TRCA’s Role in
Project Compliance Review Applications*
*Formerly known as Voluntary Project Review (VPR)
Federal or provincial Crown ministries, agencies, or corporations are exempt from obtaining a permit under the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24.
Notwithstanding, prior to commencing construction in the Regulated Area, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) recommends that the proponent apply for a TRCA Project Compliance Review (TPCR).
In the TPCR process, TRCA will review the project and confirm, in accordance with the Conservation Authorities Act and its regulations, that in TRCA’s opinion the activity is:
- Not likely to affect the control of flooding, erosion, dynamic beaches, or unstable soil or bedrock.
- Not likely to create conditions or circumstances that, in the event of a natural hazard, might jeopardize the health or safety of persons or result in the damage or destruction of property.
TRCA follows the same review process and requires the same technical submission information as required for a TRCA permit application.
Once satisfied that the application has met the regulatory requirements, TRCA will issue a TRCA Project Compliance Review Letter.
Additional information about submitting your application and the TPCR process can be found below in How to Submit to TRCA: TPCR Applications.
How it Works
Is My Project Regulated?
Prior to applying for a TPCR, it is recommended that clients determine if their project is regulated. We recommend you ask TRCA to assess your site or provide submission information.
Pre-Application Consultation Meeting
To avoid delays in the review process, TRCA strongly encourages applicants engage in pre-application consultation.
A pre-application consultation meeting before you apply will help:
- Identify how your proposal is affected by applicable programs and policies.
- Identify potential issues, constraints, and study requirements.
- Direct you to the correct TRCA application process.
- Inform you of what lies ahead in the application review process.
- Determine complete application submission requirements.
- Determine the limits of regulated natural hazards and features through certain studies and/or a site visit, if required.
To submit your application, please refer to: Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Meeting.
Concept Review
The concept review service allows TRCA staff to review your proposal:
- Conduct a site visit
- Review preliminary proposals
- Confirm or provide information on the delineation of natural hazard limits
- Based on applicable policies, provide preliminary comments on your proposal
To submit your application, please refer to: Concept Review.
If the TPCR Application is for an Emergency Situation
At TRCA, Emergency Infrastructure Works are defined as situations where there is deemed an imminent threat of injury to persons, loss of life or loss of property, and are unexpected occurrences.
The TRCA Emergency Infrastructure Works permit allows proponents and agencies to maintain existing infrastructures that are at risk of failure, or there are public safety concerns.
Applicants will be asked to confirm if their TPCR application is an emergency. If yes, they will further be requested to define the level of risk as:
- Failure: Infrastructure has failed and resulting response is immediate; works may proceed in advance of TRCA Emergency Infrastructure Works permit. Note: If work proceeds in advance, a permit is still required. TRCA expedited administrative review fees apply.
- Urgent: Infrastructure failure is imminent, and structural soundness is questionable; response is immediate, and on-site planning is implemented. TRCA Emergency Infrastructure Works permit to be obtained prior to construction. TRCA expedited administrative review fees apply.
- Critical: Infrastructure is exposed but structurally sound; repairs are planned within one year or sooner. TRCA Emergency Infrastructure Works permit to be obtained prior to construction. TRCA expedited administrative review fees may apply.
To submit your application, please refer to: Emergency Infrastructure Works Permit Applications.
Revising a TPCR
Revisions must comply with the original TPCR conditions and current technical hazard policies.
Revisions should be minor in nature as significant changes may trigger additional assessments and require a new application.
To submit your application, please refer to: TPCR Revision Requests.
How to Submit to TRCA:
TRCA Project Compliance Review Applications
Instructions
These instructions are intended to complement
TRCA’s Role in TPCR Applications.
Submit to TRCA
- All TRCA Project Compliance Review (TPCR) applications must be submitted through the TRCA Application Portal. As part of this process, applicants will be asked to confirm proponent and consultant contact details.
- If you have not yet created an account, you can learn more about the portal and follow the instructions provided HERE.
- Once you have created your account, follow the instructions to APPLY ONLINE.
- If your application is currently under review by TRCA staff, it is already available online. Once you have created your account (above), log in to the portal. You will be able to view the status of your application on your personal dashboard. Note: If you cannot see your application, reach out to your planner and they can assist.
- Required documents must be uploaded at the time of application and TRCA’s Approved Document Names and File Conventions for all TRCA Online Application submissions must be followed.
- Administrative review fee: Once your application is received, your TRCA planner will review its complexity, determine the fee, and send you an invoice.
Applications are based on type.
To apply, click on the appropriate button:
| Application Type | Includes | TRCA Online Application Link |
|---|---|---|
|
TRCA Project Compliance Review (TPCR)
|
Government agencies and corporations exempt from conservation authority permitting can request that TRCA review a project and issue a letter documenting that regulatory review requirements have been addressed. | APPLY NOW |
Submission Requirements
- Include the following with your application:
- Contact information, including property owner and consultant details (additional information is available HERE)
- Context map (Required)
- Agent Authorization form, submitted by the owner or authorized signing officer, for the agent to act on the client’s behalf (if applicable). Note that one form is required per authorized agent.
- Landowner Authorization form, submitted by the proponent/authorized agent confirming land ownership details. (Required)
- File reference number and TRCA planner’s name for any infrastructure inquiry, pre-application consultation or concept review application made in relation to this project.
- Covering letter, which outlines the proposal, submission contents, contact names and describes how any TRCA comments made related to an infrastructure inquiry, pre-application consultation or concept review application have been addressed.
