Regulations & Planning (30)
The applications reviewed by the RVCA include:
- plans of subdivision and condominium
- severances
- minor variances
- comprehensive zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments
- official plans and official plan amendments
- site plans
- lifting of reserves
The RVCA also participates on technical advisory committees that oversee the preparation of broader planning studies such as community design plans, master servicing studies, environmental management plans and environmental assessments. We also review applications and provide advice on applications that are submitted under the Aggregate Resources Act.
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.
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.
To make a Section 28 application:
- Contact the RVCA while you are in the early stages of planning your project. It will save you time and keep your schedule on track. Your first step is to determine if you require Conservation Authority approval. E-mail us at or speak to an RVCA Resource Specialist at 613-692-3571 || 1-800-267-3504 (extension 1193 or 1132). They will confirm that you need a permit and provide you with the preliminary information you will require to submit an application.
- Download and complete the RVCA Application for Development (includes Minimum Application Requirements). You may also contact a Resource Specialist for a paper copy or visit our office to pick up a copy.
- Refer to the Application Fee Schedule to determine the category of works and the application type. Forward your permit application form and other required information including plans drawn to scale, a survey, elevation information, etc. Please see the RVCA's Application for Development for a complete checklist. The application fee is paid at the time of filing the application with the RVCA.
Click here for a full list of forms, fees and resources.
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. Our online mapping tool has been updated to reflect the new regulation.
Need more help?
Complete and submit our General Property Inquiry Form to receive a map showing the mapped hazard (floodplain, unstable slope, wetland) or natural feature, 1:100 year flood elevations if applicable and available, links to general information, regulators and policies. Please allow for 24 hour response time for General Property Inquiries.
If you require formal written response to legal, real estate and related financial inquiries or require a review of historical files for specific project/proposals or technical review, you must request a Property File Search.
Our work in regulating lands has several major components.
1. Regulation Permits
We ensure that development proposals have regard for natural hazard features and the natural environment while conforming with our watershed development policies. We are authorized under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act. Learn more >>
2. Municipal Plan Review
We are responsible for representing the provincial interests with respect to natural hazards (examples include flooding, erosion and unstable ground) and natural features on applications circulated under the Planning Act. We are responsible for providing advice on the interpretation of the Provincial Policy Statement. We also have agreements with the City of Ottawa and Counties in the watershed to provide comments on natural heritage features, which include significant woodlands, wetlands, environmentally sensitive areas, fish habitat, as well as rare, threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Learn more >>
3. Board Approved Development Policies
The goal is to foster and consistently apply the development policies and guidelines that protect the environmental integrity of our watershed. Recognizing that development and changes occur within some limits and is ultimately limited by the capacity of the watershed environment is key.
4. Septic System Approvals and Re-inspections
We provide septic system approvals and re-inspection program in interested municipalities. Our role is to ensure septic systems are built property for the benefit of the homeowner and the environment. We enforce the rules and regulations defined by the Ontario Building Code. Learn more >> Ottawa Septic System Office
Learn more >> Mississippi Valley Septic System Office
5. Technical Assistance
RVCA engineering and technical staff may also provide comments on water management and natural hazard aspects of planning and regulatory applications depending on the complexity of the application.
They are also involved in preparing subwatershed reports, remedial strategies and stormwater management strategies and the design of capital work projects and major floodplain engineering studies.
Key areas of expertise include: hydraulics and hydrology, plan input and review, environmental regulations, data collection and computer modeling, remediation and restoration techniques for the natural environment, project design, tendering and supervision.
6. Stewardship
Our stewardship programs provide technical and financial assistance to support private landowners who undertake environmental projects that are designed to improve surface and groundwater quality, reduce soil erosion, enhance wildlife and more. Learn more >>
7. Flood Forecasting and Flood Control
RVCA is responsible for issuing flood warnings to help reduce flood damages. We do this by monitoring weather conditions and river flows issuing flood messages (advisories and warnings) to a variety of public service agencies through the media and this website controlling development in flood-prone areas to reduce potential property damages. Learn more >>
If you are planning to do any work near a lake, river, stream, floodplain, steep slope or wetland, you may require approval from the RVCA.
The following projects require RVCA review and approval:
- the construction, reconstruction, erection or placing of a building or structure of any kind,
- changes that would alter the use or potential use of a building or structure
- increasing the size of the building or structure or increasing the number of dwelling units in the building or structure,
- site grading,
- the temporary or permanent placing, dumping or removal of any material, originating in the site or elsewhere,
- the straightening, changing or diverting or interfering with an existing channel of a river, creek, stream or watercourse, or changing or interfering with a wetland.
- All shorelines and watercourses, regardless of whether or not they appear on mapping, are subject to the alteration to waterways component of Ontario Regulation 174/06.
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. Moving forward, O. Reg. 41/24 will be used by all Conservation Authorities.
If you are not within an identified floodplain, wetland, adjacent to a steep slope or working on the waterfront, then a permit may not be required from the RVCA. You should still contact your municipality to ensure your project meets municipal requirements. Please contact us for information.
