Land Grading in Aurora — Yard, Driveway, Lot

We handle land grading in Aurora for homeowners, custom builders, and landscape projects from Bayview Glen down to the Wellington corridor. Whether you need a backyard re-pitched away from the foundation, a new driveway sub-base shaped to spec, or a full lot grading certificate package for a Town of Aurora building permit, we run the laser, the skid steer, and the dump truck ourselves. No subbing out, no surprises. Call 416-317-3090 for a free site walk anywhere inside Aurora.

What land grading actually means on an Aurora lot

Grading is the slope of your dirt — and on an Aurora property, that slope decides whether snowmelt drips off your foundation or sits against it for six weeks. As a lot grading contractor in Aurora Ontario, we shape soil so water moves where it should: into swales, toward the street, into a soakaway, never into your basement. The Town of Aurora requires a Lot Grading Certificate stamped by an OLS or P.Eng. on most new builds and major additions, and the grading has to match the approved Site Servicing and Grading Plan on file.

Typical Aurora work we handle:

• Re-grading a back yard that pools after every storm in Aurora Heights or Regency Acres
• Final grade for new builds in Bayview Wellington and Hills of St. Andrew
• Driveway sub-grade and base prep before asphalt or interlock on St. John’s Sideroad properties
• Swales and surface drainage on estate lots north of Bloomington Road
• Rough grade for pool decks, patios, and shed pads

Our grading process in Aurora

Every job starts with a walk of the property. We look at where the water comes from, where it wants to go, and what your neighbours’ grades are doing on either side. On a permitted Aurora build we work off your approved grading plan; on a fix-it job we set our own benchmarks with a rotary laser and shoot the existing elevations.

1. Site assessment. We mark high points, low points, downspout outlets, and any tree protection zones flagged under Aurora’s Tree By-law 5850-16 (trees 20cm DBH and larger).
2. Strip and stockpile. Topsoil comes off and gets piled on tarp, not driven over.
3. Cut and fill. Skid steer and mini-ex move material to hit the target slope — typically 2% minimum away from the house for the first 1.8m, then a gentler fall to the lot line.
4. Compaction. Plate or jumping-jack compactor on every lift so the grade doesn’t settle in year two.
5. Topsoil and finish. Topsoil back on, raked, ready for sod or seed.
6. As-built check. On certificate jobs we coordinate with your OLS for the post-grading survey the Town of Aurora needs to release your deposit.

Aurora-specific things we watch for

Aurora isn’t one terrain. The west side near Yonge and Wellington is older subdivision with tight side-yards and clay-heavy soil — water doesn’t percolate, so swale geometry matters more than soakaways. The estate lots in Aurora Estates and north of Bloomington run sandy in spots with heritage trees we have to baby. The east side drains into the East Holland River system, which puts much of north and east Aurora inside the LSRCA West Holland River regulated area — Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority permits can apply if you’re moving meaningful fill near a tributary or wetland buffer.

Things we check before quoting any Aurora grading job:

• Whether your address falls inside the LSRCA regulated area (Ontario Regulation 41/24)
• Whether a Lot Grading Certificate is required by your Aurora building permit
• Tree By-law 5850-16 — any tree at 20cm diameter and larger needs an injury/removal permit if grading affects the critical root zone
• Existing grades on neighbouring lots so we don’t dump water onto someone else’s yard
• Septic system clearances on rural Aurora properties (north of Bloomington especially)

What land grading costs in Aurora

Pricing depends on lot size, how much soil moves, whether we’re importing fill or hauling away, and whether you need an OLS certificate at the end. A straightforward back-yard re-pitch on a standard Aurora lot is one job size; a full final grade on a custom build in Hills of St. Andrew with imported triple-mix is another. We quote flat-rate after seeing the property, not over the phone with a guess. What we will tell you on the phone: whether the work is one day or a week, whether you need a permit, and whether you need a survey.

Why Aurora homeowners hire OCM

We’re a working excavation crew, not a marketing front. The same person who answers the phone is on site running the laser. We carry liability insurance, we read your drawings, and we leave the lot looking like landscapers were there — not a construction zone. We work across the GTA but Aurora is in our regular rotation, so a same-week site visit is usually possible.

More on what we do across town on our Aurora excavation contractor page, and the full GTA coverage map is on our service areas page.

FAQ — Land grading in Aurora

Do I need a Lot Grading Certificate for my Aurora project?

For new builds, major additions, and most pool installs the Town of Aurora requires a Lot Grading Certificate stamped by an Ontario Land Surveyor or Professional Engineer before they release your grading deposit. For a simple back-yard re-pitch on an existing house, usually no certificate is needed — but we’ll confirm against your specific permit conditions before we start.

How much fall do I need away from my foundation?

Ontario Building Code and Aurora’s grading standards target a minimum 2% slope away from the foundation for at least the first 1.8m, then a gentler grade to the property line or swale. On a tight Aurora Heights lot that can mean rebuilding the whole side-yard. We measure before we promise.

Will my grading job need an LSRCA permit?

If your Aurora property sits inside the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority’s regulated area — common on lots draining to the West Holland River — and you’re moving meaningful fill or working near a watercourse or wetland buffer, yes. We pull the screening map before quoting and tell you up front.

Can you grade around mature trees?

Yes, carefully. Aurora’s Tree By-law 5850-16 protects trees 20cm DBH and larger, and grade changes inside the critical root zone can kill a tree even when the trunk looks fine. We hand-dig or use air-spade near roots and route equipment around protected zones.

How long does a typical Aurora grading job take?

A back-yard re-pitch on a 50-foot lot is often one to two days. A full new-build final grade with imported topsoil and an OLS survey runs three to five days depending on weather and access. Rain delays are real — wet clay can’t be compacted.

Do you haul away excess soil?

Yes. We bring our own trucks and dispose of excess fill at licensed sites. If your job needs imported screened topsoil or granular base, we supply that too. Disposal and import are line items on the quote so you can see exactly what’s moving.

Get a free Aurora grading quote

Call OCM Excavation & Construction at 416-317-3090 or use the form on our free quote page. Tell us the Aurora address, what’s going wrong (or what’s being built), and we’ll book a site walk. No charge, no pressure.

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