Hardscaping in Pickering covers interlock patios, walkways, retaining walls and steps, and in this city the rules about grading and drainage matter as much as the stone you choose. Michael Durham Landscaping builds interlocking and natural stone projects for Pickering homes on a compacted aggregate base, with the drainage plotted before the first stone is set. We also repair and seal existing interlock.
What Our Hardscaping Work Includes
Our interlocking and hardscaping service covers patios, walkways, retaining walls and steps in natural stone or concrete pavers. Every project follows the same method:
- A 6 inch compacted base. Engineered aggregate laid in three lifts and compacted, so the surface stays level through freeze-thaw.
- Drainage first. Every slope and swale is plotted so water moves away from the house, not toward it.
- Polymeric sand joints that lock the pavers and resist weeds and ants between the stones.
- Edge restraint to hold the pattern in place.
- Full commercial liability insurance on every hardscape project.
Most residential patios take 3 to 5 days from excavation to the final polymeric sand. Larger projects with retaining walls can take a week or more.
Pickering Rules to Check Before You Build
Which projects need a building permit
The City of Pickering's Building Permits page lists a retaining wall more than 1 metre (3 feet 3 inches) high as work that needs a permit when it is on or next to public property (including streets), next to a building entrance, or on private property the public can reach. A retaining wall on private property that is not open to the public, or that is less than 1 metre high at every point, does not typically need one.
The same page lists a deck more than 60 centimetres (24 inches) above ground as needing a permit, along with gazebos, raised platforms and pool houses. Enclosing an existing deck, porch or patio of any size also needs a permit. The City adds that even when no building permit is needed, the project must still comply with the Zoning By-law, and that the owner is ultimately responsible for meeting every building requirement.
For our retaining wall projects we check at the quote whether a permit is needed, and we handle the application if one is.
Do not change the grading or drainage pattern
Pickering's Frequently Asked Questions are direct on this point. Lot grading is set during subdivision approval and the building permit stage, residents are not permitted to change the grading and drainage patterns on their property, and homeowners who do could be held liable for damage. Drainage swales between neighbouring lots carry stormwater to catch basins, and homeowners are not permitted to fill them in or to remove or cover the catch basins on their property.
For a patio or walkway, that means the new surface has to work with the approved grading, not against it. We plan slopes so water still reaches the swales and drains away from the foundation, and we keep hard surfaces out of the swale itself.
New homes: wait for the final lot grading certificate
The same FAQ says patios, sheds and decks typically cannot be built until a final lot grading certificate has been issued for the lot, so the developer can still get in to make repairs. The certificate is issued by the consulting engineer once the lot has been graded, sodded and inspected. If you bought in a newer part of Pickering, check your purchase and sale agreement before booking a patio.
Driveways and the boulevard
Pickering's FAQ notes that the Zoning By-law regulates driveway width, so depending on your area you may not be able to widen an interlock driveway, and residents are not permitted to put hard surface landscaping in the driveway apron area the developer paves. The City's Boulevard Maintenance page adds that widening the boulevard part of a driveway with any hard surface needs City approval first. For more on driveways, see our driveway paving service.
Patios around a pool
If your new patio surrounds a pool and the work replaces the fence or gate, Pickering's Pool Enclosure Permits page says a permit is required for a new or replacement enclosure under By-law 6943/09, while minor repairs to an existing enclosure do not need one. Applications are made with Engineering Services at City Hall, and inground pool construction needs a refundable damage deposit.
Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the City of Pickering's Building Services or City Development staff before you start.
Planning a Pickering Patio or Walkway
Start with how the space will be used and where the water goes. A patio off the back door usually needs to step down or slope gently away from the house, and a walkway along the side yard often shares space with a drainage swale, which narrows what can be built there. Our guide to backyard landscaping ideas in Durham Region covers layouts, and our post on interlocking pavers vs concrete compares materials.
Common Questions
Do I need a permit for an interlock patio in Pickering?
A ground-level interlock patio is not on the City's list of work that needs a building permit, but it must still meet the Zoning By-law and cannot change your lot's approved grading and drainage. A deck over 60 cm above ground or a retaining wall over 1 metre in a public-facing location does need a permit.
Can I build a patio on a new home in Pickering right away?
Usually not. The City says patios, sheds and decks typically cannot be built until the final lot grading certificate has been issued. Check your purchase and sale agreement for the details.
Can I put interlock over the drainage swale in my side yard?
No. Pickering does not permit homeowners to fill in drainage swales, because doing so affects drainage on neighbouring properties, and owners can be held liable for damage.
Do you repair or seal existing interlock in Pickering?
Yes. As well as new patios, walkways and driveways, we repair existing interlock and seal it. Tell us what you are seeing when you request a quote and we will look at it during the on-site visit.
Get a Hardscaping Quote in Pickering
Contact us to book an on-site visit and a free quote for your Pickering patio, walkway or retaining wall. For other work on your property, see landscaping in Pickering.
Sources: City of Pickering, Building Permits; City of Pickering, Frequently Asked Questions; City of Pickering, Boulevard Maintenance; City of Pickering, Pool Enclosure Permits.
