Site Alteration

Site Alteration, Placement of Fill, and Removal of Topsoil

The Township regulates site alteration, placement of fill, and removal of topsoil.

Placing, dumping, or removing more than 15 tri-axle truck loads (approximately 300 cubic metres) of fill on a lot or property within any one-year period may require Council approval.

Conservation Authority Regulated Areas

If the property is regulated by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) or the Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC), please contact the appropriate office directly for their permit requirements.
Township approval may not be required if the activity is entirely within a Conservation Authority regulated area.

To review regulated areas please visit the applicable Conservation Authority interactive mapping:

• Grand River Conservation Authority 
• Credit Valley Conservation Authority 

Exemptions

Some activities are exempt from requiring Council approval, including:

• Activities undertaken by a municipality or public body under the Planning Act.

• Removal of topsoil that is incidental to normal farm practice.

• Activity authorized by a Subdivision Agreement, Pre-Servicing Agreement, or Site Plan Control Agreement with the Township.

• Demolition or removal of a building or structure under an active demolition permit.

• Activity associated with an active building permit and within 15m of the related structure.

• Lawn dressing, landscaping, or adding flower/vegetable gardens, provided:

  • No soil in excess of 15 cm in depth is placed.

  • Site elevation does not change within 0.3 m of any property line.

  • No change occurs to the location, direction, or elevation of any natural/artificial watercourse, swale, or ditch used to drain the site.

• Placement, dumping, or removal of no more than 15 tri-axle loads (≈ 300 m³) of fill on a property in a one-year period, provided there is no impact to drainage features.

• Activity approved by the Township pursuant to Section 6 of the By-law.

Requests for Approval (Section 6.1)

Applications for approval must:

1. Be submitted in writing to Council, care of the Township Clerk.

2. Include all requirements set out in Schedule “A” of the By-law.

3. Be accompanied by:

   • A non-refundable processing fee of $2,000.00.

   • A refundable deposit of $20,000.00 to cover Township costs for engineering and professional reviews.

     • The $20,000.00 deposit must be held in full prior to the commencement of any approved site alteration.

     • Any unused deposit (without interest) shall be returned upon completion of the approved site alteration.

For submission requirements, please see Schedule “A” – Application for Approval.

If approved, applications will be subject to terms and conditions, including but not limited to those listed in Schedule “B” of the By-law.

Please refer to the Site Alteration By-Law for further details.