Should Ontario Exempt Low-Risk Activities from Environmental Permits?

Official title: Exempting low-risk activities from requiring environmental permissions

Closed Regulations & Permits Environment & Climate Housing & Communities
Ontario wants to let certain projects skip environmental permits. The province says these activities—like small sewage connections, temporary construction drainage, and pottery kiln emissions—are low-risk and don't need ministry review. The goal? Speed up housing, transit, and infrastructure projects by cutting red tape for municipalities, developers, and businesses.

Why This Matters

Waiting for a new home to be built? These changes could speed things up. Developers and municipalities would skip permit steps for routine work like temporary drainage during construction. But if you care about water quality or live near construction sites, you might wonder: are these activities really low-risk? The province says yes—but they want your input.

What Could Change

If approved, dozens of activities would no longer need Environmental Compliance Approvals or Permits to Take Water. Private sewers serving up to five homes could connect to municipal systems without ministry review. Temporary construction drainage would be exempt. Small pottery kilns and warehouse equipment would skip air emission permits. Foundation drainage systems could pump up to 379,000 litres daily without a permit.

Key Issues

  • Should the ministry require verification by a qualified professional that sewage works have been adequately designed?
  • Are there other sewage works that don't discharge to land or water that should be included or excluded from exemptions?
  • Are there additional air and noise emission activities that should be considered for exemption?
  • What fuels are used by stop log lifters and what emission standards do they meet?

How to Participate

  1. Review the proposal details and the supporting appendix to understand which activities would be exempted.
  2. Submit your comments online through the Environmental Registry or email permissions.modernization@ontario.ca. Include ERO number 025-1361 in your submission.
  3. You can also mail comments to: Permissions Modernization Team, Client Services and Permissions Branch, 135 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 1, Toronto, ON M4V 1P5.

Key Documents