Sea to Sky District Road Permitting Information

Purpose:

Only major licensees, as defined in section 115 (1) of the Forest Act, are eligible to apply for a road permit.

Application Requirements:

Licencees are directed to contact the district licensed authorizations officer at 604-898-2100 or FOR.SeatoSky@gov.bc.ca for further details on the application process.

Purpose:

All industrial users on a forest service road (FSR) are required to obtain a Road Use Permit (RUP) unless an exemption is granted in accordance with section 22.1 (4) of  Forest & Range Practices Act (FRPA). Even if there is an existing RUP issued to another industrial user for the road, all industrial users of a FSR must have a RUP. Designation as a primary or secondary RUP holder will be defined through the application review process.

Forest service road use is a shared responsibility by industrial users. One user is assigned the title and responsibility of primary user or designated maintainer. Generally the designate is the predominant user of the road system over time. In taking on that responsibility, the designate agrees to negotiate with secondary users the appropriate amount for contribution toward maintenance. The contributions would be commensurate with the use and may be monetary or work related.

If the FSR is currently maintained to a wilderness level by the district manager then the applicant must submit a reactivation prescription (plan). The plan must be prepared by a qualified registered professional*. The plan must address all improvements required to reactivate the road to a safe industrial standard and an environmentally sound manner. This plan may become integral to the Road Use Permit.

*Qualified registered professionals are expected to know and meet the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) legislation for Road Maintenance Practices and Standards. The FRPA approach is focused on achieving defined and measurable results.

Please refer to Road Maintenance Standards FS1287a. 

Road Use Permits and Amendments:

• Licensee must register in the Natural Resource Online Services (NROS) Portal
• Licensee submits New Road Use Permit or amendment applications through the NROS Portal
• Learn more about the application process and the NROS Portal
• To be relieved of obligations of a RUP, complete Statement of General Conformance RUP – Road Use Permit Closure Request Form

For amendments to existing RUPs use same procedure above. Identify all branches in permit. Please state in email that application is an amendment.

FSR Road Use Permit Closure:

Purpose:

An industrial user may apply to the district manager to be relieved of its Road Use Permit on a FSR when that road will not be required for industrial purposes. Before the Road Use Permit of the designated maintainer is cancelled, ensure that the road has been maintained to the level required for non-industrial use, to the extent necessary to ensure there is no material adverse effect on a forest resource, as evidenced by :

• structural integrity of the road prism and clearing width are protected; and drainage systems of the road are functional.

Or

• transferring the responsibility to another party as expressly authorized by the district manager*

Otherwise, the permit will remain in force even while the user is idle for periods of time, and any designated maintenance obligations remain during those same periods.

When your operations have been completed and you wish to be relieved of further obligations you are required to make a request in writing to the district manager to have your RUP terminated. Before removing equipment from the area serviced by this permit please contact the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District Engineering Group at 604-898-2100 to ascertain the level of maintenance required for the roads outlined in your Schedule A.

To assist the district manager in making a decision on an application for relief of RUP obligations, please complete and return the Statement of General Conformance RUP – Road Use Permit Closure Request form with a map and application letter. Conformance letters must be prepared, signed and sealed by an appropriate registered professional. See below for mapping standards

*Note: Road Use Permits are NOT transferable from one company to another nor from a parent company to a subsidiary company. Each company requesting a Road Use Permit must apply as outlined above. If more than one subsidiary of a parent company will be using the road, then each subsidiary company must submit an application.

Application Requirements:

To apply to be relieved of RUP obligations, contact the district office at FOR.SeatoSky@gov.bc.ca with details of your RUP agreement and details why you want to close the permit.

Purpose:

For situations where the wilderness level of maintenance is not sufficient for a commercial or public user, the user may elect to undertake some or all of the surface maintenance (grading, brushing, etc. required for providing motor vehicle access) of a FSR as authorized by the FSR Maintenance Agreement. Examples may include to access: recreation opportunities, utility company structures, commercial operations, or access to private property.

Application Requirements:

• Complete Road Maintenance Agreement Application Form
• Complete location map (see below for mapping standards).
• Email application form and location map to: FOR.SeatoSky@gov.bc.ca

Purpose:

For situations where the use of an FSR is required for non-industrial short-term use. Examples include: road use for filming, running or biking races, or a community special event.

To determine if you need a TRUA, please use the TRUA Decision Tool. 

Application Requirements:

To apply, submit the Application form a minimum of 30 business days before the event. You must include the following requirements:

• Location Map of proposed FSR and adjacent area
• Traffic Management Plan 
• Certificate of Insurance
• Letter of Agency (if applicable)

Please see page 2, Section 5 of the Application form for details on these requirements.

Submit the completed application package to FOR.SeatoSky@gov.bc.ca. Typical turnaround time is 3 weeks.

Additional Requirements:

In addition to a TRUA, you may need permits from the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship (WLRS). Please see below for details:

• Filming: please see Apply for provincial film permits. For questions regarding filming on Crown Land please contact AuthorizingAgency.SurreyLandManage@gov.bc.ca.
• Events in the Sea to Sky: please contact AuthorizingAgency.SurreyLandManage@gov.bc.ca to apply through the Special Events Notification process.
• Events outside of the Sea to Sky: please see Land use - recreation activities and adventure guiding. If the event is on an established Recreation Site or Trail, the only requirement is authorization from the District Recreation Officer. 

Purpose:

Any significant road works within an FSR right-of-way require authorization from the Ministry of Forests. Specifically, an applicant must apply for authorization if they wish to:

• Widen, realign, or reconstruct a portion of an FSR, which may include a retaining wall,
• Install or replace a bridge or major culvert on an FSR,
• Construct works for a purpose other than the passage of vehicular or pedestrian traffic within the FSR road prism or right of way, and/or
• Connect a road to an FSR.

Please see Guidelines for Applying for Significant Road Work Authorization (docx, 250KB) for details on the application process and application forms.

Application Requirements:

To apply, submit a complete application package to FOR.SeatoSky@gov.bc.ca a minimum of 3 weeks before work begins. The application package must include the appropriate application form along with all required attachments. See the Guidelines linked above for details on attachments. Typical turnaround time is 2 weeks.