Planning & Development

Please visit the ‘Map your Property’ tool  and review our policies and guidelines for more information about activities that may be permitted in or near regulated areas. 

If you have more questions, please fill out a General Inquiry Form (86KB PDF) and email general planning inquiries to the Planning Inbox or inquiries about potential permits to the Permits Inbox. Both inboxes are monitored by a number of staff so the appropriate staff member will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

We have the responsibility under the Conservation Authorities Act to regulate development in and near rivers, streams, floodplains, wetlands, steep slopes and the Lake Erie shoreline.

Under the Conservation Authorities Act, development means: 

• The construction, reconstruction, erection or placing of a building or structure of any kind,
• Any change to a building or structure that would have the effect of altering the use or potential use of the building or structure,
• Increasing the size of a building or structure or increasing the number of dwelling units in the building or structure,
• Site grading, or 
• The temporary or permanent placing, dumping or removal of any material, originating on the site or elsewhere.

Anyone considering a project in the regulated area may need a GRCA permit. For more information, check the Permits section of our website or fill in a General Inquiry Form (86KB PDF) and email it to the Permits Inbox.

Under the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24, GRCA must notify an applicant on whether their permit application has been deemed complete within 21 days of receiving the application, fee and any required plans/reports. A decision on the approval of the permit should be made by GRCA within 90 days.

To receive a formal letter summarizing any GRCA regulated features on a property, email a Title Clearance or Real Estate request to the Permits Inbox. A fee of $255 is required. Please submit a cheque payable to Grand River Conservation Authority with your mailed request or call Sara Acton-Hammill at 519-621-2763 extension 2320 to pay over the phone. Please allow up to 10 business days for a response.

The GRCA may issue violations if they become aware of development occurring against regulations. If you wish to submit a complaint or have questions about regulatory restrictions on a property, please email the Permits Inbox. Please include as much detail as possible, including the address or location of the works.

You can also submit a complaint about development within or near GRCA regulated areas through the Complaints page. 

We provide environmental advice to municipalities on applications made under the Planning Act.  

This includes applications for severances, official plan amendments, plans of subdivision and others (for example zone changes in support of Aggregate Resource Act applications).

We review technical reports and plans, and provide advice to municipalities who make the land use planning decision under the Planning Act.

For more information, go to the Plan Review section of the website.

Please see the 2023 - 2025 Fee Schedule (514 KB PDF) for a listing of permit, plan review and inquiry fees.