The City of Burlington's Site Alteration Bylaw (By-law 064-2014) regulates how land can be altered by filling, grading or excavation. These types of land alterations can often cause drainage and flooding issues on neighbouring properties.
Soil disposal has also increasingly become an issue in southern Ontario. Strong site alteration regulation is necessary to minimize impacts to drainage patterns and the environment.
Do I need a Site Alteration Permit?
Depending on the type of work you are proposing on your property, you may need a Site Alteration Permit before you can start construction. Some types of projects that require a Site Alteration Permit include:
- Pool installation
- Yard landscaping or infilling
- Sidewalk and patio construction
- Retaining wall construction
To find out if you need a Site Alteration Permit, check out our Site Alteration Screening Checklist. If you answer “yes” to one or more questions, you will need to apply for a Site Alteration Permit.
Apply for a Site Alteration Permit
To find out if you need a Site Alteration Permit, check out our Site Alteration Screening Checklist. If you answer “yes” to one or more questions, you will need to submit a Site Alteration Application to engineeringservices@burlington.ca. You can find the applicable application fees in the Site Alteration Application form.
Fees
Site Alteration Application fees vary depending on the size of the area you are working on and the location. If you want to amend your application, you may be charged up to half of the original Site Alteration Application fee. All fees are not including HST.
Lands smaller than 5,000 square metres
Review the site alteration fees on areas of land smaller than 5,000 square metres.
| Type of fee | Fee amount |
|---|---|
|
Application fee |
$313.64 |
|
Rate per additional hectare, from 0 to 20 hectares |
$209.09 |
|
Rate per additional hectare, for 21 or more hectares |
$313.64 |
|
Extension or renewal fee |
Half of original application fee |
|
Additional inspection fee, per inspection |
$261.36 |
|
Revocation fee |
$104.55 |
Lands larger than 5,000 square metres
Review the site alteration fees on areas of land larger than 5,000 square metres.
| Type of fee | Fee amount |
|---|---|
|
Application fee |
$1,045.45 |
|
Additional fee based on calculated site alteration volumes, per square metre |
$1.05 |
|
Extension or renewal fee |
Half of original application fee |
|
Additional inspection fee, per inspection |
$261.36 |
|
Revocation fee |
$104.55 |
Lands within the Urban Planning Area Boundary and the North Aldershot Planning Area
Review the site alteration fees on lands within the Urban Planning Area Boundary and the North Aldershot Planning Area.
| Type of fee | Fee amount |
|---|---|
|
Application fee |
$313.64 |
|
Rate per additional hectare, from 0 to 20 hectares |
$209.09 |
|
Rate per additional hectare, for 21 or more hectares |
$313.64 |
|
Additional fee based on calculated site alteration volumes (per square metre, up to 25,000 square metres) |
$0.31 |
|
Additional fee based on calculated site alteration volumes (per square metre, from 25,000 to 50,000 square metres) |
$0.21 |
|
Additional fee based on calculated site alteration volumes (per square metre, over 50,000 square metres) |
$0.10 |
|
Extension or renewal fee |
Half of original application fee |
|
Additional inspection fee, per inspection |
$261.36 |
|
Revocation fee |
$104.55 |