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.
Looking to understand some basics about a property?
Option 1 — Map A Property
Visit our online mapping tool to search your property and explore the regulated areas in our watershed.
Option 2 — General Property Inquiry
Complete our General Property Inquiry Form to receive a map showing the mapped natural hazard (floodplain, unstable slope, wetland) or natural feature, 1:100 year flood elevations if applicable and available, links to general information, regulators and policies. Please allow for 48 to 72 hour response time for General Property Inquiries. More complex requests may take longer.
If you require formal written response to legal, real estate and related financial inquiries or require a review of historical files for specific project/proposals or technical review, please learn about our Property File Search Service.
More...
The Mississippi and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities offer a re-inspection program to interested municipalities through the Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office.
Why Re-inspect Septic Systems?
Malfunctioning on-site sewage systems can have both human health and environmental impacts beyond the property on which it is located. Nutrient and bacteria-rich effluent can travel through soil and rock fractures to surface water bodies, and ground water sources. Contamination of surface water can cause excessive aquatic plant growth, depletion of oxygen in lakes, and impact the natural habitat for aquatic species. Ground water contamination can cause illness and even death. This makes it crucial that property owners be aware of the location and operation of their septic system. Under the Ontario Building Code it is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that their sewage system is working properly, not only for their health, but also that of the surrounding community and environment. This re-inspection program gives property owners the confidence that their system is operating property — avoiding contamination of surface and groundwater.
History of the Program
Tay Valley Township has led the way locally for the sewage system re-inspection program as well as other initiatives that work towards protecting the quality of surface and ground water. Since the sewage system re-inspection pilot program in 2000, the Township has now inspected thousands of waterfront properties. The program combines the education of the homeowner regarding the maintenance of their sewage system with an inspection component. A follow-up component is also essential to ensure that the program effectively manages identified sewage system problems.
Voluntary Vs. Mandatory Inspections
Municipalities, under the Ontario Building Code, can run voluntary septic system re-inspection program or a discretionary program with mandatory inspections.
The steps taken for the septic re-inspection program are exactly the same for the voluntary and mandatory programs. The only difference is that property owners under the mandatory component are required to participate in the program when their property has been identified, whereas property owners under the voluntary component can choose whether or not to participate.
The Mandatory Re-inspection Program applies to all properties located in the following regions:
1. Within the Tay Valley Township on:
- Adam Lake
- Bennett Lake
- Bob’s Lake
- Farren Lake
- Little Silver Lake
- Long Lake
- Otty Lake
- Pike Lake
- Rainbow Lake
2. Township of Rideau Lakes
3. Central Frontenac
The Voluntary Re-inspection Program encompasses waterfront properties in the following townships:
1. The remainder of Tay Valley Township
2. North Frontenac
To book your inspection or learn more about the program, contact:
Eric Kohlsmith, Septic Inspector
Mississippi Rideau Septic System Office
10970 Highway 7, Carleton Place Ontario K7C 3P1
613-253-0006 ext. 256
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
The Conservation Authorities Act enables Conservation Authorities to undertake programs to further the conservation, restoration, development and management of natural resources throughout the watershed. A significant component of this work is the protection of public health and safety and minimizing property damage from risk associated with natural hazards.
Conservation Ontario, on behalf of Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities, has a memorandum of understanding with the Ministries of Natural Resources and Forestry and Municipal Affairs and Housing whereby Conservation Authorities have delegated responsibilities for the management of natural hazards (floodplains, hazardous slopes, unstable soils and erosion). In keeping with this responsibility, RVCA provides comments to our municipalities on Planning Act applications and other development related applications from several perspectives; watershed based resource management, planning advisory service, technical advisory service and regulatory responsibilities. RVCA provides planning and technical advice to assist our municipalities in fulfilling their responsibilities as defined in their official plans and the Provincial Policy Statement with respect to water resources, natural hazards and, where requested to do so, natural heritage features. We also assist our municipalities and landowners with the coordination of planning and regulatory requirements under the “Development, Interference with Wetlands and Alterations to Shorelines and Watercourses Regulation (O.Reg 41/24).
Planning applications circulated to the RVCA typically include:
- Official plans and official plan amendments
- Zoning by-laws and zoning by-law amendments
- Plans of subdivision and condominium
- Site plan control
- Applications for consent (severances and lot line adjustments)
- Minor variances
- Lifting of reserves
- Part lot control
Development related reviews undertaken by the RVCA also includes proposals under the:
- Environmental Assessment Act and equivalent process under the Planning Act
- Aggregate Resources Act
- Ontario Water Resources Act
The planning services RVCA provides are defined in memorandums of agreement with the City of Ottawa and our upper tier counties (County of Lanark, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville). The agreements are joint agreements between RVCA, the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, South Nation Conservation Authority and the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority where a municipality’s boundary includes more than one Conservation Authority’s watershed. There have been changes to related legislation and other memorandums with senior levels of government since these agreements were formalized and some sections are no longer applicable. In particular, memorandums of agreement between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and RVCA are no longer in place.
Memorandums of agreement:
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