- Plans/drawings and technical reports:
- Design drawings depicting:
- Existing and proposed structures or alterations to structures.
- Site features, including flood plains, wetlands, watercourses, top of bank and toe of slope, etc. and proposed areas (or details) of disturbance. Note that the project design and implementation must minimize impacts to natural hazards.
- Construction details, including:
- Site access, staging, and storage areas
- Construction phasing and sequencing plan
- Erosion and sediment controls designed in accordance with the Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines for Urban Construction and appropriate Standard Environmental Notes.
- Site stabilization plan
- Site restoration plan detailing restoration/site stabilization
- Any additional items as per e and f, above
- Permission to Enter TRCA-Owned Lands applications, if applicable, should be submitted through the TRCA Application Portal, including a TRCA archaeological review application.
- Prior to submitting your TRCA Project Compliance Review (TPCR) application, we recommend you make an infrastructure inquiry and request a pre-application consultation meeting with TRCA staff to review requirements and ensure submission materials are scoped to the TRCA areas of interest. If you have already conducted this review and meeting, please include the TRCA file reference numbers, together with all identified plans or studies following the Resources for Applicants: Policies, Guidelines and Checklists.
- TRCA has select digital data available through its Open Data Portal that can be used to develop the technical drawings and reports that support development of the TPCR application.
- Upon request, TRCA can provide additional data for areas of interest not available on the web. Please email your request to infrastructureplanningpermits@trca.ca. TRCA may charge an administration fee for the compilation of this additional data.
- If you need extra time to prepare information, you can save your application as draft at any time in the process. When you are ready to complete the application, re-open your draft application and complete the final steps.
- The required TRCA administrative review fee will be confirmed by your planner once the application is submitted and an invoice will be sent.
- Resubmission requirements: If TRCA advises that additional information is required, materials must be submitted online:
- The Applicant (or Lead Contact) should be responsible for managing the application.
- All resubmission materials must be uploaded at the same time.
- Once a submission is made, the system will change the application status to “awaiting review” and no additional information can be uploaded.
- Additional instructions are provided HERE.
- Additional information is available at: TRCA Application Portal: Frequently Asked Questions.
Receipt by TRCA
- Once the application is submitted, a TRCA planner will be assigned to your project.
- Your planner will:
- Guide you through the review process.
- Be responsible for all communications with applicants and consultants, including the coordination of meetings and site visits, and obtaining information from TRCA technical staff.
- Ensure that legislation, regulation, and policy obligations are implemented.
- Ensure technical review comments are cohesive and integrated.
- You should expect confirmation from your planner within two (2) business days of application receipt.
TRCA Application Review
- The TRCA planner will review the complexity of the application, determine the administrative review fee, and send an invoice.
- The TRCA planner will circulate the application to TRCA technical staff for review.
- The TRCA planner will work directly with the applicant to clarify submitted information and comments.
- The TRCA planner will identify if a meeting or site visit is required to clarify comments or responses:
- An agenda is required for these meetings.
- Meetings are generally held between the proponent or consultant and the TRCA planner only:
- At their discretion, the TRCA planner may also invite TRCA technical review staff to the meeting. The agenda is used by the planner to inform this decision.
- The TRCA planner will then advise the applicant if they should also bring their technical team to the meeting.
- Meetings are generally 30 minutes in length but may be extended depending on the scope of the agenda.
- Meetings generally occur between 2 and 15 business days of receipt of request, depending on the scope of the agenda.
- All meetings are generally conducted in a virtual environment.
- The TRCA planner will ensure timelines are met in accordance with prescribed standards, including those provided by the province as well as negotiated service level agreements with identified partners. Application review status is tracked in real time in the TRCA Application Portal.
Application Status and TRCA Communications
- Application Status is visible to the registered contacts for a particular application. It can be found on the application dashboard, located on the menu bar of your homepage.
- On the dashboard, applicants will be able to see the name of the planner working on your file (“Assigned to”), all documents submitted for review, file status, fee balance and payment link, the project description, and a Client Access tab.
- All TRCA communications will be available in the Client Access tab. The client will be notified via email when there is new information available for download.
- For proponent-led meetings, depending on the scope of the agenda, it is generally only the TRCA planner who will attend.
TPCR Letter Issuance
TRCA planning staff will issue a TPCR letter once they have confirmed that the tests under the Conservation Authorities Act and associated regulations are satisfied.
Need More Information Before You Apply?
Click on the links below for additional information:
For All Applicants
- Government of Ontario: Permits under the Conservation Authorities Act
- How to Submit to TRCA:
- Learn More About:
- Resources for Applicants: Policies, Guidelines and Checklists
- TRCA Administrative Review Fees
- Regulation, Permits and Planning Act Review: Frequently Asked Questions
- TRCA Application Portal: Frequently Asked Questions
For Infrastructure Builders
- How to Submit to TRCA:
- Learn More About:
- Infrastructure Planning and Permits
- Municipal Infrastructure Project Review
- Provincial and Federal Infrastructure Project Review
- Oil, Gas and Utility Infrastructure Project Review
- TRCA’s Service Level Agreements with Infrastructure Partners
- Permission to Enter TRCA-Owned Land and Request for TRCA Archaeological Review
- Telecommunication Tower Project Inquiries
For additional information, see Quick Links for Infrastructure Proponents and Consultants.
If you have any questions about the Infrastructure Planning and Permitting review services, please email infrastructureplanningpermits@trca.ca.
Please note that it is the responsibility of the proponent to undertake due diligence to determine all required planning and permitting approvals.