A practical decision path to figure out whether your project needs a land use permit and/or a water licence in the NWT—and which board or authority applies by region. Includes a “what delays applications” pitfalls list, a printable checklist, and a copy/paste project intake template you can send to a board early.
In the North, “we’ll get the permit later” is not a minor admin mistake. It can mean missing the season, losing a freight window, or mobilizing crews to a site you can’t legally operate on. Land use permits and water licences are also tied to environmental screening in the Mackenzie Valley, so the authorization you need can change who screens your project and what timelines apply.
This page is an operator-first decision path: do you need a land use permit, a water licence, or both—and which regulator applies based on where the work happens. It also flags the common reasons applications get delayed (incomplete info, unclear footprint, and late scoping of camps, fuel, and waste).
A land use permit is typically about activities on land that can disturb the surface or create risk: camps, clearing, excavation, crossings, trails/rights-of-way, fuel caches, and similar work. The exact triggers are set by regulation and depend on whether you are in the Mackenzie Valley (MVLUR) or on territorial lands in the ISR (NWT Land Use Regulations).
GNWT explains that you need a water licence if your activity requires the use of water or the deposit of waste that exceeds thresholds established by the Northwest Territories Waters Regulations. This includes many industrial and camp-related activities when volumes or waste deposition exceed thresholds.
If you have a camp, store fuel, withdraw water, discharge grey/blackwater, or disturb land, assume you need to confirm permit/licence triggers early. You may need both a land use permit and a water licence.
In the Mackenzie Valley, regional Land and Water Boards exist for settled claim areas (for example, Gwich’in, Sahtu, and Wek’èezhìi), and the MVLWB has a coordinating/consistency role across the system. The practical approach is to use the Boards’ maps and public registries, then confirm with the board office using your coordinates.
Temporary camps often drive permit thresholds through person-days, footprint size, clearing, and fuel storage. The Review Board’s Northern Land Use Guidelines for camps note that permitting thresholds can include person-days, fuel storage, building construction, and land clearing, with thresholds listed in the Mackenzie Valley Land Use Regulations (Mackenzie Valley) and the Territorial land use regulations for the ISR.
Fuel caches and storage volumes matter. Even when your “main job” is small, fuel storage can be the activity that pushes you over a threshold or adds conditions, security, and inspection attention.
If you withdraw water (even seasonally) or deposit waste (camp wastewater, effluent, runoff), you may trigger water licensing thresholds. GNWT’s water management FAQ points you to the Waters Regulations thresholds and emphasizes that licensing depends on the region and regulator.
Building crossings, clearing trails, and excavating can trigger land use permits quickly. These activities also tend to trigger more questions about erosion control, sediment, and restoration plans.
In the Mackenzie Valley, a land use permit or water licence can trigger preliminary screening under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act system. GNWT explains that if a land use permit or water licence is required, the preliminary screening is conducted by the applicable land and water board. If your screening identifies significant concerns, a project can be referred to environmental assessment through the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board process.
Operator implication: if your project is close to a seasonal mobilization window, start early enough that you can absorb screening time and information requests without losing the season.
Use your one-page scope to check triggers:
If you are in the Mackenzie Valley and need a permit or licence, assume preliminary screening will be part of the timeline. Build your schedule backward from “approval in hand,” not from “application submitted.”
Use this to contact GNWT ECC (ISR territorial lands), the Inuvialuit Water Board (ISR water licensing), or the applicable Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. Keep it short. Attach your map and one-page scope.
Subject: Request for permit/licence pathway confirmation – [Project name] – [coordinates/area]
Hello [Office/Name],
We are planning a land-based activity near: [coordinates + brief location description]. Before we finalize schedule and mobilization, we want to confirm:
One-page project summary:
We have attached a map and a one-page summary. If helpful, we can take a short call to confirm the correct pathway and the information you need on first submission.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Company legal name]
[Phone] | [Email]
No. Some projects trigger only one. But camps, fuel storage, water withdrawal, and waste deposition often push projects into needing both. The clean approach is to scope early and confirm with the correct regulator using your coordinates.
The Inuvialuit Water Board is the regulatory authority responsible for water licensing in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. If your ISR project involves water use or waste deposit above thresholds, start there.
GNWT explains that if a land use permit or water licence is required, the preliminary screening is conducted by the applicable land and water board. If no land use permit or water licence is required but another authorization is, screening is done by the relevant authority for that authorization.
Submit a complete, consistent package: clear coordinates and footprint, a one-page scope in plain language, and complete camp/fuel/water/waste details. Most delays come from incomplete information and unclear “what exactly is happening on-site.”
What it is: GNWT entry point for land use permits on territorial lands in the ISR and the application path.
Who it’s for: Projects on territorial lands in the ISR that exceed land use regulation thresholds.
When it helps: First stop to confirm whether your ISR project needs a land use permit and what to submit.
Northern caveat: If you need the permit this season, start early enough to absorb questions and rework.
How to start: Use the page to download the application form and confirm requirements before mobilization.
https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/apply-land-use-permit-inuvialuit-settlement-region-isr
What it is: GNWT overview explaining when you need a water licence and listing the NWT’s water licensing boards.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs the “which board applies” starting point.
When it helps: Early scoping and regulator routing.
Northern caveat: Thresholds are regulation-based; don’t rely on assumptions.
How to start: Confirm your region, then go to the applicable board’s application guidance.
https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/water-management-and-monitoring/faq-water-management
What it is: ISR water licensing authority site with jurisdiction checks and application downloads.
Who it’s for: ISR projects involving water use or waste deposit that may exceed thresholds.
When it helps: Your first stop for ISR water licensing.
Northern caveat: Include clear maps and complete water/waste details to avoid “incomplete” loops.
How to start: Use “Do I need a Licence?” and download the correct application guidance.
What it is: A practical process guide for land use permits under the Mackenzie Valley regulatory system.
Who it’s for: Mackenzie Valley projects preparing to apply for a land use permit through a board.
When it helps: When you want fewer completeness issues and clearer expectations.
Northern caveat: Use it as a structure for your Application Pack so information requests are faster to answer.
How to start: Review the steps and mirror the required sections in your one-page scope and attachments.
What it is: Map tools showing where current land use permits and water licences exist across the Land and Water Boards.
Who it’s for: Anyone trying to confirm which board is active in an area and what kinds of authorizations are common.
When it helps: Early routing and “which board applies” sanity checks.
Northern caveat: A map is not a legal determination, but it’s a fast first pass before you email a board.
How to start: Search your area, then confirm jurisdiction with the board using coordinates.
What it is: GNWT explanation of who conducts preliminary screening and how it relates to permits and licences.
Who it’s for: Mackenzie Valley projects trying to understand why timelines can include screening steps.
When it helps: Scheduling and risk management before mobilization.
Northern caveat: Screening time can be the difference between “this season” and “next season.”
How to start: Use the page to confirm who screens your project based on which authorizations are required.
https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/preliminary-screening-mackenzie-valley
What it is: Review Board guidance describing how preliminary screenings are conducted under the Mackenzie Valley system.
Who it’s for: Proponents who want to understand screening logic and what information matters.
When it helps: When you’re building an application package that anticipates common screening questions.
Northern caveat: The more your scope is vague, the more screening questions you should expect.
How to start: Read the sections on information requirements and significance considerations, then tighten your one-page scope.
https://new.reviewboard.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/guideline-for-preliminary-screeners.pdf
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