Oshawa Landscaping Contractor · Reformity Inc.Landscaping & Grading in Oshawa
Oshawa lots are designed to drain along the property lines, and the City notes that even a fence on the lot line can block that flow. If your lot was graded to a City-approved grading and drainage plan, By-law 85-2006 bars changing those grades without a permit, and moving or filling a swale, or importing or exporting more than 20 m³ of soil for beds or a patio, needs a Site Alteration Permit. We design around the drainage, and City staff decide whether a Clearance Letter will do instead.
Landscaping · real projects
Recent landscaping jobs across the GTA.
Real Reformity jobs from our project files. Customer addresses are never published.
Landscape & grading plan — Grading, drainage swale, tree protection and planting. Click to enlarge.
Retaining wall details
Drawn before we build
Drawn before we build in Oshawa.
A grading and landscape plan: slopes away from the house, swales, downspout outlets, protected-tree zones, walls and planting. It's what site-alteration and tree permits ask for, and it keeps water off your foundation and your neighbour's.
Landscaping permits in Oshawa
In Oshawa, grade changes within 0.6 m of a property line, new retaining walls, swale changes and landscaping that imports or exports more than 20 m³ need a Site Alteration Permit, with CLOCA approval first on regulated lots. Reformity prepares the site plan with grading details and any retaining-wall drawings, and handles the application.
- Dimensions to your lot lines
- Materials, sizes and spacing
- Footing and base sections
- Code notes for the inspector
City of Oshawa rules
Landscaping rules in Oshawa.
Checked against official municipal and provincial sources. Lots differ, so we confirm the rules for your address at the quote visit.
Trees
Oshawa's Tree By-law protects City-owned trees; woodlands over 1 hectare fall under Durham Region's woodland by-law. Typical backyard trees on private lots aren't covered by a City permit.
City of Oshawa: treesConservation areas
Work in Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) regulated areas, such as flood plains and land near creeks, needs a CLOCA permit, and the City won't issue a Site Alteration Permit until it has a copy.
City of Oshawa: landscaping & gradingSite alteration & grading
Oshawa's list of work needing a Site Alteration Permit (By-law 85-2006) includes changing the grade within 0.6 m of a property line, altering a swale, widening, moving or re-routing a driveway, building a retaining wall or below-grade entrance, installing an inground pool, and importing or exporting more than 20 m³ of fill.
City of Oshawa: landscaping & gradingFront-yard paving
Zoning By-law 60-94's general rule keeps at least 50% of a residential front yard, and of an exterior side yard, as landscaped open space. Walkways and patios count toward it; driveways and parking spaces don't. Going lower takes a Committee of Adjustment variance, and cars must park on your lot, not the boulevard.
Oshawa Zoning By-law 60-94 (PDF)Retaining walls over 1 m
Under Ontario's Building Code, a retaining wall needs a building permit when its exposed height is over 1 m (3'3") and it's next to public property, access to a building, or private property open to the public. Those walls must be designed to the Code's structural (Part 4) rules.
Ontario Building Code, Div. A 1.3.3.5
What we build in Oshawa
Full-service landscaping.
- Sod Installation
- Garden Beds & Plantings
- Retaining Walls
- Drainage & Grading
Neighbourhoods
Landscaping across Oshawa.
- Samac
- Taunton
- Windfields
- Kedron
- Eastdale
- Donevan
- Lakeview
- Centennial
- McLaughlin
- Northglen
- O'Neill
- Vanier
Oshawa Landscaping FAQ
Quick answers.
Not for lawn dressing, landscaping or garden beds, as long as the grade within 0.6 m of a property line doesn't change, swales and drainage are left alone, and the fill is no more than 20 m³. Beyond that, or if the work changes how water drains, you need a Site Alteration Permit. You apply under the Minor Residential category, and City staff may issue a Clearance Letter instead if the work won't affect neighbouring properties.
Oshawa's Tree By-law protects City-owned trees; woodlands over 1 hectare fall under Durham Region's woodland by-law. Typical backyard trees on private lots aren't covered by a City permit.
Send the form on this page or call 437-241-6287. We reply within one business day, visit your Oshawa property to measure and check the City of Oshawa rules for your lot, and give you a fixed written price.
Free on-site quote
Planning landscaping in Oshawa?
We'll measure, check the City of Oshawa rules for your lot, draw it up and give you a fixed written price. One business-day reply.