 41/24)
Under to the new regulation (Ontario Regulation 41/24), NVCA’s regulated area has changed. When reviewing your extension request, NVCA will consider if your development activity is located within NVCA’s new regulated area. If your it is outside of new NVCA’s regulated area, NVCA will provide a written correspondence confirming that an extension is not required.
Contact NVCA's Planning Team
Residents can contact NVCA’s planning team by phone, visit NVCA’s office or book a pre-consultation.
Responses are processed in the order in which they are received. Please note response times are dependent on the complexity of the inquiry, the unique characteristics of the property, and the volume of inquiries being received.
Phone
Call 705-424-1479 to inquire about your permit.
Please have the address of the property and the concept of your project ready.
Email permits@nvca.on.ca to inquire about your permit.
Please provide the address of the property and some details of your project.
If the email was sent to your spam/junk folder please mark it as not junk so that future emails get delivered to your inbox.
Visit NVCA’s office
Property owners who have a concept or idea about their project and would like to know how to permitting process works are welcome to visit NVCA’s office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our Regulations Technicians regulations staff have blocked off time to answer all your questions about the NVCA permit process.
NVCA’s Administration Office
8195 8th Line, Utopia ON L0M 1T0
Office hours
Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
We are closed for lunch between 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Book a pre-consultation appointment
Property owners who know the details of the development they are proposing should schedule a pre-consultation with NVCA’s Regulation Technicians to ensure their permit application process is smooth, efficient and on the right track.
- Our Regulations staff strive to keep each permit application process moving forward.
- When you book your appointment with NVCA the more information provided the better. When you come to your appointment have your property address, concept, drawings and site plans ready.
- Your information coupled with any project complexities will help us determine if further review is needed by engineers, ecologists or other technical staff.
- We will contact you to set up a meeting at the earliest available time/date and discuss your project further.
- A summary of that meeting will be forwarded to you including a check list of what you need to submit with your permit application.
- Book a pre-consultation by emailing permits@nvca.on.ca
Who to Contact
Planning Team 
Planning & Permits