Highway corridor management
Learn about the land development review process and get a permit for projects on or near a highway.
Overview
By law, you may need a permit if you are planning land development, highway access, construction, utilities, work or other activities near a provincial highway and are within Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Controlled Areas.
If you are planning land development, highway access, construction, utilities, work or other activities near a provincial highway:
- Check if you are in a MTO Controlled Area to find out if you need a permit. If you are uncertain if you will need a permit, you can submit an inquiry.
- Consult with us early, via a pre-consultation, if a permit is required for your proposed work or activity (either now or in the future). You can continue to consult with us throughout the planning process.
- Determine what type of permit(s) you need.
- Apply for your permit. You can do this online.
If you are looking for guidance or technical advice regarding highway corridor management, you can consult with us.
Pre-consultation
At a pre-consultation meeting, we can provide information about:
- land development planning
- utility planning and relocation
- permits
- our review process
- expectations about planning, design, construction and engineering consultant qualifications
- studies, reports and requirements (for example, traffic impact studies, storm water management reports)
- the right people or groups to engage
- timelines
A pre-consultation will help you understand your responsibilities, plan your project and predict associated costs. We will work with you to address any areas of concern, which will help streamline the review and may save you time and money.
In some cases, you may need to arrange a pre-consultation meeting with your municipality. If the site is in an MTO Controlled Area, we will attend and/or provide written comments.
What we review
We review transportation policies, your planning, technical issues and operational issues that could impact the provincial transportation system.
Our review helps ensure plans will:
- serve the interest of the public
- preserve the function, safety and operation of our highway network
- fit within provincial transportation and land use studies as well as growth plans
When we conduct reviews, among other elements, we focus on:
- land development
- access management (managing entrances to highways and entrances onto municipal roads near highways)
- impacts to traffic
- storm water management
Land development
To prepare for the land development review, we highly encourage you to request a pre-consultation with us early in the planning stage.
After a pre-consultation, land developers and municipalities can submit proposals on-line using the Highway Corridor Management System.
Submitting proposals online will allow you to:
- submit instantly
- get a single MTO contact who will be your point of contact going forward
- track the progress of your review
- update your submission
- send and receive online correspondence and access MTO’s comments
Request a land development review
Under the municipal land use planning process called the One Window (OW) Provincial Planning Service, the Ministry of Transportation can:
- comment on land use planning applications, such as:
- official plans and amendments
- transportation master plans
- secondary plans
- zoning by-law amendments
- subdivisions
- consents
- site plan applications
- provide recommendations to the approval authority (either MMAH or a municipality, depending on the application) to ensure the proposal will be supportive of and eligible for the required MTO permits.
Learn more about land development planning and the MTO review process:
- Highway Corridor Management System – Land Development Review
- Guidelines for Municipal Official Plan Preparation and Review
- Guideline for Plan of Subdivision Review Process
- Highway Corridor Management Manual
- A Guideline for Highway Improvements Associated with Development
Access management
Access management is the process of managing entrances:
- onto provincial highways
- onto municipal roads near a provincial highway
For entrances within an MTO Controlled Area, we review whether highway access is feasible, safe and appropriate for the proposed land use. We may suggest ways to promote open dialogue between land developers and review agencies, for example by developing:
- Highway Access Management Plans (HAMP)
- Interchange Highway Access Management Plans (I-HAMP)
Learn more about access management policies, standards and best practices in:
- Chapter 4 of the MTO Highway Corridor Management Manual (HCMM)
- the MTO Access Management Brochure
Traffic impacts
We review Traffic Impact Studies (TIS) to:
- assess the impact of proposed development on the existing transportation network infrastructure
- ensure the required on-site and off-site measures are in place to maintain or enhance the transportation system’s performance after the development is built and operational
Find the latest TIS guidelines.
Storm Water Management
We review storm water management of land development proposals to:
- improve the management of highway drainage
- preserve the integrity of highway infrastructure
Learn more about drainage management.
Permits
You may need a permit if you are planning land development, construction, utilities, work or other activities near a provincial highway and are within MTO Controlled Areas.
