Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Permit

Any person intending to do work (construction, demolition, clearing land, landscaping, etc.) within 30 metres of a watercourse or wetland requires a permit. It is illegal under the Watercourse and Wetland Alteration Regulation (90-80) to make or perform any watercourse or wetland alteration unless authorized by a permit issued by the Minister of Environment and Local Government.

Types of permits available include:

• Standard permits: Apply to projects with medium to high environmental risk and are issued for a single alteration at a single location. 
• Provisional permits: Apply to alterations with little or no potential environmental impact and can be issued if specific conditions and location restrictions are met.  
• Multiple permits: May be issued for more than one alteration at a single site or for similar alterations at multiple locations under one application. 
• Certification permits: A type of permit issued to applicants who have completed required training and certification.
• Emergency permits: May be issued when a situation threatens people, property, the environment or infrastructure and is deemed an emergency by the department. 
• Permit renewal or revision: May be issued when a project is not completed on time or when the original project scope has changed. 

Additional details can be found in the permitting guidelines (PDF 125 KB).

The Watercourse and Wetland Alteration (WAWA) Reference Map helps identify potential wetland and watercourse features in the province. It is based on a composite of the most recent publicly available information on wetland and watercourse locations. It is used as a reference tool only. Any alteration within 30 metres of a wetland that meets the following definitions, whether shown on the map or not, requires a permit.

Watercourse

Any natural or human-made place where water collects or flows. This includes lakes, ponds and channels with a rock or soil bottom that are wider than 0.5 metres, along with their beds and banks. Water may not always be present and may only flow or collect at certain times of the year.

Wetlands

Land where water is at or near the surface, or where the soil stays wet for long periods of time. These wet conditions support things that grow or live in water-rich environments, such as wetland plants, water-soaked soils, and other organisms adapted to wet conditions.

Steps for identifying potential watercourses or wetlands:

1. Review the Watercourse and Wetland Alteration (WAWA) Reference Map.
2. To help identify potentially unmapped watercourses or wetlands near your property, walk the property to look for defined channels or areas where water is likely to collect like low spots or depressions, near a stream or river that floods, in heavy or clay soils or highly organic soils. Soils that smell like rotten eggs can also be a sign. Look for signs that water is close to the surface. Common wetland plants include peat moss, sedges, cattails, ferns, black spruce, cedar and alders.
3. A request can be made to the Department of Environment and Local Government for support to determine the presence of these features and if a permit is required by using desktop analysis or a site visit, if deemed necessary.

All projects requiring a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration permit can be applied for using the online application program.

When submitting an application, applicants will need to provide:

• project location (A map interface is available, but a Property Identification Number or coordinates will help in zooming in on your location.)
• full description of the project
• drawings or sketches (fully dimensioned)
• photos of the project area
• letter of consent from the property owner, if you are not the legal owner
• method of payment (debit or credit card)

If you have printed photos, maps, letters, or other documents to support your application and are not able to submit them electronically, you may mail or deliver them in person to your regional office, quoting your application confirmation number that you will receive at the end of the application process.

Permits are typically granted to the person planning the project (i.e., landowner). If someone is applying on this person’s behalf, a landowner consent form (PDF 236 KB) must be included with the application. 

If the alteration is to take place on Crown lands, you must obtain the approval of the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, Crown Lands Branch before a permit can be issued.

If the alteration is to take place within an incorporated municipality, you must obtain the necessary approvals and comply with municipal and/or planning by-laws.