Roads & Transportation

• Application
• Fillable Application
• Entrance Specifications

Application for Road Occupancy Permit / Entrance Permit is made by completing the relevant application form.  Only the persons performing the intended work are able to apply for a permit unless otherwise provided for in By-law 2018-031.

All applications are subject to processing timelines, permits are not issued at the time of application.  Standard processing timelines are dependent on the scope, duration and impacts of the intended work.  Normal processing timelines are 5 business days from the date that a complete application is submitted.

Permit fees are due at the time of submission and are required for a complete application.

Required documentation in order for an application to be complete:

• Road Occupancy Permit / Entrance Permit application
• Liability Insurance Certificate requirements
• Sketch / Description of proposed work
• Traffic Management Plan in accordance with Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7 Temporary Conditions
• Permit Fee in the amount of $235.00, payable by cash, debit or cheque.  Payment can be made in person at Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street or by mail to 97 Hurontario Street, P.O. Box 157, Collingwood, ON L9Y 3Z5.

Permits can be submitted:

• In person at Town Hall, 97 Hurontario St. Collingwood, ON
• By Mail at 97 Hurontario Street, P.O. Box 157, Collingwood, ON  L9Y 3Z5
• By Email to engineering@collingwood.ca (permits submitted by email will not be issued until payment is received).

Call Before you Dig
Before you excavate, be sure to contact ON1Call to have all underground services located.

A municipal sanitary sewer system is a system of underground pipes that transport sanitary sewage from the plumbing of privately owned buildings to the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The sewer line that carries wastewater from the sanitary fixtures (sink, toilet, tub) and floor drains inside your home or business to the Town's sewer main is called a sewer lateral.  As per the Sewer Use By-law, the property owner owns and is responsible for maintaining the sewer lateral from inside the building to the point where it connects with the Town's sewer main.

Here are the steps to take when faced with a sewer blockage:

1.  Check the toilets and sinks and clear any blockages

2. Call for Help

If that does not solve the problem, call for help.  The homeowner should contact a private service provider, such as a plumber, to identify the issue and remove the blockage.

Homeowners also have the option to call Public Works at 705-445-1351 for assistance where service fees are applicable as per the 2024 Fees and Service Charges By-Law.

• $225.00 / hour
• $750.00 (minimum 3h call out) after 4pm Monday-Friday, Saturday and Sunday

3. Locate the sewer cleanout and ensure access

The home’s sewer cleanout must be located and accessible.  Please provide a clear path to the cleanout and make sure it is fully exposed to allow specialized machinery to be used.

4. Call for a Sewer Safety Inspection

Before doing any work beyond the outside walls of the building, contact  Ontario One Call ON1Call 1-800-400-2255 for a Sewer Safety Inspection so Enbridge Gas can eliminate the potential of a gas line conflict with your sewer lateral. The Inspection is provided at no cost to the homeowner.  If the Town is performing the work, they will look after arranging for the sewer safety inspection.

5. Avoid Using Your Plumbing

Avoid flushing toilets and using the sink, tub and shower drains until the source of the sewer backup has been corrected.

6.  Replacement or Repair of a Failed Sewer Lateral

If the blockage is not able to be cleared, depending on the location of the blockage (private property or Town property), the owner or Public Works may need to excavate so that the sewer lateral can be repaired or replaced.  The homeowner is responsible financially for the maintenance, replacement or repair of a failed sewer lateral on both private and Town property.

(a) Private Property - if the required work falls within the area from the building to the property line (private property), the homeowner can make their own arrangements to repair or replace the section on private property without the involvement of the Town.  When the sewer lateral at the property line has been exposed we would ask that you contact Public Works in order that the Town can confirm that the section within the roadway is clear. 

(b) Town Property - where the failure occurs in the portion of the sewer lateral between the property line and the sewer main (Town property), the repair work must be undertaken by Public Works.

• Fees - the cost for replacement is 50% of time and materials to a maximum of $6,000.00 as per By-law 2020-015.
• Authorization for Work – the homeowner will need to authorize the work by signing a Work Order prepared by Public Works.
• Locates - Public Works will arrange for locations to identify any underground infrastructure in the dig area.
• Repair / Replacement – Public Works will complete the repair or replacement of the sewer lateral.
• Invoice – following completion, the homeowner will receive an invoice for the works.

Both Private and Town Property – if replacement or repairs are needed on both private and Town property, the work on the Town section would take place after your install and would follow the same steps as in (b).

What can cause a sewer blockage?

The most common cause of backed up drains or basement flooding in a home is a blockage in the sewer lateral connecting the home to the sanitary sewer on the street.

This is most commonly caused by:

• tree roots growing into the sewer line;
• too much fat, oil or grease buildup in the sewer line;
• improper disposal of items such as rags, wipes, toys, garbage, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc.;
• structural concerns such as breaks and collapse of old deteriorated sanitary sewer lines.

