1. We are WSP
  2. What we do
  3. Services
  4. Licensing and Permitting
Our impactFAQsRelated servicesPlatforms

Environmental permitting and licensing requirements should not be viewed as a hurdle to economic development, but as a tool supporting growth on a sustainable basis.

WSP helps clients secure the licenses and permits needed to move forward—efficiently, strategically, and in full alignment with local and global requirements. 

Drive project momentum

Permitting is more than a regulatory hurdle—it’s a strategic advisory function. By integrating permitting early in design, WSP helps shape project outcomes, mitigate compliance risks, and build operational flexibility for the future. Whether you're launching infrastructure, expanding operations, or entering new markets, we help you anticipate requirements, avoid delays, and strengthen stakeholder trust. 
Permitting is about advisory--guiding design, shaping permit conditions, and helping clients avoid compliance hurdles while gaining the operational flexibility they need to succeed.

Secure the right approvals

Our permitting specialists support clients across sectors with:

  • Land use and zoning approvals
  • Infrastructure and transport permits (rail, pipeline, roadway, port, airport)
  • Water and wastewater licensing (construction and industrial stormwater, industrial and municipal wastewater, cooling water intake, land application)
  • Natural resources permitting (wetlands, habitats, biodiversity, ecological assessments)
  • Industrial environmental permitting (BAT assessments, baseline reports, wastewater discharge, air quality approvals)
  • Environmental impact assessments (EIA) and screening  
  • Power and energy infrastructure permitting (generation, transmission, storage, substations)
  • Oil and gas permitting (pipelines, terminals, production facilities)
  • Archaeology and Heritage investigation permits
  • Energy and utility authorizations
  • Industrial and manufacturing facility permits

Every jurisdiction is different. We shape permitting strategies that meet local rules and unlock project

img 1-licensing and permitting

Streamline every step

Permitting delays slow momentum and raise costs—we help you stay ahead: 

  • Identify permitting requirements early 
  • Help adjust limitations based on a deep understanding of regulations and process design 
  • Advise on design and permit strategies that anticipate and address regulatory limitations 
  • Leverage technical and regulatory expertise to turn compliance requirements into project opportunities 
  • Advise on engagement strategy, and coordinate with agencies and stakeholders 
  • Prepare and submit documentation, ensuring alignment with overall project goals 
  • Align approvals strategically with design and project milestones 
  • Apply digital tools and data-driven modeling to optimize siting, routing, and permitting decisions 

We bring deep technical, legal, and planning expertise to shape strategy, simplify approvals, and cut through uncertainty.

Navigate local and global rules and regulations

With operations in over 40 countries, WSP combines global reach with local insight. We understand the nuances of permitting in diverse regulatory environments, and advise clients on how regulations shape design, operations, and long-term success, whether for urban infrastructure or large-scale power, oil and gas, transport, industrial, and water projects. 

See our impact

img faqs-licensing and permitting

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Our teams support multinational projects with local knowledge and global coordination. 
Absolutely. We work with clients to align permitting strategies with community, agency, and investor expectations.
We support energy, infrastructure, transport, oil and gas, manufacturing, water, property, and more. 
As early as possible. Early engagement helps avoid delays and align approvals with project timelines.

Explore related services

Digital platforms

Our digital platforms perform a critical role in underpinning our advice and services. These world-leading tools allow us to collaborate across design teams, as well as with clients and the communities they serve; ultimately delivering stronger designs and advice.

PRIME for Cities
GIS platform tracking land, real estate and infrastructure activity
PRIME for Cities is WSP’s proprietary web GIS platform that tracks land development, public infrastructure and urban growth policy, providing real-time visibility of relevant planning and development activity.
Learn more
img-homepage-careers

Start your permitting journey

Launching something new or scaling up? Our Visioneers are ready to guide your next move.