Land Grading in Richmond Hill — Yard, Driveway, Lot
We are OCM Excavation & Construction, and we handle land grading in Richmond Hill — re-shaping the ground around your house so water runs away from the foundation instead of pooling against it. Yards, driveways, full lots, post-construction cleanup, sod prep. Clay-heavy soils west of Yonge and sloped lots east of Bayview both need a grading contractor in Richmond Hill who knows the dirt. Call 416-317-3090 for a free site visit and quote.
What land grading actually means on a Richmond Hill lot
Grading is not topsoil dumping. It is cut-and-fill earthwork — moving soil with a skid steer, mini excavator, laser level and string line until the surface slopes the way the drainage plan says it should. The Ontario standard most lot grading certificates reference is a 2% minimum positive slope away from the foundation for the first 1.8 metres, then a gentler grade out to the lot line or swale. Get that wrong and water sits against your weeping tile. Get it right and the basement stays dry.
On a typical Richmond Hill grading job we are dealing with one of three problems: a brand-new build that needs final grade before sod, an older home where settled soil now slopes toward the house, or a driveway and walkway re-grade after concrete or interlock work.
The kinds of grading we do across Richmond Hill
- Yard and rear-lawn grading — fixing low spots, restoring positive slope, building a swale along the property line so neighbour runoff stops drowning your back lawn.
- Driveway grading and sub-base prep — stripping topsoil, cutting to depth, compacting Granular A and B before asphalt, interlock or concrete goes in.
- Full lot grading on new builds and major renovations — final grade to match the approved Site Alteration drawing under Richmond Hill By-law 47-25.
- Post-foundation rough grading — backfill, compaction and slope shaping right after waterproofing or underpinning.
- Sod and garden bed prep — topsoil placement and fine grade to the elevation your landscaper or sod supplier needs.
Site Alteration By-law 47-25 and when permits matter
Richmond Hill controls earthwork through Site Alteration By-law 47-25. Small rear-yard fixes and sod prep on an existing lot usually fly under it, but anything that moves meaningful volumes of soil, imports fill, or changes drainage patterns can trigger a permit. South Richvale infill teardowns and Mill Pond properties on tight lots are the ones that get flagged most often. We pull the permit on your behalf when it is needed and coordinate the lot grading certificate with the Ontario Land Surveyor.
North of Bloomington Road you are on the Oak Ridges Moraine. East-side ravine lots backing onto Don Valley tributaries fall under TRCA Regulation 41/24, which adds top-of-bank setbacks and naturalized vegetation requirements. We work within those rules — we do not pretend they are not there. If your lot needs a TRCA permit before we cut, that is the path we take.
Our process as a lot grading contractor in Richmond Hill
- Site walk and elevations. We shoot grades at the foundation, lot lines, downspout drops and any existing swale. That tells us cut, fill and where the water actually wants to go.
- Scope and quote. Volume of soil, import or export, equipment access, restoration. Written quote, no verbal promises.
- Locates and permits. Ontario One Call before any blade goes in the ground. Site Alteration or TRCA permits if scope requires them.
- Earthwork. Skid steer or mini excavator depending on access. Bayview Hill and Jefferson driveways are tight — we bring the right machine, not the biggest one.
- Compaction and final grade. Plate compactor on fill layers, string-line and laser-level checks against the design slope.
- Restoration. Topsoil, sod prep, swale shaping, driveway sub-base ready for the next trade.
Richmond Hill neighbourhoods we know
Bayview Hill estate lots — long rear slopes and engineered swales. South Richvale infill — property-line drainage between teardowns and original neighbours. Mill Pond — heritage gardens, tight lanes, careful machine access. Jefferson and Oak Ridges — moraine soils, side-yard swale recovery. Doncrest and Observatory — mature trees we work around, not through. Wherever you are in Richmond Hill, we have likely graded a lot two streets over. See the rest of our coverage on the service areas page.
Why owners hire OCM for grading in Richmond Hill
- We are a working excavation crew, not a brokerage. Our Richmond Hill excavation contractor page shows the same operators who run the grading work.
- We respect the survey and the by-law. No guesswork on slope, no fill dumped where it should not be.
- Clean finish — your landscaper, sod team or paving contractor can start the day we leave.
- Direct line to the foreman. Call 416-317-3090 and you talk to someone who has been on site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade my Richmond Hill yard?
Small rear-yard fixes and sod prep usually do not need a permit. Anything that imports fill, changes drainage patterns or moves meaningful soil volumes can trigger Site Alteration By-law 47-25. New builds and major renovations almost always need a lot grading certificate. We confirm scope with Richmond Hill staff before we cut and pull the permit if your job requires one.
What slope do you grade to?
The Ontario standard most lot grading certificates reference is a 2% minimum positive slope away from the foundation for the first 1.8 metres, then a gentler grade out to the property line or swale. We shoot elevations with a laser level and check the finished surface against the design before we leave site.
How long does a typical yard grading job take?
A straightforward rear-yard re-grade with topsoil and sod prep is usually one to three working days. Full lot grading on a new build with swale work, driveway sub-base and restoration runs longer. We give you a realistic window in writing before we start — not a verbal promise that slips.
Will grading fix my wet basement?
Often, yes. If water is pooling at the foundation because the soil slopes the wrong way, re-grading to a positive 2% slope and extending downspouts past the splash zone solves a lot of basements. If the weeping tile is failed or the foundation wall is cracked, grading alone will not fix it. We tell you which it is when we walk the site.
Do you work on Oak Ridges Moraine or TRCA-regulated lots?
Yes. North of Bloomington Road we work inside Oak Ridges Moraine slope and vegetation rules. East-side ravine lots fall under TRCA Regulation 41/24 with top-of-bank setbacks. We handle the permit path properly — we do not cut first and ask later.
Get a free grading quote in Richmond Hill
Pooling water, sloped-wrong yard, new build that needs final grade, driveway sub-base before paving — whatever the job, we can scope it on a free site visit. Call OCM at 416-317-3090 or send details through our free GTA quote form and we will get back to you the same working day.
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in Richmond Hill? Let’s talk.