Apply to the NPP

Under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (CNWA), owners of works who propose to construct, place, alter, rebuild, remove or decommission works that are in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable water may be required to apply for an approval to Transport Canada (TC), or seek authorization through the public resolution process. The Navigation Protection Program (NPP) is responsible for administering and processing applications for approval. The Minister of Transport has the authority to issue terms and conditions with an approval.

There are different reasons to apply to the NPP for an approval. Before you apply, you need to determine if your project may be categorized as a major work or minor work and whether your work will be located on a scheduled water or not. Depending on the case, the process will be different.

On this page

Apply for an approval

Before you begin

The minimum information you’ll need to apply for an approval is:

  • a map showing the work’s exact project location;
  • the legal site description and position of the work in latitude and longitude;
  • the plan view drawings (top down) with all related dimensions;
  • the profile view drawings (side view) with all related dimensions;
  • the general arrangement drawing (depicting new and entire existing work);
  • a detailed project description;
  • the construction methodology explaining how the work will be done; and
  • the expected start and end dates.

Apply online

To apply online:

  1. Follow the prompts to create an account on the NPP External submission site, or login if you already have an account.
  2. Answer some questions with the “Project Review Tool” to see if you need to apply.
  3. If required, complete the application for an approval form.
  4. Upload the supporting documents to complete your application.
  5. After creating your submission, use your online account to edit, or view your application before it is submitted. Once your application is submitted it can only be viewed. You can also use your account to contact the NPP.

Apply now

Other ways to apply

We encourage you to submit applications online.

Note: If you have no access to the internet, please contact your regional NPP Office to obtain information on how to proceed.

Guidance documents

After you apply for an approval

After we receive your application,

  1. The NPP will screen your application to make sure that the work requires an application and the information is complete. If an Order in Council exemption is required due to prohibited activities (see subsection 24(1) of the CNWA), you will be notified at this time. For more information on an Order in Council exemption, please refer to the “What might be the outcome” section of the Guide to the Navigation Protection Program’s Application and Review Requirements.
  2. The NPP will assess whether the work interferes with navigation. Parallel reviews such as an environmental review and Indigenous peoples of Canada consultations may be required. A public notice will need to be published.
  3. After the assessment, the NPP will contact you to:
    • issue your work an approval (approved work); or
    • deny the approval if the impacts to navigation are unacceptable.

The NPP may monitor approved works for compliance with the conditions of approval.

Public notices about a work

A notice invites the public to comment on the proposed project for a specific period. For all application for approval of works located on a scheduled waterway, NPP will receive and review all the comments. For works located on non-scheduled waterways, the comments will be directed to the owner of the proposed work.

Information related to the public notice is located on the NPP External Submission Site.

Impact assessments and consultations with Indigenous peoples of Canada

Impact assessments and consultations with Indigenous peoples of Canada are important considerations in our final decisions. These processes often run in parallel to the assessment.

Minor Works

The Minor Works Order allows for works to be built, without review or approval, if they meet the criteria for the applicable class of works as well as specific terms and conditions.

However, if the proposed work is included in one of the following classes of minor works, the deposit of information and publication of a public notice are mandatory pursuant to the Minor Works Order:

  • Erosion-protection works
  • Aerial cables
  • Submarine cables
  • Buried pipelines
  • Outfall & water intakes
  • Dredging
  • Watercourse crossings

Major Works

Owners of major works that may interfere with navigation are required to apply to TC. The following classes of works established in the Major Works Order, are designated as likely to substantially interfere with navigation on any navigable water:

  • Water control structures;
  • Bridges;
  • Ferry Cables, excluding the repair and replacement of existing ferry cables;
  • Causeways;
  • Aquaculture facilities.

Works in navigable waters listed in the schedule

A schedule of waterways is established under the CNWA to identify navigable waters where project proponents may need to apply to TC. The owner of a work (other than a major or minor work) in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable water that is listed in the schedule, which may interfere with navigation, must apply to TC.

Owners of works (other than a major or minor work) in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable water that is listed in the schedule, may proceed if:

  1. the work, or its construction, placement, alteration, rebuilding, removal or decommissioning, would not interfere with navigation; and
  2. the owner deposits information and publishes a public notice before beginning the construction, placement, alteration, rebuilding, removal or decommissioning of the work.

Works in navigable waters not listed in the schedule

Some navigable waters aren’t listed in the schedule of the CNWA.

Owners of works (other than a major work or minor work) in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable water that is not listed in the schedule, which may interfere with navigation, have the option to:

  1. either apply to the Minister of Transport; or
  2. seek authorization through the public resolution process

Owners of works (other than a minor work or a major work) that is not listed in the schedule may proceed if:

  1. the work, or its construction, placement, alteration, rebuilding, removal or decommissioning, would not interfere with navigation; and
  2. the owner deposits information and publishes a public notice before beginning the construction, placement, alteration, rebuilding, removal or decommissioning of the work.

Process for works in non-scheduled waters

You must follow one of the processes below if your work is located in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable water that is not listed in the schedule:

  1. Apply to NPP to go through the same process as if the work was on a scheduled water; or
  2. Deposit the information on the online registry about the project and publish a notice inviting public comments. The notice usually gives the public 30 days to comment on the proposed work. Any comments that are received during this timeframe are part of the public resolution process.

    You and the commenters then have 45 days to resolve any concerns. If the concerns are resolved in this time, you may proceed with your work based on the timelines in subsection 10.2(1) of the Act.

    If the concerns aren’t resolved after 45 days, the commenter has 15 days to request a decision from the NPP. In this case, after reviewing your proposal and any public input, the NPP will confirm whether you need to submit an application for an approval or not.

Emergency works

An emergency work, as stated in the CNWA, is a work (other than a minor work) in, on, over, under, through or across any navigable water that has had its construction, placement, alteration, rebuilding, removal or decommissioning authorized by the Minister to immediately respond to either a matter of national security, a national emergency or an emergency that poses a risk to public health, safety, environment or property, or threatens to cause social disruption or a breakdown in the flow of essential goods, services or resources.

Related links