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Building near water? Check to see if you need an NVCA permit

March 31, 2022   ·   0 Comments

If you live in the Nottawasaga Valley Watershed, and are planning to make improvements to your home and property, you should check with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Area to see if you are in a regulated area.

Some properties are at risk from flooding and erosion.

Projects that may require and NVCA permit can include building or rebuilding a house, deck, garage, shed, dock, shore wall, or an addition to a home.

Depending on the type of build and location, permits may also be required for grading, fill or topsoil importation and placement.

The NVCA is tasked by the Province of Ontario to regulate activities in natural and hazardous areas in order to avoid the loss of lie and damage to property from flooding and erosion.

To check if you are in an NVCA regulated area, search for your property address in the Interactive Data Viewer on the NVCA website.

If you’re still not sure, NVCA provides free consultations online or over the phone so residents can easily correspond with Regulations Technicians to confirm if their property is regulated or to discuss projects and permit requirements.

“Many property owners often tell us that their property has never flooded in the many years that they’ve lived there, but that is changing,” advises Chris Hibberd, Director of Watershed Management Services. “Even today we are experiencing more intense rainstorms and other extreme weather events associated with climate change.”

If your property is located in New Tecumseth or Adjala-Tosorontio, you should check to see if you are in a regulated area.

You should also do the check if you own properties within the NVCA jurisdiction in Amaranth, Barrie, Blue Mountains, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Clearview, Collingwood, Essa, Grey Highlands, Innnisfil, Melancthon, Mono, Mulmur, Oro-Medonte, Shelburne, and Springwater.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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