Occupying our Roadway

All contractors, utilities and individuals who temporarily "occupy" the Municipality's highway (including the travelled portion, sidewalk and boulevard) must obtain a road occupancy permit from the Public Works Department.

Occupancy includes, but is not limited to, any work or construction that may occur on the Municipal highway including:

  • Tree maintenance
  • Utilities work
  • Road construction
  • Sidewalk work
  • Special Event Signage
  • Any other activities that are proposed to occur on the Municipal highway

If multiple contractors are working at a single address at different times, each contractor must obtain a road occupancy permit and provide a security deposit.

If multiple addresses are involved in the proposed work, the road occupancy permit must include all the addresses where the municipal right of way will be occupied.

Please refer to By-law 2014-022 for additional information, including minimum requirements for an application.

An approved road occupancy permit must be on-site at all times. 

Road Occupancy Permits are valid for up to one month. If an extension is needed, the applicant must submit an extension request to the Public Works Department before the date on the approved permit has passed.

You also need a road occupancy permit for the transport of any vehicles or loads on the Municipal highway that exceed dimension or load limits as set out in the Highway Traffic Act.

Please refer to the Special Event Signage Policy (PDF) for more information on signage for special events. 

Road occupancy permits require a security deposit when a municipal boulevard or roadway is used or altered because of the proposed works.

The applicant must submit a cheque or money order as a security deposit in case of any potential damages or restoration to the municipal boulevard.

A certificate of insurance in the amount of $2,000,000 with the Municipality of Clarington as an additional named insured MUST be included with this application.

The applicant must also submit pre-construction photos of the Municipal Right of Way (road, curb, boulevard, sidewalk etc.).

  1. Once the approved road occupancy permit has been signed and sent back to the applicant, the work may begin.
  2. After the work is completed, the applicant must submit a request to Public Works to release securities back to the applicant.
  3. Once we receive the request to release securities, a municipal staff member will schedule an inspection of the work area to confirm that all the features within the Municipal Right of Way have been restored to existing conditions.
  4. Once the restoration is deemed satisfactory by a municipal staff member, we will notify the applicant that their security deposit is available for pickup.

Waste bins and construction equipment are not allowed to be stored on the road. These items must be stored on private property or the boulevard. If this is not possible, we suggest the contractor use a flatbed truck or trailer to get rid of excavated material and waste. Overnight storage on the road is not permitted.

Permits may need to be reviewed on a site-specific basis. Where limitations exist, consideration will be given to allowing the placement of building materials on the roadway for immediate removal. Only loose material, such as gravel and other granular material can be temporarily stored in the roadway, all traffic controls must conform to OTM Book 7. The method of placing and removing materials cannot damage public infrastructure and the location of the materials cannot impact safety.

If new sod has been installed on the municipal boulevard as part of the restoration, the municipal staff member conducting the post-work inspection must be able to confirm that the new sod has been established and the roots have been embedded into the soil before securities can be released. This may result in the inspection being scheduled two to four weeks after the initial work has taken place.

Apply for a road occupancy permit

It's now easier than ever to apply for a road occupancy permit with our new Service Clarington portal. To get started, visit the Service Clarington portal and register for a new account.

If you have an existing road occupancy application in progress, create a new account using the email address you used on your initial permit application. If you are unable to see your past applications, email rop@clarington.net and staff will assist with linking your past applications to your new online account.

Applications must be submitted a minimum of 10 business days before work is to begin. Applying for a Road Occupancy Permit does not authorize you to begin work until you have received the approved permit.

Learn more about how to use the portal at www.clarington.net/ServiceClarington.

Service Clarington Portal

Application process

  1. Log in to the Service Clarington portal or create a new account.
  2. Fill out the road occupancy permit application. There is no charge for the road occupancy permit, however, applicants may need to provide a road damage deposit that we will refund after the occupancy has ended and the inspection shows that no road, boulevard or sidewalk damage has occurred.
  3. Staff will review your submission to ensure compliance with all applicable municipal policies and laws. 
  4. If the proposed work meets all the requirements, we will issue your road occupancy permit promptly, and you will receive confirmation of the approval by email.

Need help?

If you are unable to apply online or need help with the application process, please call 905-623-3379 ext. 2661 or email rop@clarington.net.

Contact Us

Address: 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville, ON L1C 3A6

Phone: 905-623-3379
TTY: 1-844-790-1599

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