Apply for a Permit

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. partially blocked culvert

Before submitting a permit application, you may want to book a pre-consultation meeting with one of our staff or submit a property information request. 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.

Apply for a standard permit

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

Application requirements

Your application must include:

A copy of the deed or tax bill to prove ownership
A registered plan/survey (if available)
Location map showing nearest intersections (e.g. Google map)
Detailed letter/report describing the proposal
Volume and origin of any fill material from an off-site source for septic systems, driveways, foundations, etc.
One set of plans/drawings (paper copies must be no larger than 11" x 17")
Signed letter of authorization from the owner to applicant (if applicant is not owner)
Statement of agreement from any persons sharing right-of-ways, easements, etc. (if applicable)
Colour photographs of entire shoreline taken in summer (if shoreline works or boathouse proposed)
Sediment and erosion control proposal (for infrastructure, commercial/industrial/multi-residential)

Wait times

Standard permit applications are reviewed within 14 days of being received. Your application will then be deemed "Complete" or "Incomplete".

If your application has been deemed "Incomplete" then we will contact you to let you know what information is missing.

A permit will be issued within 21 days from the date your application has been deemed "Complete".

Expiry

Standard permits expire two 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

Only relatively minor projects qualify for a streamlined permit application. Examples include:

Construction of non-habitable accessory buildings or structures that are less than 46.5 square metres in size, located outside of any wetland
Installation of swimming pools, located outside of any wetland and/or flooding hazard
Construction of unenclosed decks, patios
Construction of single residential docks where fill placement, excavation and/or grade modifications are required
Roadside ditch maintenance
Routine maintenance and/or repair of public/private infrastructure
Culvert replacements of the same length and diameter
Fill placement, excavation, and/or grade modifications with volume not exceeding 20 cubic metres outside of any wetland or watercourse
Maintenance of existing dug-out or isolated ponds

Wait times

Streamlined permit applications are usually reviewed and a permit is issued within 14 days of being received. If any information is missing, then we will contact you.

Expiry

Streamlined permits expire one year after they are issued

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

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:

Fill placement, grade modifications and/or excavation. Fill includes sand, gravel, soil, rock, etc.
Construction or demolition of a structure (e.g. house, garage, shed, storage building, etc.) or additions to existing structures
Shoreline works, including installation of a new stone wall
Installation of utilities, such as natural gas pipelines, waterlines, etc.
Construction of a deck or gazebo
Installation or replacement of culverts, bridges, water control structures, etc.
Realignment or channelization of any waterway
Dredging of any waterway
Creation or removal of ponds

Do I need a permit from any other government institution?

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 permitting requirements before beginning work.

Why is my property regulated by Kawartha Conservation?

Kawartha Conservation regulates the following areas:

River or stream valleys (including lakes);
Wetlands and buffers (“Areas of Interference”) surrounding wetlands;
Hazardous lands (including flooding and erosion hazard areas, and unstable soil or bedrock); and
Rivers, creeks, streams or watercourses.

What should I do if I need help?

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 permitting process, our policies, and permit application requirements.

How do I find out what planning or permitting restrictions may apply before buying a property?

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 permission to start construction.

What kind of rules apply to building a boathouse?

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.

Do I need a permit to remove trees from my property?

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.

Do I need a permit to install a fence?

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.

I would like to restore/protect my shoreline, what is permitted?

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:

Example sloped rock cross-section

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:

Example armour stone with sloped rock cross-section

For more information check out our Erosion and Shoreline Protection webpage