Regulated Area Maps

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Protecting People and Property and Supporting Safe Development

Ontario’s municipalities and conservation authorities work to protect people and property against the risk of natural hazards, including flood and erosion hazards, watercourses, and valleys, as well as wetlands and the area surrounding them. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) reviews and regulates development in or near these natural hazards under the Conservation Authorities Act and Ontario Regulation 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits. Proposed development in regulated areas needs to be reviewed and approved by the UTRCA. 

The UTRCA develops maps to flag properties that may contain natural hazards. The regulated area depicted on the maps is approximate and based on the best available information at the time of map production. A property may contain natural hazards that are not identified on the current regulated area maps but would still be subject to regulation. You can view these maps at maps.thamesriver.on.ca. 

The UTRCA is undertaking a comprehensive review and upgrade of its regulated area maps. Updating these maps is an important and ongoing process that enables the conservation authority and its municipal partners to use the most current information to identify hazards, assess risk, and guide land use decisions. 

Changes and refinements to the approximate regulated area will be necessary and additional regulated areas may be identified (or removed). Extensive consultation (on-line and in person) and communication with watershed residents, member municipalities, and other interested parties will be essential to the process.

If your property falls within a regulated area it means that there are one or more natural hazards identified on your property. Before beginning any construction or alterations on your property, please contact the UTRCA. Staff will work with you to understand your proposed project and determine if a conservation authority permit is required.

Screening Areas

Screening areas indicate where Ontario Regulation 41/24 is likely to apply and where further investigation of natural hazards and /or wetlands on a property may be needed. They are used as a tool to assist the UTRCA when assessing proposed development.

Properties located outside of a screening area can proceed as usual through the development process. For properties within a screening area, further analysis and discussion is needed to determine the impact of the hazard on development proposals. The type of discussion and analysis will depend on the site-specific situation.

In addition to flood hazards, screening area maps also include erosion hazards, wetlands, and the area surrounding wetlands. There are currently two screening areas in the UTRCA watershed: Dingman Creek and the Thames River within the City of London.