Important Regulation Updates
Please Note: On February 16, 2024, the Province of Ontario approved O. Reg. 41/24: Regulation of Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits, under the Conservation Authorities Act. This regulation replaces O. Reg. 168/06: Development, Interference with Wetlands & Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses, effective April 1, 2024. The enactment of O. Reg. 41/24 will also coincide with the proclamation of associated sections within the Conservation Authorities Act.
Regulated Area
You may require a permit from the GRCA if you plan on doing any of the following work within the regulated area within the Authority’s jurisdiction:
- Construction, reconstruction, erection or placing of a building or structure of any kind;
- Changes that alter the use, or potential use, of a building or structure (i.e., commercial use to residential use, conversion of a garage to a habitable space)
- Increasing the size of a building or structure, or increasing the number of dwelling units in the building or structure (i.e. new apartment unit including basement apartments)
- Site grading
- Temporary or permanent placing, dumping or removal of any material (including, but not limited to fill, dirt, stone) originating on the site or elsewhere
- Straightening, changing, diverting or interfering with the existing channel of a river, creek, stream, or watercourse
- Changing or interfering with a wetland (including, but not limited to, fill in a wetland, dredging and grading)
GRCA reviews permit applications to ensure consistency with the Conservation Authorities Act (available from the Policies & Guidelines section).
Issuance of Permit
GRCA may require the issuance of a permit for projects in the Ganaraska River Watershed in the vicinity of a:
- Watercourse
- Floodplain
- Valley slope
- Wetland
- Shoreline of Lake Ontario
- Shoreline of Rice Lake
- Hazardous lands
Please see GRCA’s Mapping tool for information on our Regulated Areas.