Temporary Road Closure Applications are completed by contractors, event organizers and consultants, and approved by Engineering Services. Please review the Guide to Application before completing and submitting your Temporary Road Closure Application (fillable PDF).

Completed applications are to be submitted to engineering@collingwood.ca.

The Town’s Speed Reduction Policy provides a uniform set of guidelines and procedures that ensures any request for a speed reduction will be evaluated effectively. It is based on warrants from the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) and standard engineering practices. Speed reductions will be considered if a combination of warrants are met. These include:

• TAC Spreadsheet for Automated Speed Limit Guidelines – this spreadsheet evaluates criteria such as roadway geometry, lane width, roadside hazards, pedestrian and cyclist exposure, pavement surface, intersections, crosswalks, driveways, and design speeds. The spreadsheet assigns a risk score and calculates an appropriate speed. This speed is then compared with the existing posted speed.
• 85th Percentile Concept – this concepts asserts that a speed set at which 85 percent of people drive is considered the maximum safe speed limit for a specific location. Staff will conduct a speed study to determine the 85th Percentile Speed and compare the result to the existing posted speed limit.
• Proximity to a school – roads that abut a school will be given consideration for a reduced speed limit.

As per the policy, the procedure to follow for a speed reduction request is:

• A written request is required
• Staff will conduct necessary studies (if necessary)
• The Director (or designate) will make a decision based on warrants in the policy

Please refer to the Speed Reduction Policy for more details. If you wish to make a request please submit it to
Email: engineering@collingwood.ca
Mail: 97 Hurontario Street, P.O. Box 157, Collingwood, ON, L9Y 3Z5

Residents should also report aggressive or dangerous driving to OPP – Collingwood Detachment by calling 705-445-4321.

Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of trees located on the Town-owned road right-of-way, between the curb and private property line, on boulevards and along streets.  Each year the Town of Collingwood completes a tree pruning program that involves block pruning to prune trees on entire streets. Trees are pruned for the following reasons, all of which increase roadside safety and improve community image:

• To encourage the health of a tree;
• To clear tree limbs and branches interfering with structures, street lighting, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, traffic signals or signs;
• To remove dead, broken or split limbs; and/or
• To maintain structural stability and balance of a tree.

Public Works will only remove trees if they are on the Town’s property.  Tree removal will occur where trees may present a hazard to immediate surroundings.  Removal of a hazardous tree that has the potential to fall on a busy street or sidewalk will take priority over a tree along the side of a trail.

The Town of Collingwood is committed to replacing trees that are removed and currently plants approximately 125 throughout the community on an annual basis.  Replacement trees occur as budget allows and if site conditions are favourable for a tree.

Residents and businesses are responsible for trees growing on their private lands and are encouraged to call a certified and insured arborist to assess and manage their private tree concerns.

If you have a concern with a tree on the Town-owned road right-of-way, please report the location of the tree to the Public Works office at engineering@collingwood.ca. As a result of prioritization, an exact timeline for addressing the concern cannot be provided; however, once a tree is on the list to be addressed, rest assured the Town is aware of the concern and will get to it as soon as resources are available. 

Designs for roadways, utility upgrades, and cycling lanes strive to avoid mature trees where possible. When that is not possible, the Town strives to plant new trees in the affected area.

Click here to access more information on the Emerald Ash Borer and Memorial/Dedication Trees.

Other helpful links related to our tree canopy:

• What is the Town of Collingwood doing about publicly owned trees? - which includes information about Emerald Ash Borer, tree maintenance on Town-owned lands, and the Tree Dedication Program
• Urban Forest Management Plan - which includes the work underway to further preserve and augment our tree canopy
• Application for Tree Destruction and/or Cutting

Garbage and debris or roadside litter is unappealing to the eye for both residents and motorists, is harmful to the environment and takes away from our community’s natural beauty.

The Town of Collingwood Adopt-a-Road Program is a private/public partnership where environmentally conscious citizens, community and civic organizations, private businesses and/or industries make a personal contribution to a cleaner and more beautiful road system. It is a public service program for volunteers to pick up litter along certain Town road right-of-ways; the Town recognizes the efforts of the volunteers or organizations by posting a sign on the roadway they've adopted.

Volunteer groups or organizations wishing to learn more about the program can do so by contacting the Engineering Services Department at 705-445-1292 or by email at engineering@collingwood.ca.

Volunteers wishing to participate in the Adopt-A-Road Program must complete and submit an agreement to the Engineering Services Department.

Adopt A Road Litter Pick Up Agreement

Adopt A Road Participant Safety Guidelines

Thank you to all the volunteer groups and organizations that participate in the Adopt-A-Road Program. Your efforts are very much appreciated and we welcome your continued support on this very important initiative.