Do I need a permit?

Have a question about development permits?

Visit NVCA’s office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 am – 12 pm or 1 pm – 3 pm

If you are planning to do any work near a river, stream, pond, wetland, or the Georgian Bay shoreline, you may require approval from NVCA. These areas often contain natural hazards, and NVCA regulates development to help reduce the risk of flooding, erosion, and unstable soils.

Have a project idea?

Contact us before you plan your project

Use NVCA’s Interactive Map to see if your property is regulated.

You can also contact NVCA before you plan for your project to see if there are natural hazards on your property.

If any part of your property is regulated, submit a general inquiry through NVCA’s Online Request Portal. We will review your proposal and contact you to discuss what the regulated areas mean and what information may be needed to support your application. Development should be placed outside of regulated areas as much as possible to ensure the protection to people and properties.

What you need to submit a general inquiry:

The address of the property and an idea of your project.
There is no cost for general inquiries.

We will contact you within two business days of receiving your general inquiry. The best way to contact NVCA is to submit a general inquiry on NVCA’s Online Request Portal.

Have you planned your project?

Contact us for a pre-consultation

If you have the details for your project or are ready to submit an NVCA application, schedule a pre-consultation to ensure your permit application process is smooth, efficient, and on the right track.

What you need to submit a pre-consultation request:

Location Map (showing nearest intersection)
Site Plan Drawing that shows existing structures and proposed works, property boundaries, street name(s), north arrow, and accurate setbacks from property lines. Site Plans must also include measurements and dimensions with consistent units (meters or feet).
Digital Photos of the proposed work location (taken with a phone or camera)
Authorization Form (if applicant/agent is not the owner)

Pre-consultations are $578. This fee will be deducted from the final permit application fee.

We will book the pre-consultation with you within 10 business days of receiving your request.

Examples of projects that require an NVCA permit

Construction of a dwelling or addition
Reconstruction of a dwelling
Construction of any other structure or structural element such as a shorewall, inground pool, retaining wall, septic tanks (new or replacement), foundation works, concrete pads, or driveway
Placing or constructing a detached accessory structure such as a barn, garage, shed or pool house
Changes to a building or structure that alters the use, increases the size or occupancy such as: enclosing a carport to create a garage or adding an “in-law” suite
Site alteration and grading
Temporary or permanent removal or importation of materials such as fill, gravel, soils. This applies even if the material originated on site

Examples of projects that do not require an NVCA permit

A non-habitable accessory building or structure that

is not within a wetland or watercourse,
is incidental or subordinate to the principal building or structure, and
is 15 square metres or less

Unenclosed detached deck or patio that

is not placed within a watercourse or wetland
is 15 square metres or less, and
does not utilize any method of cantilevering

Seasonal or floating docks that

is 10 square metres or less
does not require permanent support structures, and
can be removed in the event of flooding

Demolition of existing structures

Not located within a wetland, and
Does not require site alteration (e.g., fill importation, site grading)

Installation, maintenance or repair of tile drains that

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

Installation and maintenance of an pond for watering livestock that

is not connected to or within a watercourse or wetland
within 15 metres of a wetland or a watercourse, and
excavated material is not deposited within an area that is regulated by NVCA.

Installation of agricultural in-field erosion control structures that

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

Private lane or driveway, or public road maintenance or repair that

is outside of a wetland
is not extended or widened, and
the elevation, bedding materials and existing culverts are not altered

Reconstruction of existing non-habitable garages

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.

Rail, chain-linked or panelled fence that is

a minimum of 75 millimetres of
width between panels, and
not within a wetland or watercourse

Maintenance or repair of municipal drains

in accordance with the Drainage Act and the Conservation Authorities Act Protocol (DART)

Like for like deck replacements that

remain unenclosed and/or uncovered
Not located in a steep slope
Located greater than 6 metres from the long-term stable top of slope of an erosion hazard, and
Not located within 6 metres of a watercourse

Like for like replacement of failed septic systems that

The elevations remain the same
Did not fail as a result of flooding or erosion
Not located within 6 metres of a watercourse
Not located within a steep slope; and
Located greater than 6 metres from the long-term stable top of slope of a slope erosion hazard.

Other exceptions

Hot tubs, above ground pools and temporary pools
Boreholes and test pits for geotechnical investigations that do not require the construction of an access road to complete sub-surface investigations
Agricultural practices such as cropping and tilling of existing agricultural lands
Holding tanks outside of natural hazards where the area is returned to the original grade and the fill is removed off site, and
Top dressing of properties (0.1 metres of fill or less), 30 metres from a watercourse and/or a wetland

Contact NVCA’s Regulations Team

Contact NVCA’s Regulations team by phone, visit NVCA’s office or book an appointment through our Online Request Portal.

NVCA is committed to our Customer Service Charter, and will respond to voicemail and email inquiries within 2 business days.

Ask us a general question.

If you’d like to know if your property is regulated, or what the permit application process is like, contact us or submit a General Inquiry on our Online Request Portal.

Please have the property address and your project concept ready.

Email: permits@nvca.on.ca

Phone: 705-424-1479 x 268

Visit us: 8195 8th Line, Utopia ON L0M 1T0

Office hours
Visit NVCA’s office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m – 3 p.m. for walk-in inquiries. Please note we are closed between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. for lunch.

Mondays and Fridays are available by appointment only.

Book a pre-consultation appointment

For a smooth, efficient process and to keep your permit application on the right track, book a pre-consultation with NVCA’s Regulations team!

What you need for your pre-consultation

Have your property address, concept, drawings and site plan ready
Pre-consultations are $578. This fee will be deducted from the final permit application fee.
Have your property address, concept, drawings and site plan ready
Submit a Request for Pre-consultation or email us at permits@nvca.on.ca to book an appointment. NVCA will reach out to you to schedule a meeting at the earliest available date and time to discuss your project further.

What you receive at the pre-consultation