Stewardship and Management

• Construction of a new building or structure, or an addition to, or replacement of, or major renovation or repair of a building and the placement in, on, over or under land of any of these;
• the repainting or refinishing of a building to a substantially different colour or material;
• the relocation or demolition of a building or other structure;
• a change of use of land or a building, or an act done in relation to land or a building, that results in or is likely to result in a change in the use of the land and or building, or;
• a change in the intensity of use of land or a building, or an act done in relation to land or a building, that results in or is likely to result in a change in the intensity of use of the land or building;
• the cutting or removal of trees in whole or part;
• an excavation or stockpile and the creation of either of these;
• the erection of a physical, temporary facility and structure;
• the erection and modification of signage and/or fences;
• landscaping, including terrain manipulation other than routine care and maintenance;
• temporary testing or uses causing land disturbance; or
• structures for photography or filming purposes;
• the construction of ski runs, trails, ski run clearing, terrain modification or similar activity; and
• the placement, alteration or removal of water, sewer, gas, electrical or fibre optic service lines.

The Development Permit review allows Parks Canada to consider and assess the proposed development against the policies and objectives of the relevant Community Plan; Land Use Directives (as applicable); relevant Park Management Plan; other national park regulations, policies, plans, guidelines; leases and licences of occupation.

This Development Permit review process considers and comments on:

• architectural design (form and character);
• site layout;
• social and environmental effects;
• infrastructure servicing considerations;
• impact to culturally significant features or elements;
• exterior building design;
• proposed development density;
• on-site and off-site landscaping;
• building siting;
• building finishes;
• lighting, etc.
• and, other project specific factors.

Variances to the guidelines may be considered at the discretion of Parks Canada.

The primary purpose for issuing a Building Permit is to ensure that all buildings and structures, as well as the site area, comply with relevant National and Provincial building codes and safety, health, building and zoning requirements of Parks Canada legislation, regulations and other guiding documents.

These types of projects require a building permit:

• All new construction;
• Altering or adding onto an existing building or structure;
• Whenever you enlarge or relocate any windows and/or door;
• Making any structural change (renovations) or repairs to the interior or exterior of a building, including a deck;
• Changing the occupancy use (from commercial to residential for example) (from mechanical to living space);
• Relocating or removing (demolishing) any building or structure;
• Undertaking excavation of any kind; or
• Increasing or changing the “footprint” of a building.

Parks Canada can send you the application form and a list of supporting items that may be applicable to your project. You will need to engage a Third-Party Inspection Agency to complete all relevant code review, analysis, and building inspections.

Determine permit type

This is the first step for all projects. Reach out to Parks Canada Townsites team with a brief description of the project. Based on the description, the team will determine if a Development and Building Permit are required or just a Building Permit. The appropriate form(s) will be sent back to you.

Development permit process:

Step 1: Send the completed Project Description form to the Townsites team. Parks Canada will setup a pre-application meeting to discuss project specifics further.

Step 2: Attend the pre-application meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to help you align your project with the Land Use Planning Regulations and local guiding documents. Topics covered at this meeting will include requirements of the permit (site plan, civil, landscaping, staff housing, strategy), what plans will be reviewed in relation to your application (management plans, community plans, etc), as well as environmental expectations. There will also be a preliminary discussion around timelines, potential consultation requirements, and fees.

Note: there is no charge for the first pre-application meeting. If additional meetings are required or requested, the pre-application meeting fee may be charged.

Step 3: Submit all components of the application to Parks Canada.

Step 4: The Townsites team will conduct a preliminary scan to look for anything that would be non-compliant in relation to regulations and local guidelines. The team will only reach out to you if there are major red flags.

At the same time, Parks Canada’s Impact Assessment team will determine the level of impact assessment required. This may be a Pre-Approved Impact Assessment (PRIA), a Basic Impact Assessment (BIA) or Detailed Impact Assessment (DIA). If required, a Terms of Reference will be shared with you to allow you to complete the requirements.

Step 5: Complete the Impact Assessment requirements. You are required to complete this prior to the Townsites team moving to the next step.

Step 6: Development permit fees are invoiced. Once paid, Parks Canada will begin the comprehensive review, and the applicable service standards apply (210 business days, or approximately 10 months for development review).

Step 7: Townsites conducts a comprehensive review of the application package and arrives at a decision. Decisions can range from the need for more information (which will be communicated through a detailed letter outlining the deficiencies), approval or refusal. Once a decision is communicated, the service standard period ends.

Step 8: If the application is approved, the Development Permit will be issued, and you move onto the Building Permit stage.

If more information required, a permit will not be issued and a reasonable timeline will be discussed with you to determine a fair timeline submit an updated application. A resubmission fee may apply.

Building Permit Process:

Step 1: Send the completed Building Permit Application form to Townsites team.

Step 2: If you have an approved Development Permit, this step is already complete. Continue to Step 4.

If this is a stand-alone Building Permit (in other words, a Development Permit was not required), Parks Canada’s Impact Assessment team will determine the level of impact assessment required. This may be a Pre-Approved Impact Assessment (PRIA) or a Basic Impact Assessment (BIA). If required, a Terms of Reference will be shared with you to allow you to complete the requirements.

Step 3: Complete the Impact Assessment requirements. You are required to complete this prior to the Townsites team moving to the next step.

Step 4: Building permit fees are invoiced. Once paid, Parks Canada will begin the comprehensive review, and the applicable service standards apply (45 business days, or approximately 9 weeks for building permit review).

Step 5: The Townsites team conducts a comprehensive review of the application package and arrives at a decision.

Decisions can range from the need for more information (which will be communicated through a detailed letter outlining the deficiencies), approval or refusal. Once a decision is communicated, the service standard period ends.

Step 6: If the application is approved, the Building Permit will be issued. Work can begin.

If more information required, a permit will not be issued and a reasonable timeline will be discussed with you to determine a fair timeline submit an updated application. A resubmission fee may apply.

Step 7: Once the project is finished and all conditions of the Building Permit are met, apply for an occupancy permit.

Parks Canada considers the project is complete when the occupancy permit is issued.