Planning and Regulations Fees and Criteria

SVCA Permit Application Review Fees
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees
Minor works $493.00
Standard works $850.00
Major works $2,000.00
Complex works $4,007.00
Accessory or secondary building or structure $280.00
Other permit related fees
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees
Permit renewal (one year extention) and permit amendments $130.00
Municipal projects (including Counties) regular applicable fee
Works commencing without permission (violation) 2 times applicable fee
Property clearance fee $160.00
Rush property clearance fee (less than 5 business days) $275.00
Stormwater management plan review fee per lot or large block (surcharge to change) $135.00
Specific property inquiry (see Note 2 below)
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees
Verbal general response $0.00
File initiation and specific response (see Note 3 below) $116.00
Letter specific response $280.00
Letter specific response and site inspection $493.00
Large development area proposal - greater than 1 ha $920.00
Verification of hazard boundary (including request by CBO) same fee as property inquiries above
Municipal and County inquiries same fee as property inquiries above
Golf course review $2,018.00
Aggregate proposal $4,678.00
Environmental assessment review
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees
Minor $440.00
Major $795.00
New municipal drain review
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees
New Municipal drain review $920.00
Municipal drain maintenance review (no site review) $280.00
Municipal drain maintenance review (site review required) $493.00
Engineering report review
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees
Geotechnical, coastal study, environmental impact study or floodplain analysis, etc. Fee is per report when not accompanied by a planning application or a complex application. $594.00
Other projects
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees
Commercial renewable energy project 2 times applicable permit application review fee
Conservation project (eligible project by others) 1/2 applicable permit application review fee**
Floodplain mapping review fee SVCA engineering consultant fee plus 20%

**"Conservation Project" means a project intended to protect or enhance the natural environment and is proposed by, or is in partnership with, a recognized conservation or environmental organization. Determination of eligible projects is done on a case-by-case basis by Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority.

Map and air photo projects
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees (HST extra)
Photocopies maps/air photos $18.00
Emailed digitized air photos and other map products $41.00
1-9 items - bulk orders for air photos, photobase maps, related map products or large format copies standard fee - no reduction
Over 9 items - bulk orders for air photos, photobase maps, related map products or large format copies standard fee reduced by 10%
Professional services
Planning and regulations fee schedule items Fees (HST extra)
Professional services fee Rate per hour - payroll costs times 2 plus disbursements
Expert witness fee Rate per hour - payroll costs times 2 plus disbursements

  1.  HST is not applicable to Planning fees.
  2. Specific property Inquiry Fee applies to all consultant requests for information.  "Conservation Project" means a project intended to protect or enhance the natural environment and is proposed by or is in partnership with, a recognized conservation or environmental organization.  Determination of eligible projects is done on a case-by-case basis by the SVCA.
  3. If landowner is only seeking to clarify SVCA interest on a property, the $107 file initiation fee may be waived.

Minor works examples

Pond clean-outs equal to or less than 0.5 ha (1.2 acres); watercourse crossings (such as culverts) with an existing stream channel width equal to or less than 3.0 metres (9.8 feet); maintenance and repair of existing on-stream structures; docks, boathouses and similar structures; streambank works equal to or less than 30.0 metres (98.4 feet) in length; channel clean-outs.

Standard works examples 

Watercourse crossings (above or below the bed) with an existing stream channel width more than 3.0 metres (9.8 feet) but less than 10.0 metres (32.8 feet); streambank works more than 30.0 metres (98.4 feet) but less than 60.0 metres (196.9 feet) in length.

Major works examples

New ponds; new dams; watercourse crossings (above or below the bed) with an existing stream channel width greater than 10.0 metres (32.8 feet); modifications to existing structures (on-stream or connected to the watercourse) where the dimensions or use change substantially; streambank works that exceed 60.0 metres (196.9 feet) in total linear length.

Complex works examples 

Projects that qualify as ‘Complex Works’ are determined by the SVCA on a project specific basis and generally these projects require more SVCA review than for a typical Major Works project. As a guideline, a Complex Works project has an estimated cost of one million dollars or more, has multiple supporting reports submitted, and/or a relatively large geographical area is involved.

Minor works examples

Buildings and structures with a floor area equal to or less than 30.0 metres² (322.9 feet²); carports and non-habitable public structures; filling and/or site grading where the total quantity is 23.0 cubic metres (30.1 cubic yards) or more, but less than or equal to 765 cubic metres (1000.6 cubic yards); retaining walls where slope instability is not a significant concern; wetland or area of interference alterations that are linear (e.g. ditches).

Standard works examples 

Buildings and structures with a floor area more than 30.0 m² (322.9 ft²) but equal to or less than 278.9 metres² (3002 feet²); filling and/or site grading where the total quantity is more than 765 cubic metres (1000.6 cubic yards) but less than or equal to 1530 cubic metres (2001.2 cubic yards); retaining walls and similar structures where there is potential for slope instability.

Major works examples 

All buildings and structures with a floor area more than 278.9 metres² (3002 feet²); filling and/or site grading where the total quantity is more than 1530 cubic metres (2001.2 cubic yards).

Complex works examples 

Projects that qualify as ‘Complex Works’ are determined by the SVCA on a project specific basis and generally these projects require more SVCA review than for a typical Major Works project. As a guideline, a Complex Works project has an estimated cost of one million dollars or more, has multiple supporting reports submitted, and/or a relatively large geographical area is involved.

Development

Includes new construction, reconstruction, additions, change of use, or increasing the number of dwelling units, for buildings or structures. Also includes placing or removing any material, such as fill or soil, or site grading. (This definition is condensed for the purpose of this Fee Schedule. For the full definition, see the Conservation Authorities Act, Sec (28).)

Floor area 

Floor area is defined as the outside dimensions of the building or structure measured at the floor level nearest to the average surrounding ground surface. Buildings or structures with cantilevered or raised sections are measured at the floor level with the largest area. For a building or structure not completely enclosed by walls, the area is measured assuming total enclosure (except carports and non-habitable public structures which are classified as Minor Works regardless of size).

Accessory building 

Accessory building means a non-habitable, free-standing building that is greater than 15 metres² in floor area but less than 30.0 metres². Larger buildings are classified as Standard or Major Works.

Secondary building or structure 

Secondary building or structure means a non-enclosed deck, veranda, or porch.

Filling exempt works

Filling exempt works means fill quantities less than 23 cubic metres, the work is completed within one calendar year, is not an ongoing filling project, the fill is comprised of inert, granular material, will not cause erosion or sedimentation, and is not located on a steep slope, wetland, or dynamic beach.

Conservation project 

Conservation project means a project which the sole intent is to protect or enhance the natural environment and is proposed by, or is in partnership with, a recognized conservation or environmental organization. Determination of eligible projects is done on a case-by-case basis by the SVCA. SVCA projects may or may not be considered a Conservation Project.

Engineering report review 

Engineering report review (Geotechnical, Coastal, Environmental Impact, or Floodplain study etc.) when not accompanied by a planning application or a Complex Application.

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