April 1st 2024 Legislative Changes

Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority’s (SVCA) Environmental Planning and Regulations Department is responsible for reviewing new building and site alteration proposals in or around watercourses, wetlands, floodplains, and shorelines.  Since the 1970s, permits have been required from SVCA, associated with many versions of legislation, to protect people and property from natural hazards.  This process, while largely consistent through the years, has been updated from time to time.

New legislative changes have been introduced by the Provincial Government, modifying this permitting role, at Conservation Authorities. On February 16, 2024, Ontario Regulation 41/24, concerning Prohibited Activities, Exemptions, and Permits, was announced, and is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2024. This regulation, along with changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, alters SVCA’s permitting process and the scope of activities requiring SVCA review.

Key changes include:

1. The review area around Provincially Significant wetlands has been reduced from 120 meters to 30 meters.  
2. SVCA no longer reviews headwater streams that lack defined beds and banks.
3. Along the shoreline of Lake Huron, where land is considered as a dynamic beach, the Regulated Area has been extended by 15 meters.
4. In the SVCA's updated Regulated Area, responsibilities related to 'conservation of land' and 'pollution' have been removed. However, there are now increased responsibilities for public safety, including new considerations in the permitting process for unstable soil and bedrock.
5. Some specific projects are now excluded from the need for a permit, please refer to Ontario Regulation 41/24 or contact SVCA staff. 
6. SVCA's enforcement powers for handling regulation breaches have been enhanced. This includes granting SVCA Regulations Officers the authority to issue Stop Work Orders and escalating the fines for offenses. Now, fines can reach up to $50,000 for individuals and up to $1,000,000 for corporations per violation, marking a significant increase in penalties to enforce compliance.

Starting April 1, landowners will notice changes including a decrease in the SVCA Regulated Area by approximately 20,000 acres inland of Lake Huron, contrasting with expanded regulatory zones around Lake Huron itself. The focus of SVCA permits will shift towards emphasizing natural hazards. Additionally, there will be enhanced enforcement capabilities from the onset of works, along with the possibility of larger fines for regulation breaches.

Saugeen Conservation staff are on hand to address any inquiries related to ongoing files or potential projects, ensuring clarity on the effects of these legislative changes. We are committed to providing guidance to help understand the new regulatory landscape.

Contact planning staff by email at: planning@svca.on.ca
Or call: 519-364-1255 ext 245