Tile Drainage Permitting Guide

One of the main roles of a conservation authority is to help protect people and property from flooding and erosion. GSCA reviews development like tile drainage to ensure it does not increase natural hazard risks to neighbouring or downstream properties or impact the function of wetlands or watercourses.

Before starting your project, it’s important to determine whether a permit is required

Download our Agricultural Tile Drainage Permitting Guide for a quick overview of the process.

Four-image collage illustrating agricultural tile drainage, including equipment digging a drainage trench, a stream, a wetland ecosystem, and rolls of drainage tile staged in a farm field.

Why is a permit from GSCA Required?

Certain activities within regulated areas require permission from GSCA under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act, and Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits.

Regulated areas are associated with:

Watercourses
Wetlands
Georgian Bay & Lake Huron shorelines
Flood prone areas
Steam and river valleys
Steep slopes
Other hazardous lands, including unstable soils and karst

GSCA reviews agricultural development projects, including tile drainage works, to ensure that natural hazards are not increased for neighbouring or downstream properties and that wetlands and watercourses continue to function properly.

Is Your Property Regulated?

Before beginning a project, check whether your property is located within a regulated area.

If you’re unsure, submit an inquiry or contact our Environmental Planning Department for assistance.

Helpful Links

How to Get a Permit from GSCA

Approvals can take 3 – 6 weeks depending on project complexity and application volumes at the time of submission.

Step 1

Fill out a permit application or contact our Environmental Planning Department for assistance.

Application Resources:

Step 2

Ensure your permit application is complete by including the following information:

A completed permit application signed by the property owner.
A tile drainage plan showing property boundaries.
Cross-section drawings of the outlet(s).
An erosion and sediment control plan.
Payment (wait until a GSCA staff confirms the project fee).

Note: Depending on the project, GSCA staff may request additional information during the review process.

Step 3

GSCA staff review your application and may request additional information if needed.

Step 4

If your application is deemed complete, staff will review permit policy and may conduct a site visit.

Step 4

If your project meets all the requirements, GSCA will approve and issue your permit.

Additional Information on the Tile Drainage Permitting Process

What Does GSCA Review?

Each project is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Key review considerations include:

Are the works within a regulated area?

Staff determine whether the proposed work occurs within regulated setbacks, natural hazards, or both.

Where is the proposed outlet?

GSCA reviews:

Existing versus new outlets.
Whether runoff is being redirected.
Whether the outlet is considered a legal outlet.
Connections to municipal drains, watercourses, easements, or roadside ditches.
Whether municipal, county, or Ministry of Transportation approvals are required.

Is a crossing proposed?

Staff consider:

Existing crossings.
Culvert requirements.
Potential impacts to upstream and downstream flows during major storm events.

Is a watercourse being enclosed?

The review ensures the enclosure does not negatively affect flow capacity or create flooding impacts during significant storm events.

Is a pond being backfilled?

GSCA evaluates:

Whether the pond is man-made
Whether the pond is connected to a watercourse

Are additional approvals required?
Some projects may require authorization from additional agencies or landowners before approval can be granted.

Agricultural Permit Exemptions

Ontario Regulation 41/24 identifies several agricultural activities that may be exempt from requiring a permit, including:

Agricultural in-field erosion control structures that are not located within, and do not discharge to, a watercourse, wetland, river, or stream valley.
New tile drainage systems located outside wetlands and watercourses, more than 30 metres from a wetland and 15 metres from a watercourse, where drainage outlets are not connected to a watercourse, wetland, river, or stream valley. This also includes the maintenance and repair of existing tile drains.
Livestock watering ponds that are installed, maintained, or repaired outside wetlands and watercourses, at least 15 metres from these features, and where excavated material is not placed within a regulated area.
Maintenance and repair of municipal drains completed in accordance with the Drainage Act and the Conservation Authorities Act Protocol.

Contact GSCA before starting your project to confirm if it qualifies for an exemption.

Key Definitions

Development includes activities such as:

Constructing, rebuilding, or placing buildings and structures, including sheds, decks, docks, gazebos, retaining walls, and similar features.
Making changes to existing buildings or structures that increase their size, change their use, or add dwelling units.
Site grading.
Placing, removing, or moving soil, fill, or other materials on a property.

Hazardous Lands: land that could be unsafe for development because of naturally occurring processes like flooding, erosion, dynamic beaches, unstable soil or bedrock.

Watercourse: a defined channel, having a bed and banks or sides, in which a flow of water regularly or continuously occurs.

A wetland is an area of land that:

Is covered by shallow water seasonally or year-round, or has water close to the ground surface.
Is connected to and supports the natural flow of water within a watershed through connection with a surface watercourse.
Contains water-saturated soils.
Supports plants that thrive in wet conditions.

Other Considerations

Tree and shrub planting does not require a GSCA permit.
Contact Bruce/Grey County or your municipality about tree removal.
New fencing may be exempt from requiring a permit.
Other agency approvals may be needed depending on your project.
Consider using best management practices to help protect water and soil resources.

Penalties for Unauthorized Work

It is an offence under the Conservation Authorities Act to:

Undertake regulated activities without required permits.
Fail to comply with permit conditions.
Fail to comply with a stop work order.

For more information: Conservation Authorities Act Part VII Section 30

Helpful Resources

GSCA Resources:

Agricultural Tile Drainage Permitting Guide (PDF download)

Online Permit Application Portal

Permit Application Form (PDF)

GSCA Policies Document

Environmental Planning Contact Page

GSCA Regulations Mapping

Legislation & Guidance:

Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits

Conservation Authorities Act

Drainage Legislation and Common Law in Ontario

Other Agency Resources:

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada: Projects Near Water

Crown Land and Shore Land Work Permits

Niagara Escarpment Commission

Grey County Natural Resource Management

Bruce County Tree Harvesting Information