What happens after your subdivision is approved
Once your subdivision application is approved, the construction phase begins. You are responsible for building all required infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, storm sewers, water mains, sanitary sewers, and utility connections. All work must match the approved plan and follow the City's engineering rules.
Follow the Wrenford Design Criteria
Every project must follow the Wrenford Design Criteria package. This package sets the technical rules for how roads, utilities, and sidewalks are built in our city. It includes four schedules:
- Schedule A – Roadway cross-sections and utility requirements
- Schedule B – Standard construction details for valves, manholes, hydrants, and tree protection
- Schedule C – Materials for water mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, and roads
- Schedule D – Summary of updates and effective dates
Staff will review your construction drawings before work starts. The standard review takes twenty business days and costs a base fee of $1,200.00. If you need the drawings reviewed in five business days, an expedited surcharge of 40% applies. You can also expect to pay $185.00 per hour for professional drawing reviews.
Required plans and permits
Before you break ground, you must submit several plans and secure permits. You cannot start construction without Written Permission to Commence Construction.
- Erosion and sediment control plan: You must submit an Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Plan. Staff review these in fourteen business days. You will also need to schedule a mandatory pre-construction meeting.
- Construction Traffic Management Plan: If your work blocks a road or sidewalk, you must submit a plan showing how traffic and pedestrians will be safely redirected.
- Street use permits: Any work inside the road right-of-way requires a permit. Give us ten business days' notice for high-impact work and six business days for low-impact work.
- Water and sewer connection permits: You must apply for permits to connect temporary and permanent water and wastewater services. Contact Water & Wastewater for details.
Construction season rules
Weather and ground conditions dictate when you can build. The City enforces strict seasonal rules to protect our roads and the environment.
- Active construction season: General road and utility work runs from May 1 to November 14.
- Spring thaw restrictions: Heavy trucks are banned on local roads from March 15 to April 30 to prevent damage to the road base.
- Winter construction ban: Paving, grading, and trenching on public roads are prohibited from November 15 to March 14.
If you need to work outside these windows, you must apply for an operating variance and pay the required de-icing and restoration fees.
Inspections and final approval
Once construction begins, staff will visit your site to check the work. You must allow a site inspection every seven days. You also need to give us two weeks' notice when you want to schedule an inspection. The standard inspection fee is $450.00 per lot.
After all infrastructure is built and passes inspection, you must submit final as-built plans within ninety days. Staff will review these plans and issue a final subdivision approval certificate. This certificate processing takes ten business days. Once you have the certificate, you can register the plan with the land registry office.
Questions or need help?
For technical questions, drawing reviews, or inspection scheduling, contact the Engineering Standards team at [email protected] or call 519-555-0140. You can also book a pre-development consultation to walk through your site requirements before you start.