October 10, 2024 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
If you live on land that is under the jurisdiction of the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, you should be aware of the necessary permits required when you build, renovate, or plan on doing site alterations such as grading.
This also includes shore walls, in-ground pools, retaining walls, septic tanks, foundation works, concrete pads and driveways.
NVCA staff held a briefing at the Conservation Authority’s administration centre on Tuesday, Oct. 1, to provide information about when permits are required and to explain the process.
The Nottwasaga Valley Conservation Authority is responsible for the protection of our watershed as well as the safety of the lives and property of residents who live near waterways and wetlands. The NVCA’s vision is to foster a sustainable watershed that is resilient to the effects of climate change, urban growth, and other stressors on the area.
As of September 24, 2024, the NVCA issued 398 permits with 93 per cent of those permits issued within provincial timelines.
Homeowners are required to secure an NVCA permit if the work the homeowners are planning to do is in an NVCA-regulated area. Any work that triggers the definition of ‘development’ will require a permit.
Not all projects require a permit. Projects that don’t require a permit include fences and ground-level decks, above-ground swimming pools and hot tubs, landscaping activities, minor limbing of trees, and agricultural practices such as cropping a tilling of existing agricultural lands.
“Permits are required within regulated areas in the NVCA watershed,” explained Meagan Kieferle, provincial offences officer with the NVCA.
“These areas are comprised of natural hazards as well as natural heritage features. If you’re in a regulated area, you may need multiple permits. You would potentially need a building permit from your municipality and if you’re in a regulated area, a permit from the NVCA. Many people are unaware of that. They assume one would trump the other, which is not the case. It is a process that can be daunting for those doing it the first time.”
To find out if your property is in a regulated area, you can view the NVCA’s Interactive Data Viewer which is available on the Conservation Authority’s website. You may be in a regulated area even if you are living in an established neighbourhood or subdivision.
There are several stages a permit application goes through to final approval.
There is the permit request – the application and document submission, which includes plans, studies and other required documents. NVCA then assesses whether the information provided is sufficient to consider the application as complete.
This will take up to 21 days.
The request then goes to a technical review with a technical and regulatory assessment by development review staff and internal technical staff.
A permit decision is the last step, where NVCA staff make a decision on the file. This may take up to 90 days.
When making an application, you should make sure it is completed properly.
Applications can be delayed if the application is incomplete, applicants did not consult with the NVCA prior to submitting their application or the proposal does not comply with policy.
Other reasons for a delay include incorrect, illegible, or hand-drawn engineering plans, drafts, and blueprints.
NVCA water resource engineers are highly trained professionals who review the technical drawings provided with permit applications to assess the impact a development will have. They consider the proximity to wetlands and watercourses and how development will impact an area’s ability to absorb water. They also examine if the proposed development will be in danger of erosion hazards in the future.
If development occurs within a regulated area without the benefit of an NVCA permit or clearance letter, you will be in violation of the Conservation Authorities Act, which can result in fines or jail time.
“If you’re going to be doing a significant amount of excavation, for example, in an area of unstable soil, or on a slope, that is something we would definitely look at for an application to be made,” Meagan explained. “We would look at it a see if it meets the test of the natural hazard management guidelines. We might have recommendations during your work on how to mitigate any risk, and how to complete those activities safely.” Overall, residents who have gone through the permit process have reported a favourable experience working with NVCA staff.