Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 11 MAY 2023

Site Alteration: Digging Into Municipal Authority On Excess Soils, Ontario Bar Association

Goodmans LLP
Explore more from Goodmans LLP

This paper provides an overview of site alteration by-laws in Ontario and the limits of their authority to regulate excess soils.

CanadaEnvironment
Matthew Lakatos-Hayward
Matthew Lakatos-Hayward
Author LinkedIn connections

This paper provides an overview of site alteration by-laws in Ontario and the limits of their authority to regulate excess soils. As Ontario's On-site and Excess Soil Management regulation ("O. Reg 406/19") comes into force,1 municipalities are forced to revisit their existing site alteration by-laws and determine a framework for how best to manage and regulate soils excavated from construction sites in their borders.

Single-tier and lower-tier municipalities can both prohibit and regulate site alteration activities through a by-law.2 This authority also allows those municipalities to establish a permitting scheme for the above activities and impose various conditions to the issuance of these permits.3

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on in that way. Specific advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Amendments Streamline Project List Under Impact Assessment Act

The Government of Canada has amended regulations under the Impact Assessment Act to streamline environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects, particularly interprovincial pipelines. These changes shift regulatory responsibility for certain energy projects to the Canada Energy Regulator while removing other project types from federal review following the Supreme Court's 2024 constitutional ruling.
CanadaEnvironment
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

Federal Government Removes Certain Energy Projects From The Impact Assessment Act Project List

The Canadian government has removed seven types of energy projects from federal impact assessment requirements, shifting review responsibilities to the Canada Energy Regulator and provincial processes. This regulatory change affects pipelines, electrical transmission lines, oil sands facilities, and power plants, fundamentally altering how major energy infrastructure projects will be evaluated and approved across Canada.
CanadaEnvironment
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

Ontario Invites Expressions Of Interest For Licences Under The Geologic Carbon Storage Act

Ontario has launched its first call for expressions of interest in carbon capture and storage licences under the new Geologic Carbon Storage Act, targeting Crown-owned pore space beneath lakebeds surrounding the Ontario Peninsula. The detailed submission requirements reveal expectations that proponents have advanced well beyond initial planning stages, with the process serving as a critical test of Ontario's emerging CCS framework and its attractiveness to industry.
CanadaEnvironment
Torys
Torys
Article

Canadian Product Stewardship And EPR: 2026 Summer Update

Canadian governments and producer-responsibility organizations are refining extended producer responsibility programs across the country, affecting packaging, batteries, electronics, and hazardous products. Recent regulatory changes include expanded collection obligations, adjusted compliance timelines, and new enforcement measures, with significant developments in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic provinces.
CanadaEnvironment
Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG
Article

Changes To Fisheries Act Authorizations Regulations Streamline Application Process

On October 15, 2026, amendments to Canada's Fisheries Act Authorizations Regulations will streamline the application process for projects affecting fish and fish habitat. How will the new risk-based approach to offsetting requirements, deferred financial guarantees, and expanded ministerial powers reshape regulatory compliance for proponents navigating federal environmental approvals?
CanadaEnvironment
McMillan LLP
McMillan LLP
Article

Changing Lanes: Canada Proposes To Replace Its ZEV Sales Mandate With Technology-neutral Emission Standards

Canada is proposing to eliminate its federal zero-emission vehicle sales mandate and replace it with technology-neutral greenhouse gas emission standards. The shift comes amid declining EV sales, affordability concerns, and trade uncertainty with the United States, raising questions about how the automotive industry will balance climate goals with market realities. What will this regulatory transformation mean for manufacturers, consumers, and Canada's electrification timeline?
CanadaEnvironment
McCarthy Tétrault
McCarthy Tétrault
Article

From Club Penguin To Imagine Island: A New Era Of Children’s Online Gaming

Magic Potion Games, founded by the creators of Club Penguin, has launched Imagine Island, a new online multiplayer game designed for children aged 6-13. With over one million players during beta testing and a successful Series A funding round, the platform prioritizes safety and transparency while preparing for major expansion through entertainment partnerships and paid memberships.
CanadaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Goodmans LLP
Goodmans LLP