Apply for Permit / Licence

Applying for a land use permit and/or water licence is a straightforward process. Understanding and adhering to the following steps can help ensure that applications are complete and can be processed in a timely manner:

1. Proponents should contact the appropriate Land and Water Board to meet the regulatory staff who will be managing/processing/administering the application. The appropriate AANDC Inspector might also be invited to participate in these initial discussions.
2. Proponents will be given a list of reviewers/stakeholders whom they should contact. The level of discussions that should take place as well as the information that should be recorded during these discussions will be explained by regulatory staff. Community input may result in changes to the application which is why engagement needs to be started well in advance of the submission of the application. Effective and timely engagement with communities can help clarify expectations and initiate the respectful dialogue that should continue throughout the project. The proponent needs to show how the proposed project has changed as a result of community input.
3. Proponents should seek guidance from Board staff in order to ensure the appropriate level of detail is included in the application form and in the supporting documentation. Note that there are more extensive information  requirements depending on the nature and scale of the project (e.g. a type A water licence requires much more technical information than a type A land use permit). Supporting information should include:
   1. Evidence supporting the proponent’s right of access to the land and/or an agreement with the landowner;
   2. An engagement log;
   3. A spill contingency plan written in accordance with AANDC’s Spill Contingency Guidelines, 2007.
   4. A waste management plan developed in accordance with the MVLWB’s Guidelines for Developing a Waste Management Plan, 2010.
   5. For projects requiring a type A or B water licence, a closure and reclamation plan developed in accordance with the guidance provided by the respective Land and Water Board.
   6. Maps (at a 1:250,000 and 1:50,000) showing the lands used and the nearest community, Traditional Knowledge and appropriate fees (application, land use, water use).
4. Once the application undergoes review, the proponent has the opportunity to respond to reviewers’ comments in order to provide the Board with additional details that will help the Board consider the application.

MVLWB Application Forms and Guides