Enforcement

Enforcement and Environmental Compliance

A principal mandate of the Conservation Authority is to protect life and property from natural hazards such as flooding and erosion. Our Compliance activities play a pivotal role in achieving this goal by ensuring the requirements of the Conservation Authorities Act and Regulation 41/24 are enforced.

Our Compliance Officers are designated under the Conservation Authorities Act for the purpose of enforcing Section 28 of the Act as Provincial Offences Officers. They inspect, investigate and report on complaints of non-compliant development activities within the Lake Simcoe watershed. They also inspect and ensure compliance of the terms and conditions of permits that have been issued.

Our Compliance Officers:

provide information and education regarding the regulations and development restrictions within the watershed;
inspect and investigate potential violation sites;
ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of permits we’ve issued
resolve minor infractions through cooperation with landowners;
follow up on mitigation measures outlined in issued permits.

If you believe development (site grading, construction or re-construction of a building or structure, placement or removal of fill, change of use of a building or structure) is being carried out in a regulated area without appropriate approvals, please complete the form below to confidentially report your concerns so that our Officers can assess the situation and act accordingly.

Note the online form is NOT for conservation area complaints.

Request an Investigation

Before submitting your complaint, please read and acknowledge you understand the following:

Once you submit your complaint, you will not hear from us unless we have additional questions. Please do not ask us for the status of your complaint. Active investigations are subject to privacy legislation and cannot be shared.

We do not respond to the following complaints:

Wildlife in distress or activities that are disturbing wildlife. If you believe an animal is in distress, call 1-833-9-ANIMAL or your local municipal animal control office.

Developments or subdivisions proposed. If you have complaints about a subdivision or development being proposed, contact your local municipality.

Spills: If you believe a spill has occurred and is contaminating the environment, call the Spills Hotline at 1-866-MOE-TIPS (663-8477) – 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Trees being cut down. Tree cutting is subject to municipal by-laws, which means you need to contact your municipality. The only time tree cutting would be within our jurisdiction is if it’s within a wetland area.

Garbage dumping, noise complaints, property standards or septic concerns: Contact your local municipality.

Neighbour’s actions impacting drainage on your property. Please raise the concern respectfully with your neighbour. This is a civil matter over which we have no jurisdiction.

I have read the above and would still like to submit a complaint.

Retroactive Application Fees

Please note that as per our fee policy, the retroactive permit fee starts at the base fee + 25% and increases by 25% per month thereafter to a maximum of double the base fee.

Retroactive approvals may be issued if the development complies with policy. In scenarios where development can not be supported, retroactive approvals are required for the removal or restoration of the area.

Who to Contact