Land Grading in Etobicoke — Yard, Driveway, Lot
We grade lots, yards, and driveways across Etobicoke — from The Kingsway and Markland Wood inland to Mimico, New Toronto, and Long Branch along the lake. If water pools against your foundation, your back lawn turns into a swamp every spring, or your builder needs a stamped lot grading certificate signed off, we fix it. OCM Excavation & Construction runs machine-grade prep across West Toronto with operators who know how Etobicoke clay drains. Call 416-317-3090 for a free site visit.
Why Etobicoke Properties Need Grading Work
Etobicoke is a mixed bag underfoot. The older waterfront strips — Mimico, New Toronto, Long Branch — sit on low, flat sand-and-clay deposits where the original grade was barely above lake level. Decades of additions, walkway replacements, and fence-line fill have buried the slope away from the house. Water now runs the wrong way.
Inland, The Kingsway and Markland Wood sit on heavier clay with mature trees. Roots heave patios, settling driveways slope back toward the garage, and the swale your builder cut in 1958 is gone. We see the same problems on a loop in Etobicoke:
- Negative slope toward the foundation along the side yard
- Driveway settled at the garage door, water enters under the slab
- Backyard low spot that doesn’t drain after rain
- Rear-yard swale filled in by previous owners or landscapers
- New-build or major addition needing a lot grading certificate
- Window wells filling because surface runoff has nowhere to go
What Our Etobicoke Land Grading Service Covers
Every grading job in Etobicoke starts with a walk of the property, shot levels at the foundation, lot line, and any catch basin, and a clear talk about where the water actually goes. From there we scope the work:
- Yard regrading — strip sod, cut and fill to re-establish a 2% minimum slope away from the foundation for the first 1.8 m, finish with triple-mix and new sod or seed.
- Driveway sub-grade prep — rip out failing asphalt or interlock, re-establish compacted granular base pitched to the street, hand off to your paver.
- Swale construction — cut a proper rear-yard or side-yard swale to carry water to the front street or rear easement.
- Lot grading certificate prep — rough and final grade for new builds or major additions, coordinated with the surveyor or engineer who signs the certificate.
- Window well, walkout, and patio grading — pitched right, drained right, integrated with the surrounding yard.
Our Process on an Etobicoke Job
Site visit and quote first — no charge. We shoot grades with a laser level, mark utilities through Ontario One Call, and tell you straight what the fix is. Most residential yard regrades in Etobicoke run two to four days on site depending on size, access, and whether topsoil and sod are part of the scope. Driveway sub-grade prep is usually a single day. Lot grading certificate work is staged: rough grade after foundation backfill, final grade before sod.
We work with mini-excavators and skid steers sized for tight Etobicoke side yards — important on the narrow lots in Mimico and Long Branch where you can’t swing a full-size machine. Spoil hauled off the same day. Site left clean.
Lot Grading Certificates and City Rules
If you’re building new in Etobicoke or doing a major addition, the City of Toronto wants a lot grading certificate stamped by an OLS or P.Eng. before final occupancy. The certificate proves the lot drains away from the building, doesn’t dump water onto neighbours, and matches the approved grading plan from your building permit.
We do the dirt work to the plan — your surveyor or engineer does the certificate. We’ve done enough of these in Etobicoke to know the order: backfill and rough grade first, services and hardscape next, final grade and topsoil last so the surveyor can shoot finished elevations.
If your Etobicoke property backs onto Mimico Creek, the Humber, or any TRCA-regulated ravine, regrading inside the regulated area needs TRCA sign-off under Ontario Regulation 41/24 before we cut. Confirm property status with TRCA staff if you’re not sure.
Why Etobicoke Owners Call OCM
- We run our own machines — no subcontracted operators learning your driveway.
- We’ve graded across Etobicoke from Kipling and Bloor down to Lake Shore Boulevard.
- Free quotes, clear scope, fixed price before work starts.
- Clean site every day — no spoil pile sitting on your front lawn for a week.
- We coordinate directly with your surveyor, landscaper, or builder.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does land grading cost in Etobicoke?
It depends on lot size, how much cut and fill is involved, whether topsoil and sod are part of the scope, and how tight the site access is. A small side-yard regrade is a different number than a full backyard rebuild with new swales. We quote every Etobicoke job free after a site visit. Call 416-317-3090 and we’ll come look.
Do I need a permit to regrade my Etobicoke yard?
For a straight residential regrade that doesn’t change drainage onto neighbours, usually no permit. New builds, major additions, and any work inside a TRCA regulated area (Mimico Creek, Humber, ravine lots) are different — those need a stamped lot grading plan and possibly TRCA authorization. We flag this on the site visit.
How long does a yard grading job take?
Most residential yard regrades in Etobicoke run two to four days on site. Driveway sub-grade prep is usually one day. New-build lot grading runs in two stages — rough grade after foundation backfill, final grade before sod or sod-equivalent. Weather and soil moisture move the schedule.
Can you fix water pooling near my foundation?
Yes — that’s the most common Etobicoke call we get. The fix is to re-establish a 2% minimum slope away from the building for the first 1.8 m, rebuild any blocked swale, and make sure downspout discharge is carried clear of the foundation. We strip sod, cut to grade, place clean topsoil, and finish.
Do you work on lakefront properties in Mimico and Long Branch?
Yes. We’ve graded narrow lots through Mimico, New Toronto, and Long Branch. Tight access means smaller machines and more hand work, but the principles are the same — water moves to the street or to a legal discharge point, not toward the house and not toward the neighbour.
Do you handle the lot grading certificate too?
The certificate itself has to be stamped by an Ontario Land Surveyor or P.Eng. — we don’t sign that document. We do the grading work to match the approved plan, then coordinate with your surveyor or engineer to shoot finished elevations so they can issue the certificate to the City.
Book Your Etobicoke Grading Quote
If your Etobicoke yard, driveway, or new-build lot needs grading work, call OCM at 416-317-3090 or request a free quote through our contact page. We serve all of West Toronto and the wider GTA service area. Looking at properties beyond Etobicoke? See our main Toronto land grading page.