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Conservation Authorities

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Conservation authorities are local watershed management groups. They work to conserve, restore and manage Ontario's water, land and natural habitats. There are 36 conservation authorities in Ontario. Learn more on the Conservation Ontario website.

Durham Region conservation authorities

There are five conservation authorities within Durham Region:

Conservation authorities and your property

If your property is near a river or stream valley, the Lake Ontario Shoreline or a wetland you may require a permit from your conservation authority for development projects. Development projects can include:

Excavating and landscaping.
Building a home or an addition.
Building a garage, shed, deck or swimming pool.

For more information or to find out if you require a permit, contact your conservation authority. The regulated area can also be viewed on the yourDurham interactive map.

Flood forecasting and warning

In addition to limiting development in the floodplain, conservation authorities also monitor the weather and issue flood messages. Flood messages give residents advance notice of unsafe conditions or the potential for flooding. Contact your conservation authority to sign up.

To learn more about how you can protect your family, visit our Emergency preparedness page.

Conservation Authorities