Licensing and Permitting Services

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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.

Monique Latalladi PE, Vice President

Monique Latalladi PE, Vice President

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

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

Helsinki, Finland

Kruunuvuori Bridge

Helsinki’s Kruunuvuori Bridge, designed by WSP in Finland, is one of the world’s longest bridges solely for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.

New Zealand

Hawthorndale Care Village

WSP provided strategic planning and environmental services to support the Hawthorndale Care Village through a complex consenting process, enabling the project to progress confidently within New Zealand’s regulatory framework.

South Italy

Technical and economic feasibility project of the floating offshore wind farm “Odra” in Puglia, Italy

WSP Italy was commissioned by the Renantis-BlueFloat Energy partnership to prepare the project package for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application with the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and the Ministry of Culture (MIC).

Santiago, Chile

Claro Arena: Engineering and Sustainability Redefining the Sporting Standard

The inauguration of Claro Arena—the renovated stadium of Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, located in San Carlos de Apoquindo in Santiago, Chile—marks a milestone in the advancement of sustainable infrastructure in Latin America. Conceived as a cultural, social, and sporting hub, this modern venue has been designed under international standards of efficiency and sustainability, positioning itself as a benchmark for resilient, environmentally responsible construction.

mine environmental, marine environmental impact assessment

Baffin Island, Nunavut

Mary River Mine - Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada

Environmental solutions in one of the world's most challenging climates - the Arctic.

Ontario, Canada

Bat Surveys and Solutions for the Mining Industry

Bats are an integral part of our ecosystems, and some bat species in Canada are currently listed as endangered due to population declines. In order to receive provincial or federal environmental authorizations, surveys to assess impacts on Species at Risk are critical for many projects. Compensation measures for bats may also be required and solutions to enhance or protect bat habitats can be integrated into restoration or mine reclamation sites.

mine closure, remediation, contamination, stakeholder consultations

New South Wales, Australia

Pasminco Cockle Creek

The remediation and redevelopment of this site included the management of a myriad of issues including threatened flora and fauna, major soil and groundwater contamination, mining leases and mine subsidence and industrial archaeology.

Harrington Harbour, Québec, Canada

Water Treatment Facility in Harrington Harbour

Prior to this project, residents of Harrington Harbour, a village in the province of Quebec, Canada, never had access to proper drinking water.

Washington, DC, USA

Woodrow Wilson Bridge Replacement

This project replaced a functionally obsolete bridge on the Capital Beltway with the world’s widest draw spans over the Potomac River between the US states of Virginia and Maryland.

Daytona Beach, Florida, USA

Veterans Memorial Bridge

WSP was selected to design the replacement of the Veterans Memorial Bridge (Orange Avenue Bridge) in Daytona Beach.

Stockholm, Sweden

City Line

Building one of the most complex construction projects in Sweden to improve mobility in the heart of Stockholm

Frequently asked questions

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

Start your permitting journey

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