If you have checked whether you are in a MTO Controlled Area first and are still uncertain whether you will need a permit, you can submit an inquiry.
Permits are issued by MTO’s Highway Corridor Management offices under the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act.
Types of permits
There are four types of highway corridor management permits.
Use the permit application wizard to help determine which one you will need.
- Sign
You may require a sign permit if you are planning to erect or alter a sign or advertising device (for example, billboard or digital display) on a property within 400 metres of any provincial highway right-of-way. Setback (distance from the right-of-way limit), size and location are all considered when issuing sign permits. - Building and Land Use
You may require a building and land use permit for work near a provincial highway, such as:- commercial or residential construction
- renovating a house, barn or shed
- drilling a well
- installing a swimming pool or underground storage tanks
- Entrance
You must get an entrance permit if you want to:- construct an entrance to a provincial highway
- validate an existing permitted entrance to a provincial highway for a property you have purchased (entrance permits do not change ownership with title)
- upgrade an existing entrance for a higher land use (such as residential to commercial)
- modify an existing entrance
- Encroachment
An encroachment is installation, work or activity on, under or within the limits of a provincial highway right-of-way. Encroachments include work or structures that interfere with the highway right-of-way during construction or operation.You need a permit for encroachments such as:
- signs
- survey work
- banners
- coaxial or fibre optic cable
- acceleration and deceleration lanes
- curbs
- gutters
- sidewalks
- safety islands
- sewers
- pipelines
Residential encroachment
A residential encroachment is an installation or work on, under or within the limits of a provincial highway right-of-way by or on behalf of an individual who has a private farm or a private dwelling. This includes the installation of:
- a water pipeline
- a gas pipeline
- hydro
- telecommunications
- other utilities
When applying for a residential encroachment, select “residential" on the application followed by a detailed work description confirming the encroachment is servicing a private dwelling or private farm.
Learn more about permit policies, standards and best practices in the MTO Highway Corridor Management Manual (HCMM).
Apply for a permit
You can also use the online portal to:
- track a submission including the progress and status of a permit application
- pay for a permit by credit card (Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard or Debit Mastercard) or by Interac online
- submit additional documentation for a permit application or post-construction information such as photos, reports, as-built drawings and construction completion date
In your submission, please include:
- relevant drawings
- plans
- photos
- supporting reports (for example, Storm Water Management Report, Traffic Impact Study)
- other related documents or information
When you submit your application, you will get an electronic receipt notification and copy of your application. MTO will begin the review process and you will be able to find out who your highway corridor management representative is.
If you need assistance with the online permit application process, or prefer to apply in person, please contact your regional corridor management office.
Permit Fees
| Building and Land Use | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential/agricultural | $195.00 |
| Commercial | $345.00 (minimum fee) |
| Commercial - Buildings and additions Ground floor area up to 20,000m2 |
$2.90/m2 |
| Commercial - Buildings and additions Ground floor area between 20,000m2 and 40,000m2 |
$1.40/m2 |
| Commercial - Buildings and additions Ground floor area over 40,000m2 |
$0.60/m2 |
| Telecommunication plant | $1265.00 |
| Entrance | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential/agricultural | $230.00 |
| Commercial, utility, public road, private road, municipal road | $860.00 |
| Change ownership | No Charge |
| Pave existing | No charge |
| Temporary | $520.00 |
| Encroachment (on Highway right-of-way) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential utilities | $520.00 (permit valid for 10 years) |
| Commercial/municipal utilities | $1560.00 (permit valid for 10 years) |
| Location sign, banner; commercial & municipal activities | $520.00 |
| Billboard sign | $770.00 (permit valid for 5 years) |
| Guide sign - private roadway, personal direction or radio | $305.00 (permit valid for 5 years) |
| Sign (on private property) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Billboard sign | $770.00 (permit valid for 5 years) |
| Location, portable, development/real estate/construction sign | $23.00/m2 |
Processing Time
Once your application is submitted, you can track the progress online.
