Land Use Permits

Details on the types of land use activities that require a land use permit are set out in sections 4 and 5 of the Mackenzie Valley Land Use Regulations (MVLUR). Land use activities within the Mackenzie Valley that may require a land use permit include:

  • Use of explosives;
  • Use of vehicles;
  • Drilling;
  • Hydraulic prospecting;
  • Earth moving and clearing;
  • Campsites;
  • Fuel caches; and,
  • Preparation of lines, trails, or rights-of-way

Click for the full list of Land Use Permit criteria

Permits are not needed to use previously cleared land now authorized for grazing or agricultural purposes, or for:

  • Harvesting, and the construction and occupation of cabins and camps for the purpose of harvesting;
  • Hunting, trapping, or fishing; and,
  • Anything done in the course of prospecting, staking, or locating a mineral claim;

The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and the MVLUR set out the following general requirements relating to land use permits:

  • All lands within the Mackenzie Valley—Crown lands, municipal lands, private lands—(except for Wood Buffalo National Park) are subject to the MVLUR and to the application process for land use permits administered by the Land and Water Boards.
  • Interest holders in lands within the Mackenzie Valley, including holders of mineral claims, leases, rights-of-way, quarry permits, timber permits, and licences, etc. are subject to the MVLUR and may require a land use permit or permits to undertake land use activities in relation to their interest(s).
  • Projects are subject to a preliminary screening, unless specifically exempted, to determine if they might have significant adverse environmental impacts or be a source of public concern;
  • The LWB may issue either a type A or a type B land use permit, depending on the scope and magnitude of the land use activities being proposed;
  • A Land and Water Board (LWB) may apply terms and conditions to any land use permit that it issues.
  • After receiving an application, the Board will, within 42 days, make a decision whether to issue a permit, request further information, or refer to environmental assessment or deny if the application is not in conformity with an approved land use plan.
  • Land use permits may be issued for up to five years and may be extended once for up to two years for a maximum period of seven years.
  • Land use fees are payable to the Receiver General of Canada on actual lands used to complete the land use operations including existing lines, cleared areas, campsites, access routes, drill sites, etc.  Fees for the first two hectares are included in the application fee of $150.00, and for each additional hectare or portion of a hectare the land use fee is $50.00 per hectare.  Any adjustment of fees for actual hectares used for an operation will be done once an applicant submits a final plan and its verification is completed.
  • An LWB may require security to be posted by the applicant in accordance with the MVLUR.
  • An applicant may also require authorizations from other federal, territorial, or Aboriginal government agencies or departments, depending on the type of land use activities being proposed.
  • Aboriginal organizations, governments, and communities are key participants in the land use permitting process.  Applicants must make efforts to inform and obtain feedback on their proposed land use activities from these Aboriginal organizations, governments, and communities.  This must be done before they submit their applications to the LWB and is expected throughout the life of a permit.