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Revised Policies for Development Regulations

The CRCA has revised its policies for our development regulations. Click here to review the document.

New Fees in Effect May 1, 2012

Click on the links below to see our current fee schedules and application forms.

Got a Building Project?
Planning some work along your shoreline?

If you are planning to build or alter land (e.g. excavation, filling) near a wetland, watercourse or along a shoreline, you may require planning approval or a permit from the CRCA.

Call (613) 546-4228 or toll-free (in 613 area code) 1-877-956-CRCA to speak to one of our staff.

For planning applications, regulation permits or development inquiries:

  • call Andrew Schmidt, Development Review Manager at ext. 244 (municipalities of Greater Napanee and Loyalist)
  • call Michael Dakin, Resource Planner at ext. 228 (municipalities of Kingston, South Frontenac, Front of Yonge, Gananoque, Elizabethtown-Kitley and Brockville)
  • call Jason Messenger,  Resource Planner at ext. 286 (municipalities of Rideau Lakes, Athens and Leeds and the Thousand Islands)

For shoreline and in-water works (e.g. docks, shoreline retaining walls) and inquiries:

  • call Tom Beaubiah, Biologist at ext. 240 (all of the above mentioned areas)

A phone call could save you time and money.

Ontario Regulation 148/06

Click here to go to the Ontario government e-laws website to view this regulation.

Policies and Guidelines

Land Use Planning & Regulations

urban shoreline development
Our land use planning and regulations programs work hand-in-hand to ensure that development occurs outside of hazardous areas while minimizing impacts on our local natural resources.

Our planning services and regulation complement other CRCA resource management activities by:

  • directing development to areas that are not hazardous
  • maintaining natural features and ecological functions
  • protecting water quality and quantity.

Much of the information collected through mapping, resource inventories, and surveys and studies is used by the CRCA planning and regulations staff. In reviewing development proposals, our staff are also guided by provincial government policies as well as the CRCA Planning Policy adopted by the CRCA Board in 2005.

Our staff provide written comments to municipalities on applications made under the Planning Act. These applications include:

  • official plans and zoning by-law amendments
  • plans of subdivision and condominium
  • site plan control applications
  • severances
  • minor variances.

Each year, we review approximately 300 of these planning applications. Most applications require a property inspection to assess the many natural features we need to consider.

We also review and provide comments on municipal official plans and zoning by-laws, as well as other policies and by-laws that can affect the natural environment.

Our reviews identify potential natural hazards and natural resources such as floodplains, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, and shorelines. We strive to protect you from personal danger and property damage posed by natural hazards such as flooding and erosion, as well as conserving the area's natural resources.

The CRCA requires a fee for this service in order to recover our costs. Be aware that a delay in paying this fee can delay finalizing your application.

Before formally submitting your application to your municipality, we recommend that you consult with a CRCA planner in order to make the process as smooth as possible.

Regulations

The CRCA has in effect Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulations (Ontario Regulation 148/06) made under the Conservation Authorities Act. This regulation prevents or restricts development and site alterations near water and wetlands to protect you and the public from flooding, erosion and other hazards.

You may require a permit from the CRCA if your project is:

  • in the channel of a watercourse or drain, in a lake, pond or a wetland
  • within 15 m of a floodplain
  • within 50 m of the top of bank of a river, stream, lake or other watercourse
  • within 120 m of a provincially significant wetland
  • within 30 m of all other wetlands greater than 0.5 ha.

Activities requiring approval within regulated areas include:

  • construction, reconstruction or placing a building or structure of any kind
  • any change to a building or structure that changes its use, increases its size or increases the number of dwelling units
  • grading of the site
  • temporary or permanent placing, dumping or removal of material originating on site or elsewhere
  • alteration to watercourses (including municipal drains); bridges, culverts and other infrastructure; and channel and shoreline alterations
  • all works in the water, e.g. docks, boathouses, dredging, etc.

Filling, construction or alteration of floodplains, wetlands, shorelines and waterbodies can result in increased upstream or downstream flooding, reduced water quality, destruction of fish and wildlife habitat or other environmental problems. When considering whether to grant a permit under these regulations, the CRCA considers not only the individual application, but also the long-term impacts within the watershed.

Fish Habitat Protection

As part of our review of planning applications and regulation permit applications, we also review proposals for possible fish habitat concerns and recommend ways to protect fish habitat. Typically these proposals involve docks, shore wells, dredging, culverts and shore stablilization.

The CRCA works with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to implement the federal Fisheries Act. Under this legislation, it is an offence to harmfully alter, disrupt or destroy fish habitat (this is known as a HADD) without prior written authorization.

If projects are designed and constructed properly, damage to fish habitat can be avoided. If a proposal that we review could result in a HADD, it is referred directly to DFO for additional review. After considering potential options for the project, DFO will either authorize or refuse the work.

Timing of construction is also a consideration. Construction is not allowed during fish spawning season. This is different throughout the Cataraqui Region depending on fish species present and whether the waterbody is considered to be warm water or cold water. Generally in-water work is restricted during:

  • March 15 to July 1 for warm water lakes, streams and rivers
  • October 1 to June 30 for cold water lakes, streams and rivers
  • September 15 to June 30 for Lake Ontario.

For further information about in-water works and fish habitat protection, please call Tom Beaubiah at (613) 546-4228 ext. 240 or toll-free (in 613 area code) 1-877-956-CRCA ext. 240.

For more detailed information about why we consider wetlands, floodplains, waterbodies, erosion, steep slopes and fish habitat to be important click here.

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Contact Us:
P.O. Box 160, Glenburnie, Ontario, Canada K0H 1S0
Telephone: (613) 546-4228
E-mail: crca@cataraquiregion.on.ca

©2012 Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority