Entrance Permits

When is a Permit required?

An entrance permit is required before any construction, alteration or use of a new or existing entranceway. This ensures safe and efficient access while protecting road infrastructure and the travelling public. 

You must apply for an entrance permit if you are:

• Constructing a new entrance
• Constructing a temporary entrance
• Changing the design, location or use of an existing entrance
• Paving an existing entrance

New entrances to County roads will only be permitted when access from a local municipal road is not possible.

What type of application do I submit?

If you are buying or developing land and require a new entrance, you must complete an Application for Entrance Inquiry, and pay the applicable fee through Permit Central. If you are not the current owner of the lands, you will require the owner's consent for you to act as an agent on the inquiry application.

Upon receipt of the completed entrance inquiry application through Permit Central, We will inspect the proposed entrance location and advise you within 5-days if it can be approved.

When you are ready to construct or modify the entrance, you must complete an Application for Entrance Permit and pay the applicable fee through Permit Central. 

Any work taking place by you or a contractor within the County Right-of-Way requires an application for a Work in Right-of-Way Permit, applicable fees, documentation, deposits and application approval are required before work may begin.

The amount of the fee and deposit will depend on the type of Entrance permit you have applied for. Your inquiry application will remain valid for one year and if you proceed within this time period.

How to apply

Beginning April 2025, Entrance applications must be applied for using the Permit Central Online Portal. Paper applications will no longer be accepted. 

To apply for a Entrance Inquiry:

Visit the Lanark County Permit Central Portal: https://countylanark.permits.transnomis.com/INQ/LAN

To apply for an Entrance Permit:

Visit The Lanark County Permit Central Portal: https://countylanark.permits.transnomis.com/Entr/LAN

To Apply for a Work in Right-of-Way Permit:

 Visit the Lanark County Work in Right-of-Way webpage: https://www.lanarkcounty.ca/en/roads-trails-and-transit/work-in-row.aspx

Application types, fees and deposits

Fees and deposits will be processed online through Permit Central. Fees will be specified at the time of application review.

Once you have submitted an application, you will receive follow-up emails notifying you of Lanark County's receipt of your application. Please note, this is NOT an approval.

If your activity requires more than one permit (i.e. Entrance inquiries, Entrance permits, Work in R.O.W Permits), you may link all these permits in Permit Central or by using the link provided in your approval email for the original permit.  

Want to confirm an entrance before buying property?

If you are thinking of buying property you may ask if an existing entrance has a permit. We will complete the necessary file search at no cost and respond to you within 2 business days.

Guidelines and Criteria

In order to provide safe and efficient movement of through traffic on all county roads, the guidelines to determine if an entrance can be permitted are complex. You will find the criteria for an entrance on a county road including spacing requirements between entrances in the Access to County Roads Policy. The current Access to County Roads Policy was adopted by By-Law 2024-28 at the June 2024 session of Lanark County Council.

How long will it take to get a permit

Under normal circumstances after a complete Entrance application is received, you can expect to receive your response as follows:

• Non-commercial entrances that comply with the Policy, within 20 business days
• Private road, commercial, industrial, institutional or multi-residential entrances will be considered in conjunction with the site plan development or subdivision approval process. The response will occur within 30 business days from the date that the site plan is received.

If applications do not conform to the Policy you will be notified and alternative options will be presented. No  approvals will be issued until the proposed entrance location is approved

Entrance applications will be processed pending weather conditions. Applications will not be approved when winter conditions make site inspections impossible.