Pre-consultation
Contact us! We strongly advise you contact us prior to submitting an application for a permit. This will provide you with clarity and direction about what information, studies and fees are needed for the application as well as the time line required to review your application. To facilitate your pre-consultation with staff, complete the Property Inquiry Form making sure to submit as much information about your proposed works as possible.
Complete permit application
Once a permit application along with applicable fees links are submitted, staff will either confirm that the application is complete, or provide you with a written list of missing or incomplete information. Staff will strive to provide this confirmation within 14 days for minor permits and 21 days for major permits. Once all information has been submitted and the application is deemed complete, staff strive to complete a review and approval of the application within 21 days for minor applications and 28 days for major applications (those that are complex and/or require technical review).
- Go to Forms & Fees to download the Permit Application Package and obtain information on fees:
Permit review process
Staff will assess your application to determine whether the proposed works will affect the control of flooding, erosion, dynamic beaches, pollution, or the conservation of land. We will work with all applicants to ensure that wherever possible, your proposal meets the requirements of Ontario Regulation 163/06 and policies, and decisions are made in a timely manner.
Hearings & Appeals
Where applications do not meet current policy, recommendations will be forwarded to the Board of Directors, who will decide whether to approve or deny the application.
When taking a permit application to the Board of Directors for approval, a Hearing Board will convene to consider the application. You will be notified of a hearing date which you and your agent may attend. Upon reviewing information provided by staff and the owner/agent, the Hearing Board will make a decision. If denied, the applicant will be notified of the reasons in writing. Within 30 days of receipt of the notification, the owner may appeal the decision of the Hearing Board to the Minister of Natural Resources & Forestry who may dismiss the appeal or grant permission.
