Burlington sits between the escarpment and the lake, and a lot of its water comes downhill through older neighbourhoods built before modern grading standards. The City responds with firm rules on grading changes and real money for flood protection. Here is what drainage work costs and how to do it without needing to undo it later.
2026 drainage costs in Burlington
| Fix | 2026 cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Buried downspout extension | $380 - $1,300 | Water pooling at the corners of the house |
| Regrading so the ground slopes away | $1,600 - $6,500 | Soil that slopes back toward the walls |
| Swale | $1,400 - $5,200 | Moving surface water across the lot |
| French drain, typical 40 ft run | $2,600 - $5,400 | A side yard or lawn that stays soaked |
| Catch basin and connection | $850 - $2,400 | A low spot that ponds after every rain |
| Dry well | $1,900 - $5,800 | Nowhere legal to send the water |
| Sump pump, pit and discharge line | $1,900 - $4,800 | Water below grade, high water table |
| Several fixes together | $6,000 - $26,000 | Lots with more than one problem |
Aldershot and the older lakeshore streets often have flat lots, old clay drains and basements that take water in a big storm. Homes below the escarpment in Tyandaga and Brant Hills deal with water arriving from uphill. In both cases the order is the same: get roof water away from the walls, fix the slope, then deal with whatever is left.
The Grading and Drainage Clearance Certificate
Under Burlington's Grading and Drainage By-law 52-2018, a clearance certificate is needed before any site engineering on low-density residential land, which includes adding fill, changing grade, compaction, new hard surfaces or a change in drainage. The plan has to show where every downspout and sump pump discharges, and it is held to set standards:
- Finished ground slopes of at least 1%, and side and rear swales at least 2% or a subdrain.
- The top of the foundation wall at least 0.15 m above finished grade.
- Sump pumps may not discharge to a side yard.
- Sump pumps and downspouts must discharge to a permeable surface through splash pads or outlet extensions.
When you need a site alteration permit
Separately, the Site Alteration By-law exempts small residential jobs only if the grade rises no more than 0.15 m, nothing is changed within 0.5 m of a lot line, sheet flow across lot lines is not blocked, and no more than 10 m3 of fill comes in over three months. The City's own screening form treats any grade change near a lot line, a retaining wall, fill that drains worse than the native soil, or work next to a watercourse as a likely site alteration permit. Pools, patios and large landscaping jobs are listed as examples that need one.
Sump pumps and neighbours
A new sump pump needs a building permit in Burlington, and City engineering staff look at where it will discharge. Under Halton's by-laws, foundation drains and downspouts can never go to the sanitary sewer. If a neighbour's site alteration is flooding your yard, the City takes complaints through Service Burlington, which is not true in every city.
Subsidies and grants in Burlington
- Halton Region pays 100% of downspout disconnection up to $900, 100% of weeping tile disconnection and a sump pump up to $6,500, and 50% of a backwater valve up to $1,600, once per property. Apply within a year of the work.
- The City's Home Flood Protection Program subsidizes a home flood assessment, $285 plus HST for an in-person visit, and waives plumbing permit fees for a backwater valve or sump pump.
- Conservation Halton's Rainwater Conservation Fund funds rain gardens, soakaway pits, infiltration trenches and permeable pavers, with grants of up to $7,500 according to the City. In 2026 and 2027 it covers Aldershot, Brant Hills, Pleasantview, Tyandaga and part of north Burlington.
Any digging starts with a free locate from Ontario Dig Authority, at least 5 business days ahead.
Where we work in Burlington
Aldershot, the lakeshore, Roseland, Shoreacres, Tyandaga, Brant Hills, Headon Forest, Millcroft, Orchard, Alton, Kilbride and Mt Nemo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does yard drainage cost in Burlington?
About $380 to $1,300 for downspout extensions, $1,600 to $6,500 for regrading, $2,600 to $5,400 for a typical French drain, and $6,000 to $26,000 for several fixes together.
Do I need a permit to regrade my yard in Burlington?
On low-density residential land, changing grade, adding fill or adding a hard surface needs a Grading and Drainage Clearance Certificate. Larger jobs, or work near a lot line, may also need a site alteration permit.
Can my sump pump discharge into the side yard?
No. Burlington's grading by-law does not allow sump pumps to discharge to a side yard. They must discharge to a permeable surface through a splash pad or extension.
What does Halton pay toward a sump pump in Burlington?
100% of the cost of weeping tile disconnection with a sump pump, up to $6,500, once per property.
Is there a grant for rain gardens in Burlington?
Conservation Halton's Rainwater Conservation Fund covers rain gardens, soakaway pits and permeable pavers in Aldershot, Brant Hills, Pleasantview, Tyandaga and part of north Burlington in 2026 and 2027.
What if my neighbour's work floods my yard?
If it came from site alteration, contact the City of Burlington through Service Burlington, which takes these complaints.