Permits FAQs

Yes, NPCA staff are able to do site visits in relation to a Planning or Permit application.

There are currently two staff in the office, however the office is closed to the public.  

Applications, documentation and payments CANNOT be dropped off at the main office.

No.  NPCA work permits will continue to be issued for a maximum of 2 years.

NPCA may consider this in circumstances where the permit is almost set to expire, in conjunction with meeting all other current policy requirements.  All permits issued and currently valid are NOT automatically extended.

Please use the Q&A tool and we will get back to you soon. 

Option 1:   To find out if your property is impacted by NPCA regulated lands, please use our online mapping tool.

Option 2:  Contact the appropriate Watershed Planner for your area:

Taran Lennard; tlennard@npca.ca(External link). 

• Grimsby
• Lincoln
• St. Catharines

Nikolas Wensing; nwensing@npca.ca(External link). 

• West Lincoln
• Wainfleet 
• Haldimand
• Hamilton

Nicholas Godfrey; ngodfrey@npca.ca(External link). 

• Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Thorold
• Pelham
• Port Colborne

Jessica Abrahamse; jabrahamse@npca.ca(External link). 

• Welland
• Niagara Falls
• Fort Erie

Please note that due to a high volume of planning and permitting inquiries, you will experience a delay in response time from NPCA watershed planners. We appreciate your patience and kindly ask that you do not send multiple emails on the same matter if possible.

Option 1:  You can view the NPCA’s current Policy Document.

• Chapters 1 and 2 provide an overview of the background, planning and legislative framework of the policies, intended to summarize the general basis for the policies.
• Chapter 3 describes the overall vision for the watershed and a series of high-level statements which correlate to the legislative underpinnings of the policies.
• Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7 provide the detailed policies for natural hazards, including flooding hazards, Great Lakes and Niagara River shoreline hazard, valley land erosion hazards and hazardous sites (e.g., unstable soils).
• Chapters 8 and 9 cover development and interference with wetlands and watercourses.
• Chapters 10, and 11 cover a set of discrete policies for fill placement and municipal drains.

Option 2:  Contact the Watershed Planner for your area. See other FAQ for list.

Due to a high volume of planning and permitting inquiries, you will experience a delay in response time from NPCA watershed planners. We appreciate your patience and kindly ask that you do not send multiple emails on the same matter if possible.

Please Note:  When contacting a Watershed Planner about a future proposal, it is helpful to include a brief description and site plan of the proposed works. (See sample site plan on page 8)

Option 1:  To look up that property and view the potential NPCA screening area, please use our online mapping tool.

For formal requests made by Solicitor’s (not for general public buying a lot), please fill out a formal Property Information Request Form and submit to the NPCA for review and response. NPCA Watershed Planners will review requests on a first come, first serve basis, and get back to you with the necessary information. 

Requests for formal information on a property may have associated fees. If you are unsure of the extent of the information you may need, please contact the NPCA Watershed Planner for your municipality for more information. Refer to list of Watershed Planners in other FAQ.

To ease and speed up the property information request process, please provide the following details when reaching out to a Watershed Planner directly: 

• Assessment Roll Number (ARN);
• Property Information Number (PIN); and/or
• Municipal address, if available.

Due to a high volume of planning and permitting inquiries, you will experience a delay in response time from NPCA watershed planners. We appreciate your patience and kindly ask that you do not send multiple emails on the same matter if possible.