Road Use Permits
General Permit Information
This area explains the general requirements for road occupancy permits, and may or may not apply to the specific permit that you require. Specific requirements can be found under the permit type.
Purpose: A road use permit allows you to occupy the Regional Road allowance, including the portion from the road shoulder to the private property line, to complete the work requested on the application.
Lead Time: Applications should be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the required date.
Contacts: A 24 hour contact list must be submitted with the application. This will ensure that the appropriate people are contacted. If contacts are not submitted and the Region is required to arrange for repairs, all costs incurred will be invoiced to your company.
Effective Dates: Effective dates requested on the application will be on the permit. This office should be notified if the job is delayed or an extension is required.
Effective Times: Effective times will be on the permit. These times indicate when work can take place on the Regional Road allowance and are usually limited to periods between rush hours when there are low traffic volumes.
Fees: Fees may be required for some types of permits, and are payable at the time the permit is issued. Amounts will vary depending on the permit type.
Final Inspections: A final inspection is required prior to the release of a security deposit, and if required, is usually a condition of the permit. Please contact the Roads Permits Department to arrange for a final inspection.
Insurance Coverage: A certificate of insurance confirming coverage for bodily injury and property damage combined without deductible and naming the Regional Municipality of York as an additional insured may be required depending on the type of permit. The standard minimum coverage is $5,000,000, for community and charity events a minimum coverage of $2,000,000 is required. The Certificate must be signed and stamped by your insurance company and, in most cases submitted with the application.
Lane/Road Closures or Restrictions: Lane Closures or Restrictions may be permitted between the effective times on the permit, usually between rush hours (9:30am to 3:30pm). Road Closures are not permitted at any time.
Limitations of Permit: Limitations will be indicated as conditions of the permit, and may vary depending on the scope of work/event taking place. These conditions provide guidelines focused primarily on requirements of the work/event and the safety of the general public.
Revocation of Permit: Permits may be revoked without compensation or notice if the work/event does not conform to requirements of any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the area where the work is taking place.
Security Deposit: A security deposit may be required in the form of a letter of credit or certified cheque. The amount of the security is based on the scope of work and the perceived potential damage to Region property, and will be determined on review of the application. The deposit may be drawn on by the Region if it is required to be involved in the permitted works in any way. The Security deposit will be refunded once the permitted work is completed to the satisfaction of the Region.
Traffic Control: For work taking place on the Regional road where a lane closure or reduction is required, a traffic control plan must be submitted with the application. All Traffic control plans shall conform to the standards set out in the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7 "Temporary Conditions"
Waiver/Indemnity Form: A Waiver form agreeing to indemnify and save harmless the Region from and against any cost, claims, damages or loss, is required. The Waiver/Indemnity form will be provided for signature at the time the permit is issued.
Application and Other Forms: Please review the requirements for the permit type you wish to apply and complete the appropriate forms.
The following links will open the standard form in .pdf format:
Applications can by submitted by the following methods:
- Fax: 905-895-3047
- E-mail: permits@york.ca
- In person: 90 Bales Drive East, East Gwillimbury (northeast of Woodbine Avenue and Davis Drive)
Geo-technical and Survey Permits
This type of permit is required for boreholes, monitoring wells, surveying, and other investigations taking place on the Regional road allowance. In some cases a "Blanket Permit" may be available for survey work taking place in a specific area up to a maximum of 3 months. If the findings are for private use, a fee and security may be required, and will be determined on review of the application.
Utility and Construction Permits
Installation of New, Additional and Moving Existing Utilities: Prior to applying for a Road Occupancy Permit for these types of installations, a Municipal Consent must be issued from our Corridor Approvals and Records. The pre-filled application supplied with the approval should be submitted. If it is unavailable, the municipal consent approval number must be quoted on the submitted application form.
Maintenance of Existing Utilities: Road occupancy permits are required for the maintenance of existing utilities on the Regional road allowance, and in most cases are applied for on a job by job basis. In some cases, a blanket permit may be available for minor utility maintenance work in a specific area, up to a maximum of 3 months.
Emergency Utility Works: In the event an emergency utility repair is required, York Region Dispatch (ext. 5200) should be notified immediately, prior to starting the repairs, and a Road Occupancy Permit application must be submitted immediately after the work is complete.
Site Plan and Development Construction: Road occupancy permits are required for all site plan and development approvals. To obtain a permit, approval must be granted by our Development Approvals Branch. All insurance, securities and fees must be received by them, prior to submitting an application for a Road Occupancy Permit. The approval/file number must be provided on the application submitted. The permit must be issued prior to the start of the work indicated on the permit.
General Road Construction: A contract agreement must be in place and all paperwork submitted prior to requesting a road Occupancy Permit. The contract number must be supplied with the application.
Events and Filming
Charitable/Community Events: Road occupancy permits are available for events requiring the use of the Regional road allowance, sponsored by a recognized Charity, Municipality or other non profit organization. Proof of this must be provided upon request. There are no fees for this type of permit, however a Certificate of Insurance will be required in the amount of $2,000,000, as indicated under General Road Occupancy Permit Information.
Film/Photography: Road occupancy permits are available for any type of Film/Photography requiring the use of the Regional road allowance. Fees are based on the amount of interference with the travelling public, and are determined upon receipt of the application. For example; where the film/photography crew are on the Road allowance but do not affect the traffic flow, the fee will be $100. If the flow of traffic is affected, in the case of intermittent traffic stoppages, or lane restrictions, a major occupancy fee of $1,000 will be required. In both situations a minimum security deposit of $5,000 will be required, and a certificate of insurance in the amount of $5,000,000, as indicated under General Road Occupancy Permit Information.
Permanent and Temporary Entrance Permits:
Permanent Entrances: A Road Occupancy Permit will be required for all work taking place on residential entrances fronting onto a Regional Road. A fee of $100 and a minimum security deposit of $1,000 for new homes, and $500 for entrance relocations and improvements, will be required at the time the permit is ready for release.
In the event that the permit is to:
- Install a new entrance to a new residential property, the security deposit will not be released until the house and landscaping is complete
- Move an existing entrance to the property from one location to another, the original entrance must be removed
- Improve an existing entrance to a residential property
In all cases the sod or seed must be established at the time of final inspection.
Temporary Entrances:
A permit can be obtained, for a short duration of time, for the installation of a temporary entrance to a residential property from the Regional Road allowance. This type of permit would be granted where access by an existing entrance is not feasible.
A minimum security deposit of $1,000 will be required for entrances used for the installation of landscape material and/or pools, and a minimum security deposit of $10,000 will be required for all fill operations. The fees are the same as a permanent entrance.
The Security deposit will not be returned until the entrance has been removed and all disturbed areas have been restored to the satisfaction of the Region.
Commercial and Industrial entrances
The Roads Development Approvals branch must be contacted for all inquiries on the installation of entrances to commercial or industrial properties. Once approval has been granted and all securities and fees have been submitted, a road occupancy permit will be required. No additional fees are required for the permit. A diagram of the property showing the proposed entrance location is required to make application.
Half Load Exemptions:
This type of permit is required prior to hauling full loads on Regional Roads where the load weight exceeds the posted load limits. A fee of $1,000 and a security deposit is required. The security deposit is determined prior to processing the permit and will be equivalent to the cost of replacing/repairing the portion of the existing road surface to be used. Should the level of roadway deterioration prove unacceptable, the Region may revoke the permit. Upon completion of the full load hauling, a final inspection will be required prior to the return of the security deposit. |
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