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Regulations & Planning (30)
The Ottawa Septic System Office (OSSO) is a partnership of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, South Nation Conservation and the RVCA. The OSSO administers Part 8 (sewage systems) of the Ontario Building Code on behalf of the City of Ottawa.
The OSSO is responsible for reviewing septic designs and plans, issuing Building Permits for new and replacement sewage systems and inspections for installations to ensure compliance with approvals. Before building or renovating your home or cottage, contact the OSSO for application information.
For more information, visit the Ottawa Septic System Office www.ottawasepticsystemoffice.ca
Contact information:
phone: 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504
fax: 613-692-0831
Where to find us:
The Ottawa Septic System Office is located at the RVCA's Conservation Centre
Box 599, 3889 Rideau Valley Drive
(at the corner of Rideau Valley Drive and Prince of Wales Drive)
Manotick ON K4M 1A5
Hours:
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday
An applicant may also need approval from the RVCA for any construction or development work looking to take place in a regulated area in or near a river, stream, steep slope, wetland or shoreline. For more information, go to RVCA Permits - Section 28.
The RVCA and our member municipalities encourage pre-consultation in advance of submitting a formal Planning Act application. At a pre-consultation meeting, the applicant, the approval authority and the review agencies will discuss the proposal and the reports that may be necessary to support the application. The pre-consultation process assists the applicant in preparing a proposal that will meet the policies and submission requirements of the municipality, the RVCA and other agencies, potentially saving time and money.
A property inquiry/file search provides a written response to current property owners, potential buyers, lawyers, real estate professionals, etc with information including:
- Information and mapping on natural hazards and features such as floodplains, unstable slopes, shorelines, wetlands, etc.
- RVCA regulations and policies that apply to the property
- Information on previous approvals, outstanding orders and/or violations on the property
This file search response provides a formal record of the inquiry and offers valuable information to the client when making decisions to purchase, build on, re-grade or alter natural features on the site. In other cases, the file search response serves as official confirmation that the property is not affected by Authority policies and regulations, and provides the client with added peace of mind. RVCA staff cannot advise you on whether or not to purchase a property; we provide the facts to help you make an educated decision.
How to apply?
To apply for this service, please complete our Property File Search Form. A fee is charged to cover the cost of reviewing each individual site and a formal, written response is issued. Staff require at least two weeks to reply.
Services and Fees
Property Inquiry File Search — Compliance Letter | $280 |
Property Inquiry File Search — Compliance Letter with site inspection | $475 |
Property Inquiry File Search — Compliance Letter — Expedited Service (within five business days) | $545 |
Property Inquiry File Search — Compliance Letter — Expedited Service (within five business days) with site inspection | $740 |
For more details, contact us:
RVCA Resources Specialist
phone: 613.692.3571 or 1.800.267.3504
fax: 613.692.0831
Consultation Paused on Updated Wetland Mapping
Please be advised that the RVCA, SNC and RRCA are pausing consultation on updated wetland mapping. We appreciate the feedback and comments we have received to-date and support direction we received from the Ministry of Natural Resources giving us time to work on a local approach.
Over the coming months, the conservation authorities will work with ministry staff, municipalities and stakeholders to develop this local approach. Please note that this means that open houses and one-on-one meetings with property owners will be paused and rescheduled at a later date.
- CANCELLED – Open House on June 26 (RVCA Administrative Office, Manotick)
- CANCELLED – Open House on June 27 (SNC Administrative Office, Finch)
If you have any questions, please contact RVCA staff at 613-692-3571 or 1-800-267-3504 or by email at .
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) conserves and protects natural resources in the Rideau River valley for the benefit of everyone. The RVCA believes that sound land use and municipal planning is a critical part of protecting our land and water. It is also essential to preventing the loss of life and property damage due to flooding and erosion.
Note: As of April 1, 2024, a new Minister’s regulation (Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits) will replace the RVCA's existing Ontario Regulation 174/06 under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Moving forward, O. Reg. 41/24 will be used by all Conservation Authorities.
As part of this mandate, the RVCA continues to:
- Regulate construction in and along environmentally sensitive areas such as floodplains, steep slopes, wetlands, shorelines and waterways
- Review development proposals (municipal plan / Planning Act review) within or adjacent to natural areas
- Administer Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code on behalf of the City of Ottawa and Tay Valley Township by reviewing and issuing Building Permits for construction, enlargement and/or alteration of sewage disposal systems.
Our team of staff work towards clean water, natural shorelines and sustainable land use throughout the watershed.
If you are concerned about any work taking place near a lake, river, stream, floodplain, steep slope or wetland, please contact us. Send us details on the location (civic address, intersection, waterbody, lot and concession, municipality) and the type of work being done. Photos are always helpful. We can advise you if permits are required and/or in place and take appropriate steps to ensure any adverse impacts are addressed.
RVCA staff will review the application and discuss it with the applicant. Staff may suggest changes in the plan so it will comply with environmental rules and regulations. At the end of the review, recommendations will be sent to the municipality for its consideration in its decision.
This course is intended to assist design consultants (engineers, planners, environmental consultants, landscape architects, architects) and contractors to understand RVCA Regulations, our development policies, and our application process under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act.
Agenda items to include:
- Policy overview
- Shorelines and wetlands
- Soils and slopes
- Floodplain development and planning
- Septic systems in the floodplain
- The Section 28 application process
- Sediment and erosion control
- Enforcement
- Stewardship opportunities
DATE: Thursday, February 28, 2019
TIME: 9:00AM to 2:00PM
WHERE: RVCA Conservation Center, 3889 Rideau Valley Dr. N. Manotick, ON
Lunch included; please indicate any dietary restrictions on the registration form.
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 AT NOON.
Contact Megan Peacock or Matt Jokiel at to register with a completed registration form, or if you have questions.
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All regions of Ontario experience flooding, erosion and slope failures. These are naturally occurring processes that have been continuously shaping and reshaping the earth for thousands of years. These processes represent a "hazard" when people and structures are located within areas directly impacted by these naturally occurring processes.
The RVCA administers a regulation made under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act known as Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation.
Note: as of April 1, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits will replace the RVCA's existing Ontario Regulation 174/06 under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act.
This regulation allows RVCA to ensure that proposed developments have regard for natural features in order to:
- prevent loss of life;
- minimize property damage and social disruptions;
- reduce public and private expenditures related to emergency operations, evacuations and restoration;
- minimize the hazards associated with development in floodplains and areas which are susceptible to erosion, which in future years may require expensive protective measures.
The Mississippi Valley and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities administer Part 8 (Sewage systems approvals) of the Ontario Building Code on behalf of several watershed municipalities (listed below). This means your local conservation authority is responsible for reviewing septic designs and plans, issuing Building Permits for new and replacement sewage systems, and inspecting installations to ensure compliance with provincial regulations.
Learn more on how to submit your application by choosing the municipality where you are installing or replacing a Part 8 sewage system. Not listed below? Check with your municipality to learn about their septic approvals agent.
Who should you call for septic information?