Often yes. The City of Peterborough Site Alteration By-law regulates grading, fill placement, and changes to lot drainage, and many excavation jobs require a permit. If your project moves soil, brings in or removes fill, or changes how water drains across your lot, a permit is frequently needed. We confirm what your job requires and handle the permit as part of the work.
Do I need a permit to do excavation or grading in Peterborough?
Often yes. The City of Peterborough Site Alteration By-law regulates grading, fill, and drainage changes, and many jobs require a permit. We confirm and handle this as part of the work.
What does the Site Alteration By-law cover?
The by-law governs changes to the grade of land, the placing or removal of fill, and alterations to lot drainage within the City of Peterborough. It exists to protect neighbouring properties, municipal infrastructure, and watercourses from water and erosion problems caused by uncontrolled site changes. The City is the authority that issues these permits and sets the conditions.
When is a permit usually required?
- Regrading a lot or changing its slope
- Importing or removing fill
- Altering how stormwater drains across or off a property
- Site work tied to new construction, additions, or driveways
- Drainage work that affects neighbouring lots or a watercourse
Some minor work is exempt, and rural townships in the broader Kawarthas (including Kawartha Lakes) have their own rules. We confirm which authority and which rules apply to your specific address before we dig.
What happens if you skip the permit?
Doing regulated site alteration without a permit can lead to stop-work orders, fines, and being required to restore the grade at your own cost. It can also cause drainage disputes with neighbours. Getting the permit first is cheaper and faster than fixing a problem after the fact.
How we handle permits for you
- We review your project against the by-law during the free quote
- We tell you up front whether a permit is needed and what it involves
- We prepare and coordinate the application and any required grading plan [TENANT TO CONFIRM scope]
- We build to the approved plan so your site passes
For the governing rules, see the City of Peterborough Site Alteration By-law. For Kawartha Lakes addresses, see the City of Kawartha Lakes site alteration and fill by-law.