Permits & Regulations

Recognizing that urbanization occurs within some limits and is ultimately limited by the capacity of the natural environment, our goal is to foster and consistently apply watershed development guidelines which protect the environmental integrity of our watershed. 

Note: On April 1, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24 (Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits) and Part VI of the Conservation Authorities Act will come into effect. 

This regulation replaces the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authorities previous “Regulation of Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses” regulation.   

The proclamation of the new legislative and regulatory framework necessitates updates to existing Conservation Authority policies and procedures, including the Ontario Regulation 179/06 Implementation Guidelines.    

As of April 1, 2024, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority will review and make decisions on applications for permits in accordance with Part VI of the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24. Amendments to the Implementation Guidelines will be forthcoming to reflect this new framework. Per section 12 of O. Reg. 41/24, the Authority will consult with stakeholders and the public during the review and update process as the authority considers advisable. Where discrepancies exist between the text of the legislation or regulation and the information provided within the Implementation Guidelines, the text of the legislation and regulation will prevail.   

Regulation Implementation Guidelines 

These Regulation Implementation Guidelines (formerly Watershed Development Guidelines) have been developed to help enhance consistency and administrative decision-making for the implementation of Conservation Authorities Act and Regulation.  

These Guidelines provide general approaches to the processing of applications. They are the operating principles or the general norm for the implementation of the Regulation. 

Please note, the Lake Simcoe Region Board of Directors approved the changes to our Implementation Guidelines on June 21, 2024. These changes are to reflect the implementation of Ontario Regulation 41/24 that came into effect on April 1, 2024.  

Implementation Guidelines  

Permit Application Hearing Guidelines 

The Conservation Authorities Act requires the applicant be party to a hearing by the local Conservation Authority Board, for an application to be refused or approved with conditions. Further, where staff are recommending that a permit be revoked a hearing will be held to provide the applicant with the opportunity to show cause why the permit should not be cancelled.  

Download the Permit Application Hearing Guidelines

In accordance with the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority regulates areas where development could be subject to flooding, erosion, unstable soils or bedrock, and where interference with wetlands and alterations to shorelines and watercourses might adversely affect those features. Any development within the Regulated Area may require a permit from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. 

We have updated our mapping as part of Provincial-led consultation on the updated changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24. You can view these changes online here (https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2927). 

The main update is the reduction in the regulated area around all wetlands. Additionally, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority retained Baird & Associates company in December, 2021 to undertake a review and update of our Shoreline Hazard limits. Advances in technology have allowed a more accurate depiction of the shoreline flooding and erosion hazards. The completion of this study coincides with the updated Act and release of Ontario Regulation 41/24 and is being consulted on as part of our overall Regulation limit update. The final report can be found here. 

You can use the search tool below to determine if your property is within a regulated area and to view the current vs. the updated regulation limits. Inquiries and/or comments can be sent to regulationupdates@lsrca.on.ca. 

Note that in the event of a conflict between the mapping and the regulated features that the description of the areas where the development activity is prohibited prevails. The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority uses the ‘best available information’ for decision making. 

Regulation Area Property Search 

Search for properties using our Interactive Regulation Mapviewer.