TRCA Permit Applications

Prior to applying for a permit, it is recommended that clients determine if their project is regulated. We recommend you ask TRCA to assess your site or provide submission information.

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.

To submit your application, please refer to: Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Meeting.

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.

The TRCA Emergency Infrastructure Works permit allows proponents and agencies to maintain existing infrastructure that is at risk of failure, or where there are public safety concerns.

To submit your application, please refer to: Emergency Infrastructure Works Permit Applications.

Revisions must comply with the original permit conditions and current technical hazard policies.

Note that any significant changes may trigger additional assessments and require a new application.

To submit your application, please refer to: Permit Revision Requests.

All permits are issued for a standard two (2) years. Under the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24, upon request the initial permit issuance period can be extended to a total of five (5) years from initial issuance.

These requests are subject to administrative review fees, and extensions beyond five years require a new permit. Applicants must apply for a permit extension at least 60 days prior to the expiration of a permit.

To submit your application, please refer to: Permit Extension Requests.

1. All permit 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.
2. If you have not yet created an account, you can learn more about the portal and follow the instructions provided HERE.
3. Once you have created your account, follow the instructions to APPLY ONLINE.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 scale and type.
To apply, click on the appropriate button:

1. Include the following with your application:
Homeowners
1. Contact information, including property owner and consultant details. (Additional information is available HERE.)
2. Lot survey (Required)
   Note: Topographical information may be required. Pre-application consultation is recommended to confirm
3. Site plan (Required)
4. Agent Authorization form, submitted by the owner/proponent to allow agents and consultants to act on the client’s behalf (If applicable)
5. Plans/drawings and technical reports
6. Specific submission requirements are provided in the following links:
• Building a New Home
• Replacing an Existing Home
• Home Additions
• Non-Habitable Accessory Buildings or Structures, and Landscaping
Landowners and Developers
1. Contact information, including property owner and consultant details. (Additional information is available HERE.)
2. Legal survey (Required)
3. Site plan (Required)
4. Agent Authorization form, submitted by the landowner to allow agents and consultants to act on the client’s behalf (If applicable)
5. File reference number and TRCA planner’s name for any property inquiry, pre-application consultation or concept review application made in relation to this project
6. Covering letter, which outlines the proposal, submission contents, contact names and describes how any TRCA comments made related to a property inquiry, pre-application consultation or concept review application have been addressed.
7. Plans/drawings and technical reports:
• Design drawings depicting:
1. Existing and proposed structures or alterations to structures.
2. 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.
3. Construction details, including:
1. Site access, staging, and storage areas.
2. 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
8. Any additional items as per e and f, above.
Infrastructure Proponents and Consultants
1. Contact information, including property owner and consultant details. (Additional information is available HERE.)
2. Context map (Required)
3. Agent Authorization form, submitted by the owner/proponent to allow agents and consultants to act on the client’s behalf (If applicable. Note that one form is required per authorized agent.)
4. Landowner Authorization form, submitted by the proponent/authorized agent confirming land ownership details (Required)
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Plans/drawings and technical reports:
• Design drawings depicting:
1. Existing and proposed structures or alterations to structures.
2. 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.
3. Construction details, including:
1. Site access, staging, and storage areas.
2. 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.
8. Any additional items as per e and f, above.
9. Permission to Enter TRCA-Owned Lands Applications, if applicable, should be submitted through the TRCA Application Portal, including a TRCA archaeological review application.
2. Prior to submitting your TRCA Permit 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.
3. TRCA has select digital data available through its Open Data Portal that can be used to supplement the existing conditions analysis in the development of the permit application.
4. Upon request, TRCA can provide additional data for areas of interest not available on the web. If your project is related to a Development Planning and Permitting permit application, please email your request to developmentplanningpermits@trca.ca. If your project is related to an Infrastructure Planning and Permitting permit application, please email your request to infrastructureplanningpermits@trca.ca. TRCA may charge an administration fee for the compilation of this additional data.
5. 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.
6. The required TRCA administrative review fee will be confirmed by your planner once the application is submitted and an invoice will be sent.
7. Resubmission requirements: If TRCA advises that additional information is required, materials must be submitted online:
1. The Applicant (or Lead Contact) should be responsible for managing the application.
2. All resubmission materials must be uploaded at the same time.
3. Once a submission is made, the system will change the application status to “awaiting review” and no additional information can be uploaded.
4. Additional instructions are provided HERE.
8. Additional information is available at: TRCA Application Portal: Frequently Asked Questions.

1. Once the application is submitted, a TRCA planner will be assigned to your project.
2. Your planner will:
1. Guide you through the review process.
2. Be responsible for all communications with applicants and consultants, including the coordination of meetings and site visits, and obtaining information from TRCA technical staff.
3. Ensure that legislation, regulation, and policy obligations are implemented.
4. Ensure technical review comments are cohesive and integrated.
3. You should expect confirmation from your planner within two (2) business days of application receipt.

1. The TRCA planner will review the complexity of the application, determine the administrative review fee, and send an invoice.
2. Once the fee is received, the TRCA planner will determine application completeness within 21 days of receipt and advise if any additional information is required, (e.g., drawings, reports, or fees).
3. Upon receipt of a complete application, the submitted materials will be circulated to TRCA technical staff for review and sign-off. To avoid delays, pre-application consultation or concept review is recommended.
4. The TRCA planner will work directly with the applicant to clarify submitted information and comments.
5. The TRCA planner will identify if a meeting or site visit is required to clarify comments or responses:
1. An agenda is required for these meetings.
2. 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.
3. Meetings are generally 30 minutes in length but may be extended depending on the scope of the agenda.
4. Meetings generally occur between 2 and 15 business days of receipt of request, depending on the scope of the agenda.
5. All meetings are generally conducted in a virtual environment.
6. The TRCA planner will ensure timelines are met in accordance with prescribed standards. Application review status is tracked in real time in the TRCA Application Portal.

1. Application status is visible on the TRCA Application Portal to the registered contacts for a particular application. It can be found on the application dashboard, located on the menu bar of your homepage.
2. 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.
3. 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.

1. TRCA planning staff have delegated responsibilities to approve most permit applications once they have confirmed that the tests under the Conservation Authorities Act and associated regulations are met. Requirements are outlined on the Government of Ontario – Permits under the Conservation Authorities Act webpage.
2. For complex applications and those associated with Minister’s Zoning Orders, it is TRCA standard practice that approval from the TRCA Executive Committee is required.

• Government of Ontario: Permits under the Conservation Authorities Act
• How to Submit to TRCA:
• Permit Revision Requests
• Permit Extension Requests
• Learn More About:
• TRCA Planning and Permits
• The Role of a TRCA Planner
• 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

• Learn More About:
• Development Planning and Permits
• Permits for Homeowners
• Planning Act Review and Permits for Landowners and Developers
• Institutional, Private, and Partially Private Infrastructure Project Review

• How to Submit to TRCA:
• Hydro One Networks Inc. (HONI) Project Applications
• Emergency Infrastructure Works Permit Applications
• Learn More About:
• Infrastructure Planning and Permits
• Who is Responsible for Infrastructure Project Review at TRCA
• Municipal Infrastructure Project Review
• Provincial and Federal Infrastructure Project Review
• Institutional, Private, and Partially Private Infrastructure Project Review
• Oil, Gas and Utility Infrastructure Project Review
• TRCA’s Service Level Agreements with Infrastructure Partners
• Permission to Enter TRCA-Owned Lands and Request for TRCA Archaeological Review
• Telecommunication Tower Project Inquiries