As of April 1, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24 under the Conservation Authorities Act is in effect. The enacted changes provided updates to regulated areas, introduced low risk activity exemptions, and appeal provisions.
You will need a permit for any development that occurs within Kawartha Conservation's Regulated Area. Property mapping is available to help you determine if you require a permit. 
Before submitting a permit application, you may want to book a pre-consultation meeting with one of our staff, submit a property information request, or schedule a Site Visit. You can also review our frequently asked questions and submit your questions by email at any time.
For shoreline works please take a look at our Erosion and Shoreline Protection information before submitting a permit application.
Standard permit application
A standard permit is required for most projects within Kawartha Conservation's Regulated Area, however some minor projects qualify for the streamlined permit process.
You can also complete our permit application form and submit it by email or drop it off at our office. Completed permit application forms can be dropped off at:
277 Kenrei (Park) Road
Lindsay, ON K9V 4R1
If paying by cheque, make payable to: Kawartha Conservation
Application requirements |
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Your application must include:
Additional application requirements can include the following, depending on the features present on your property:
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Wait times |
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Minor standard permit applications are reviewed within 14 days of being received. Your application will then be deemed "Complete" or "Incomplete". Once a minor application is deemed "Complete", a permit will be issued within 21 days. Major standard permit applications are reviewed within 21 days of being received. Your application will then be deemed "Complete or "Incomplete". Once a major application is deemed "Complete", a permit will be issued within 28 days. If your application has been deemed "Incomplete", we will contact you to let you know what information is missing.
Minor - An application is determined to be "Minor" where there is low risk of impact on a natural hazard or natural features and may include the review of technical reports/plans (e.g. Environmental Impact Study, Flood Plain Analysis, Stormwater Management Plan). Major - An application is determined to be "Major" where risk to natural hazard and natural features is high and the review of multiple technical reports/plans is required (e.g. Environmental Impact Study, Flood Plain Analysis, Stormwater Management Plan). |
Expiry |
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Standard minor permits are valid for two years after they are issued. Standard major permits are valid for up to five years after they are issued. |
Streamlined permit application
Certain projects are eligible for the streamlined application process. For a streamlined approval, you are required to submit a completed application along with one set of plans/drawings.
Apply for a streamlined permit
You can also complete our streamlined permit application form and submit it by email or drop it off at our office. Completed permit application forms can be dropped off at:
277 Kenrei (Park) Road
Lindsay, ON K9V 4R1
Eligibility |
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Only relatively minor projects qualify for a streamlined permit application. Examples include:
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Wait times |
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Streamlined permit applications are reviewed within 10 days of being received. Your application will then be deemed "Complete" or "Incomplete". Once a streamlined application is deemed "Complete", a permit will be issued within 14 days. If your application has been deemed "Incomplete", we will contact you to let you know what information is missing. |
Expiry |
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Streamlined permits expire one year after they are issued. |
Permits for Agricultural Activities
Do you need a permit for agricultural activities, like tile draining?
Yes, if the impacted property is in a regulated area, you will require a permit from Kawartha Conservation. Learn more about permits for agricultural work in our Agricultural Guide to Permits:
Fees
You must pay a fee for all permit applications.
Application fees vary based on the type of development proposed.
Payment is required prior to any permit approvals and can be paid by cheque, credit card, debit, cash or e-transfer.
Picking up your permit
All permits will be issued via email unless specified otherwise.
If you wish to pick up a paper copy of your permit please indicate this in your application. The owner or applicant listed on the permit application must come in and sign the permit. The owner or applicant will be provided with two copies of the permit, one for their own records, and one that can be submitted to the applicable Municipality's Building Department if a Building Permit is required.
Permits can be picked up from our office located at:
277 Kenrei (Park) Road
Lindsay, Ontario K9V 4R1
Erosion and sediment control
Erosion and sediment control is an important part of many of the permits issued by Kawartha Conservation. To find our more about some simple and effective ESC measures please go to our Erosion and Sediment Control page.
Regulation policies
You can find more information on Kawartha Conservation's permit policies in Chapter 4 of our Plan Review and Regulation Policies.
Frequently asked questions
| What is considered “development”? |
Development includes (but is not limited to) the following:
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| Do I need a permit from any other government institution? |
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If you need a permit from Kawartha Conservation, then you most likely will need a permit from your local municipality. You may also need a permit from Parks Canada if you are conducting any shoreline/in-water works along the Trent Severn Waterway. You may also need a permit from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).
It is your responsibility to determine all permit requirements before beginning work. |
| Why is my property regulated by Kawartha Conservation? |
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Kawartha Conservation regulates the following areas:
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| Do I need a permit when undertaking agricultural activities, like tile draining? |
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Yes, if the impacted property is in a regulated area, you will require a permit from Kawartha Conservation. Learn more about permits for agricultural work in our Agricultural Guide to Permits: |
| What should I do if I need help? |
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Please contact us if you have questions about permit application requirements, policies, etc. We can answer most questions via phone or email. We also offer free in-person pre-consultation meetings every Tuesday at our Administrative Centre in Lindsay. These meetings will help you through the permit process, our policies, and permit application requirements. |
| How do I find out what planning or permit restrictions may apply before buying a property? |
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Please submit a Property Information Request. We will review the property and identify what regulated features are present on the property (e.g. wetlands, watercourses, etc.). A letter will be sent to you with the information needed to get a permit and any restrictions that may apply. Please note that a Property Information Request is not a permit and is not authorization to start construction. |
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What kind of rules apply to building a boathouse? |
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All new or replacement boathouses within the flood plain must be no larger than 80 square metres and can only be a single-storey. The boathouse must also remain uninsulated and all electrical outlets must be raised above the flood plain. No plumbing or heating is permitted. |
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Do I need a permit to remove trees from my property? |
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A permit is only required if you need to excavate the roots of the tree(s) or the area where the tree(s) will be removed is wetland. Excavation of tree roots outside of Kawartha Conservation's Regulated Area does not require a permit. Property Mapping is available to help you determine if your property falls within a Regulated Area. |
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Do I need a permit to install a fence? |
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Usually, no permits are required to install a new fence. A permit may be required if there will be direct impacts to a watercourse or wetland. For example, you would like to install a fence directly through a wetland or across a watercourse. |
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I would like to restore/protect my shoreline, what is permitted? |
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Installation of sloped rock along shorelines is often the best option to stabilize soil and protect property, while maintaining and enhancing water quality and aquatic habitat. An example cross-section of a sloped rock wall can be seen below:
Vertical shoreline retaining walls (e.g., armour stone) are not permitted. Armour stone (or similar) can be installed upland, approximately 1 metre from the normal high-water mark, with sloped rock placed along the toe to act as the interface between land and water. An example of an acceptable armour stone / sloped rock shoreline retaining wall can be seen below: For more information check out our Erosion and Shoreline Protection webpage |