We review applications to ensure they follow all policy rules and guidelines. Processing time varies depending on the type and complexity of your application.
If you are eligible to receive a permit, processing times are:
| Permit | Time required | Total process time |
|---|---|---|
| Residential |
10 business days to:
|
10 business days |
| Commercial - Basic |
20 business days to:
|
20 business days |
| Commercial - Comprehensive Minor |
20 business days to:
40 business days to:
|
60 business days |
| Commercial - Comprehensive Major |
20 business days to:
Subject to Environmental Assessment and MTO project requirements
|
Subject to Environmental Assessment and MTO project requirements |
| Telecommunication Plant |
15 business days to:
20 business days to:
|
35 business days |
| Permit | Time required | Total process time |
|---|---|---|
| Residential |
20 business days to:
|
20 business days |
| Residential - change of property ownership |
10 business days to:
|
10 business days |
| Commercial Basic |
20 business days to:
|
20 business days |
| Commercial - Comprehensive |
20 business days to:
40 business days to:
|
60 business days |
| Commercial - change of property ownership |
10 business days to:
|
10 business days |
| Permit | Time required | Total process time |
|---|---|---|
| All encroachment permits |
15 business days to:
20 business days to:
|
35 business days |
| Permit | Time required | Total process time |
|---|---|---|
| All sign permits |
10 business days to:
20 business days to:
|
30 business days |
Notes
- Total processing time for residential building and land use applies to standalone applications and/or for registered lots within a plan of subdivision.
- Timelines do not apply for planning applications to municipalities where the ministry is asked to comment (for example, official plans, secondary plans, site plans, rezoning, draft plan of subdivisions and variances).
Service commitments
We are committed to:
- improving communication between MTO and the building development industry
- having ministry staff be available to meet with applicants of development applications prior to submission (pre-consultation)
- providing one contact person for each review
- providing prompt and clear information and guidance on Land Development Reviews and permit applications
- streamlining the review processes for housing proposals
- providing clearly defined deliverables, timelines and turnaround times for decisions on permit applications
- acknowledging complete permit applications within 10 to 20 business days of receipt of application
- issuing a decision for a residential Building and Land Use permit within 10 business days
- issuing only one Building and Land Use permit per application and/or subdivision
- extending a Building and Land Use permit expiry date to 12 months, upon request
We value your opinion and want to hear what you think about the quality of our service. Please provide your feedback to help us improve our services and how we deliver information about your application.
Contacts
Submit an inquiry to contact us. Your question or concern will be directed to the appropriate highway corridor management staff member for follow up.
Regional corridor management offices
Ministry of Transportation regional boundaries with municipal boundaries. View a larger version of this image (PNG).
Central Region
Downsview Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
159 Sir William Hearst Avenue, 7th Floor
Downsview, ON M3M 1J8
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax:
East Region
Kingston Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
1355 John Counter Boulevard
Kingston, ON K7L 5A3
Phone:
Toll free:
Email: CorridorEast@ontario.ca
Northeast Region
Cochrane Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
74 2nd Street, P.O. Bag 5000
Cochrane, ON P0L 1C0
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax:
Huntsville Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
207 Main Street West
Huntsville, ON P1H 1Z9
Toll free:
Fax:
New Liskeard Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
704024 Rockley Road, P.O. Box 1390
New Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0
Toll free:
North Bay Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
447 McKeown Avenue, Floor 2
North Bay, ON P1B 9S9
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax:
Sault Ste. Marie Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
70 Foster Drive, Suite 420
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6V4
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax:
Sudbury Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
3767 Hwy 69 South, Suite 8
Sudbury, ON P3G 1G4
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax:
Northwest Region
Dryden Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
57 Emo Road
Emo, ON P0W 1E0
Phone:
Fax:
Kenora Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
808 Robertson Street
Kenora, ON P9N 1X9
Phone:
Fax:
Thunder Bay Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
615 James Street North
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6P6
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax:
West Region
London Office
Ministry of Transportation
Highway Corridor Management Section
659 Exeter Road
London, ON N6E 1L3
Phone:
Toll free:
Fax: