Water, Sanitary and Storm Sewer Connections

Water and sanitary sewer connection permits are required when water or sanitary sewer service is constructed, repaired, or altered on private property.

Norfolk County’s Building Department accepts applications for connection permits. Any questions regarding Connection Permits can be forwarded to PWClerk@norfolkcounty.ca.

Water / Sanitary sewer / Storm sewer service installation requirements - Residential general

A Norfolk County Environmental Infrastructure Services Water/Sanitary Sewer/Storm Sewer Connection Permit must be completed for ALL new installations or repairs to a water, sanitary sewer or storm sewer service.

Permit fees are established annually by the most current revision of Norfolk County’s Water & Wastewater Rates By-Law.

• Permits shall only be issued upon receipt of proof of insurance and payment of permit fees (including road occupancy deposit, where required).
• It is the Contractor’s responsibility to comply with all Federal, Provincial and Municipal Acts, codes and by-laws (Ontario Building Code, Occupational Health and Safety, Norfolk County Water By-Law, etc.)
• Contractors are required to obtain underground locates with Ontario One Call.
• Contractors must provide 24-hour notice to Norfolk County Environmental and Infrastructure Services Staff to schedule an inspection or schedule an appointment at 519-426-5870 (scheduling of any appointment is subject to Norfolk County staff availability). Scheduling for any main tap requires a 48-hour notice.
• Contractors are expected to contact Norfolk County to schedule an appointment.
• It is the contractor’s responsibility to call and request a meter kit 
• The contractor is responsible for installing the tails, spacer, along with running the meter wire from the meter location to the exterior of the building for the MXU (radio frequency unit for remote reading the meter)
• There must be a minimum of 2.5m horizontal separation between any new water service and a sanitary/storm service This horizontal separation may be decreased in certain circumstances where existing conditions do not allow, only if the bottom of the water service pipe is at least 0.5m above the crown of the adjacent sewer service or unless otherwise approved, in writing, by the Director of Environmental Services or designate. Norfolk County recommends a minimum of 1.5m horizontal separation between the sanitary and storm services.
• Where congestion with other utilities will prevent a clear horizontal separation of 2.5m, a water service may be laid closer to a sewer within 1.0m, provided that the elevation of the crown of the sewer is at least 0.5m below the invert of the water service.
• There must be a minimum of 1.0m horizontal separation between any service and utilities, transformer slabs or property lines unless otherwise approved, in writing, by the Director of Environmental Services or designate.
• The entire length of any new service installation must be totally exposed at the time of inspection and must be properly trenched, sloped and dewatered as per the Ontario Printed documents are considered non-controlled as the controlled versions are maintained electronically. This copy printed: 2025-04-10 Revision Date: April 10, 2025 Revision Number: 5 Page 2 of 4 Occupational Health and Safety Act. If the service is not visible there will be NO inspection or approval given, it will be the Contractor’s responsibility to expose the services to the satisfaction of Norfolk County
• Service lines shall not cross over or under one another at any point between the property line and the inside of the building. - New Water service lines shall NOT be installed under the driveway or garage.
• Whenever possible, new sewer and storm service lines shall not be installed under the driveway or garage.
• Water service lines shall be brought up through the floor within 1.0m of the foundation wall. They shall not extend under the basement floor.
• Upon inspection of services, a new water and wastewater billing account will be created. This account will be charged with STANDBY charges from the date of inspection. 

Detailed standards and specifications are available through Environmental Services staff located at:

12 Gilbertson Drive
Simcoe, Ontario
N3Y 4N5

Water

• PEX Water Service-minimum nominal size 25mm (1”)
• PEX should be laid in a snake-like fashion to allow for thermal expansion and contraction
• For non-metallic water service lines (PEX), a Tracer Wire T.W.U #10 AWG with a coating of 45 mil shall be installed the entire length of service into the residence (Curb Box to Water Meter). 
• Tracer wire installation shall be performed in such a manner that allows proper access for connection of line tracing equipment, and proper locating of wire without loss or deterioration. 
• Tracer wire systems must be installed as a single continuous wire, except where using approved connectors. No looping or coiling of wire is allowed.
• Tracer wire shall be affixed to the pipe and secured (taped/tied) at 5-foot intervals.
• For replacement of metallic water services with PEX, the installer/homeowner is responsible for ensuring all grounding requirements have been met.
• 19mm (¾”) – Soft-copper Type K, third-party Certified with Warnock-Hersey Stamp may be used for repair of existing metallic services only. 
• Copper services must have a ‘gooseneck’ at the watermain connection. - Copper line is to be laid smooth on properly compacted sand or granular bedding material - The service line shall be laid at a depth which is at all points above the crown of the adjacent sanitary and/or storm sewer lateral.
• The minimum depth of cover is 1.5m. 
• New curb valves are NOT to be located in a driveway.
• The curb box and stem are to be set properly and plumb (not bent or angled). 
• Curb valve and box are to be placed on properly compacted sand or granular bedding, including the installation of a brick under each curb valve.
• Couplings are not permitted without approval from the Director of Environmental Services or Printed documents are considered non-controlled as the controlled versions are maintained electronically.
• A list of approved couplings is available upon request.
• A No Lead stop and drain building control valve is required on the service at the point of entry to the premise to facilitate the installation of a water meter this valve shall have compression joint by Female Iron Pipe connections (CJ x FIP)
• Minimum standard residential water meter size will continue to be 19mm (3/4") unless otherwise directed by Norfolk County’s Building Department as stipulated by the Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements. When requesting a meter install, please note the required OBC size. No solder joints are permitted before the water meter.
• Water meter tails and a spacer will be provided by Norfolk County the meter spacer is property of Norfolk County and must be returned when the water meter is installed.
• Water meter must be secured and properly supported. - When using PEX the service must be properly secured within the building prior to the meter.
• The water meter is to be installed within 90 days of the water service inspection.
• A minimum of 1.2m of clearance is required around the water meter – installation in a crawlspace is not permitted unless approved, in writing, by Environmental Services staff.
• Contractors are NOT permitted to operate the curb valve. The curb valve will be left in the ‘OFF’ position until installation of the water meter.

Sanitary sewer

• Residential service size is 100mm (4”) – SDR 28 PVC. Pipe size must be consistent and extend inside the building envelope (1.0m from the foundation will be considered the building envelope).
• Minimum depth of cover is 2.15m at property line or at such higher elevation only as may be required to obtain minimum grade from the mainline sewer
• Service shall be laid at a minimum 2% grade. On existing repairs, the minimum 2% grade may not be possible due to existing conditions, however, the grade must be consistent and will be recorded.
• Only push-on, gasket type pipe joints are permitted. No glued or solvent weld joints until the pipe enters the building envelope.
• A push-on, manufactured gasket type cap must be installed until permanent connection has been made to the internal plumbing system.
• All pipe must be laid to manufacturer’s specifications and shall be laid on 150mm Granular A bedding with 300mm Granular A cover compacted to 95% proctor density
• 90° and 45° bends are NOT permitted. 22.5° or 45° long sweeps only
• Cleanouts are required every 30m (100’) – the first cleanout will be located 30m from the sanitary main, and an additional cleanout every 30m thereafter.
• Norfolk County recommends a sanitary cleanout installed at the foundation servicing towards the main sanitary sewer for future access if needed Printed documents are considered non-controlled as the controlled versions are maintained electronically. 
• Minimum service size is 150mm (6”) – SDR 28 PVC. Pipe size must be consistent and extend inside the building envelope (1.0m from the foundation will be considered the building envelope).
• The minimum depth of cover is 1.2m.
• Service shall be laid at a minimum 2% grade. 
• Only push-on, gasket type pipe joints are permitted. No glued or solvent weld joints.
• All pipe must be laid to the manufacturer’s specifications and shall be laid on 150mm Granular A bedding with 300mm Granular A cover compacted to 95% proctor density.
• 90° and 45° bends are NOT permitted. 22.5° or 45° long sweeps only. - In instances where a 100mm (4”) storm sewer stub has been installed to property line; the contractor shall be permitted to extend the 100mm (4”) service lateral into the building.

For further information, please contact Norfolk County Environmental & Infrastructure Services Division at 519-426-5870.

PVC Water Service Approved Materials:

PEX 25mm, 38mm and 50mm (nominal size) IPEX Blue904 SDR9 PEX (CTS) CSA B137.5 certified AWWA C904 ASTM F876 ASTM F877 ASTM F2023 NSF NSF Std. 14 certified NSF Std. 61 certified REHAU (CTS) Municipex (PEXa) AquaPure (CTS) PE-RT (ASTM 2769) Blue Tracer Wire T.W.U., #10 gauge Copperhead Industries SuperFlex 1030BSF** SoloShot 1045B-EHS