Land Grading in North York — Yard, Driveway, Lot

We handle land grading in North York for homeowners and builders who need water moved off the lot and away from the foundation. From Don Mills bungalows with negative slope toward the back wall, to Willowdale infill builds that need a stamped lot grading certificate, to driveways in Bayview Village that pond every spring thaw — we re-shape the ground so it drains the way the Ontario Building Code expects. Call 416-317-3090 for a free site visit anywhere in North York.

Why North York Lots Drain Badly

Most of the housing stock in Don Mills, Bayview Village, Banbury, Willowdale, and Hogg’s Hollow was built between 1950 and 1975. The original grade was set when the builder backfilled the foundation, and over 50-70 years that backfill has settled. The result on a typical North York lot is a negative slope of 1-3% running toward the foundation instead of away from it. Every heavy rain pushes water against the basement wall, and eventually it finds the cold joint or a crack and shows up inside.

The Ontario Building Code expects a minimum 2% slope away from the foundation for the first 1.8 metres. We see North York yards measuring 0% or worse all the time. The fix is grading — not waterproofing, not a sump pump alone. Move the water before it reaches the wall.

What Land Grading in North York Actually Involves

Every grading job we run in North York follows the same sequence:

Site survey. We shoot elevations at the foundation, mid-yard, and property line so we know exactly how much slope we are missing.
Strip topsoil. The dark organic layer is set aside — we re-use it on top after re-grading so your lawn or garden bed recovers fast.
Re-shape the sub-grade. We add or remove fill to build a continuous slope of at least 2% away from the foundation, then taper it across the yard to the rear or side property line.
Compact in lifts. Fill goes down in 150-200 mm layers and is compacted with a plate or jumping-jack. Loose fill settles and you are back where you started in two years.
Replace topsoil and seed or sod. 100-150 mm of screened topsoil over the new sub-grade, then sod or hydroseed.

For driveways we work in a different envelope. Asphalt or interlock driveways across North York should slope away from the garage at roughly 2%, with a maximum of 8% before tires start to slip in winter. Where the driveway meets the street, Toronto expects the average slope to the top of the curb to fall between 2% and 6%.

Lot Grading Certificates for New Builds and Infill

If you are building a new house or a major addition in North York, the City of Toronto requires a lot grading plan as part of the building permit and a final lot grading certificate before final inspection. The certificate has to be signed by a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Certified Engineering Technologist (C.E.T.), or Ontario Land Surveyor (O.L.S.) — confirming the as-built grades match the approved plan.

We do the dirt work. We do not stamp the certificate ourselves — that is the engineer’s or surveyor’s job — but we grade to the exact elevations on the approved plan and coordinate with your consultant so the final shot matches and the certificate gets signed without a re-grade trip. We have done this work on infill lots across Willowdale, Lansing, Newtonbrook, and Hogg’s Hollow.

Typical Jobs and What They Run

Rough order-of-magnitude for North York work — every site is different and we quote after a visit:

Re-grading a 6 x 12 metre rear yard to fix negative slope: typically 1-2 days on site.
Re-grading a full lot for an infill new build: typically 2-4 days depending on cut/fill volume.
Driveway re-grade plus interlock or asphalt prep: typically 2-3 days.
Adding a swale along the side yard to redirect water from a neighbour’s downspout: typically 1 day.

If trees on the lot are larger than 30 cm DBH, Toronto’s private tree by-law applies and we will not cut roots inside the protection zone without a permit. We grade around them.

Why OCM

We have run excavation and grading equipment across North York and the broader GTA for years. We own our machines — mini-ex, skid-steer, plate compactors, laser level — so we are not waiting on a rental yard to start your job. We pull permits when permits are required, we coordinate with your engineer or surveyor on infill builds, and we leave the site clean. Call 416-317-3090 to book a site visit, or see our service areas across the GTA and our related land grading Toronto page for the broader scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to re-grade my North York backyard?

For a straightforward re-grade of an existing yard with no fill imported from off-site and no change to drainage onto neighbours, you generally do not need a building permit. New builds, additions, and infill housing in North York require a lot grading plan and certificate as part of the building permit. We will tell you which bucket your job falls into before we start.

How much slope do I actually need away from the foundation?

The Ontario Building Code minimum is 2% (about 60 mm of drop over the first 1.8 m). We target that as the floor, not the goal. On most North York lots we can build in 3-5% over the first metre or two, which moves water off the wall faster and gives you margin as the soil settles.

Will grading alone stop water in my basement?

If the only problem is surface water pooling against the wall, yes — re-grading often solves it on its own. If you also have a cracked foundation, a failed weeping tile, or a high water table, grading is one piece and you may need waterproofing or a sump as well. We tell you honestly what we see on the site visit.

Can you grade if my lot has mature trees?

Yes, but Toronto’s private tree by-law protects trees 30 cm DBH or larger. We cannot cut significant roots or change the grade inside the tree protection zone without a permit. In practice we grade around protected trees and feather the new grade out to meet existing soil at the drip line.

How long before I can walk on a re-graded lawn?

Fresh sod can take light foot traffic in 2-3 weeks once it has knit to the soil. Seeded lawns need 4-6 weeks before normal use. The graded sub-grade itself is firm immediately because we compact it in lifts as we go.

Do you work with the engineer on my new build?

Yes. On infill and new-build jobs in North York we grade to the elevations on the engineer’s or surveyor’s approved plan and we are on site for their final shot. That means the lot grading certificate gets signed on the first visit and you do not pay for a re-grade trip.

Ready to Fix the Grade

If water is running the wrong way on your North York lot, the fix starts with a site visit. Call 416-317-3090 or request a free quote and we will come look, take elevations, and tell you what the job needs.