NAV CANADA assesses all land use proposals near airports and air navigation infrastructure before construction begins to ensure that safety and efficiency are not compromised. Some development uses may not be permitted even if other permits have been obtained.
Consulting with the Land Use Office often reveals issues that need to be addressed. We advise you to contact NAV CANADA as soon as you start to conceptualize or plan a project to learn about the aviation-specific regulations and operational and safety standards that may significantly impact your project.
Processing times vary as they are dependent on the complete and accurate submission of the respective form and the complexity of the project. Usually, NAV CANADA attempts to respond within 8 to 12 weeks.
Should you be planning a project in or around an airport, please be aware these times can go up to 12 to 18 months pending necessary mitigations. Let us know about your project as early in the planning process as possible.
Specific information submitted to NAV CANADA's Land Use Office (that is, coordinates, structure heights and owner's contact information) will be distributed externally.
These external stakeholders include, but are not limited to, Transport Canada, aerodromes, NORAD, external design organizations (EDOs), Department of National Defence (DND), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for review of services for which they are responsible and maintain.
We recommend consulting:
It is imperative that you notify the Land Use Office of your construction start date.
Should you have received Construction Notification Form(s) with your response letter, you are required to send completed form(s) to the Land Use Office a minimum of ten days prior to the construction date to ensure enough time to implement potential changes.
Should you have received Construction Completion Notification Form(s) with your response letter, you are required to send completed form(s) to the Land Use Office once the structure has been built.
To maintain an up-to-date database, the Land Use Office needs to be notified when or if a structure changes ownership by emailing landuse@navcanada.caOpen a new window.
For Transport Canada inquiries, please refer to their contact listOpen a new window.
Please note, if your land use application includes a proposal for installation/modification of a radio communication capable device/antenna, you must also consult Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Click hereOpen a new window for radio licence requirements
Click hereOpen a new window for rules guiding antenna installations
If you have any questions, please contact your nearest ISED district officeOpen a new window.
NAV CANADA assesses vertical obstacles before construction begins to ensure the safety and efficiency of aviation operations are not compromised. Historically, land use proposals were submitted via paper and email. To improve the experience for proponents and assessors alike, NAV CANADA is launching the Land Use Web Submission Portal (LUWSP), a secure digital platform for submitting and managing land use proposals that will replace paper and email submissions as of August 2025.
The FAQ below provides an overview of the LUWSP, how it works, and what you need to know before submitting a proposal.
The Land Use Web Submission Portal (LUWSP) is a secure online platform that facilitates the digital creation and submission of land use proposals, allowing for increased efficiency, accurate information collection and faster turnaround times for both proponents and those assessing requests.
Safely accessible through individual login credentials, proponents can use the platform to create and manage multiple proposals simultaneously. The portal allows users to save draft entries and return to them later before submission. Once submitted, applicants instantly receive an email confirming their land use file number and, based on the information provided, an automated assessment letter could be received within minutes of submission. This confirmation number can also be used to view proposals at any time, or email landuse@navcanada.caOpen a new window for questions/updates.
No, the portal does not connect to Transport Canada (TC). Proponents are responsible for submitting any required information to TC separately.
Transport Canada is the federal authority responsible for reviewing obstacles to be marked and lit so they can be easily seen during both day and night through the Aeronautical Assessment Form (AAF). This process primarily addresses requirements related to lighting and marking of towers, buildings, and other obstacles, as well as airport zoning restrictions.
Yes. The copy feature allows you to reuse an existing submission with minimal changes, saving you time on future applications. If the owner and proponent are the same, you’ll only need to update project-specific details such as project identification, city, coordinates, etc.
Yes. While the LUWSP requires a primary proponent and owner, you can also add additional contacts to be informed about the proposal. If they meet the submission criteria, these individuals can be listed on the supporting data page of the portal. You can include as many additional parties as needed to ensure they receive notifications regarding the status of the proposal and the NAV CANADA acceptance letter.
All supporting documentation related to your proposal can be uploaded directly through the portal at the time of submission.
No. Once a proposal is submitted, it gets assigned a file number and is automatically uploaded to our internal system for assessment. To make updates to your proposal or add additional documents after submission, please email landuse@navcanada.caOpen a new window and refer to your land use file number.
No. The portal is user-based only, the ability to share among co-workers or other users will not be possible. In the event of staffing changes, please email landuse@navcanada.caOpen a new window to discuss next steps regarding existing accounts.
Yes. The portal allows users to input multiple obstacles at once. You can either use the grid entry tool within the portal or upload a completed NAV CANADA Land Use Excel template (available in the portal) to enter multiple obstacles simultaneously.
Yes. If your submission includes permanent vertical structures that require cranes, the system allows you to duplicate crane information using an Excel template available within the portal.
Please follow these steps:
NAV CANADA follows the WGS84 standard currently used by Google Earth. The portal will support the format of Deg Min Sec and Decimal Degree as coordinates format. Note: Currently, the portal does not support the Alberta Township System (ATS), NAD27, NAD83 or UTM.
Users can input information using either the metric (metres and centimetres) or imperial (feet and inches) system. Note: The ability to mix measurements is not possible.
The portal has been designed and tested for use on Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.
The portal only displays assessments entered after the launch of the new system (as of August 2025). Any assessments completed prior to that will not appear.
Note: Additional documentation or information submitted by email after the original submission will not be reflected in the portal.
For any further questions or concerns, email landuse@navcanada.ca and please allow for a 48-hour response time.
For information about land use proposals, contact:
Land Use Office
landuse@navcanada.ca