Cost of Retaining Wall in Ontario in 2026 | Price Calculator
The cost of a retaining wall in Ontario ranges from $25 to $65 per square foot installed in 2026. A standard residential retaining wall — 3 feet high and 30 feet long — typically costs $3,500 to $8,000. Larger projects like a natural stone retaining wall 4 feet high and 50 feet long run $8,000 to $12,000. Taller walls, premium materials, or difficult site conditions push costs well above that.
Most Ontario homeowners pay somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000 for a professionally installed retaining wall. The final price depends on the material, wall height and length, site accessibility, and whether engineering is required.
Factors That Affect Retaining Wall Cost in Ontario
Wall Height
Height is the single biggest cost driver. Taller walls need more material, deeper foundations, and heavier equipment. Once a wall exceeds 1 metre (about 3.3 feet), most Ontario municipalities require a building permit and engineered drawings — adding $1,500 to $3,500 in engineering and permit fees alone.
A 2-foot wall might cost $40 to $100 per linear foot. A 4-foot wall jumps to $150 to $300 per linear foot. A 6-foot wall can reach $300 to $450+ per linear foot.
Wall Length
Longer walls cost more overall but can bring the per-foot price down slightly. Contractors spread setup and equipment costs across more linear footage. A 20-foot wall project has higher per-foot costs than a 60-foot wall.
Material Type
Materials range from pressure-treated timber at the low end to natural stone and poured concrete at the high end. This is covered in detail below.
Design Complexity
Straight walls are the simplest to build. Curves, corners, steps, tiered sections, and integrated planters all add labour and materials. Complex designs can add $5 to $15 per square foot to the base price.
Site Accessibility and Slope
If the crew can’t get equipment close to the wall location, labour costs go up. Steep slopes, narrow side yards, or obstacles like trees and fences mean more hand-digging and manual material handling. Difficult access can add 10% to 30% to the project cost.
Drainage Requirements
Every retaining wall needs drainage behind it. Without it, water pressure builds up and eventually pushes the wall over. A basic drainage system with perforated pipe and gravel costs $5 to $10 per linear foot. If the site has serious water issues, more extensive drainage work can add $1,000 to $3,000+.
Soil Conditions
Clay soil, rocky ground, or unstable fill all affect the foundation work. Clay expands and contracts with moisture. Rock requires breaking or cutting. Poor soil may need to be excavated and replaced with compacted granular material. Expect $500 to $2,000+ in extra costs for difficult soil.
Engineering Requirements
Under the Ontario Building Code, retaining walls over 1 metre (3.3 feet) in height are classified as designated structures. This means you need:
Engineered drawings stamped by a licensed professional engineer
A building permit from your municipality
Inspections during and after construction
Engineering fees for a retaining wall in Ontario typically run $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the wall size and complexity. The building permit itself usually costs $200 to $500+ depending on the municipality.
Retaining Wall Projects & Prices
Price: $6,500
Backyard retaining wall project at Newmarket
Date: May, 2023
Town: Newmarket
Price: $2,500
Front yard retaining wall project at Newmarket
Date: May, 2025
Town: Newmarket
Types of Retaining Wall Materials and Cost Breakdown
The most popular choice in Ontario. Interlocking concrete blocks (like Allan Block, Techo-Bloc, or Unilock systems) stack together with a built-in lip or pin system. No mortar needed for most residential heights.
Installed cost: $25 to $50 per square foot
Lifespan: 30–50 years
Maintenance: Very low — occasional cleaning
Techo-Bloc and Unilock are the two most popular suppliers in Ontario. Techo-Bloc offers modern textures and finishes. Unilock has a wide range from standard to premium lines. Other brands include Permacon, Belgard, and Oaks Landscape Products. Material costs vary by product line — basic blocks start around $5 to $8 per square foot, while premium textured blocks run $10 to $18 per square foot.
Natural stone retaining walls use materials like limestone, granite, fieldstone, or flagstone. Each piece is unique. Natural stone comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours — and each type varies in price.
Installed cost: $35 to $85 per square foot
Lifespan: 50–100+ years
Maintenance: Very low
A natural stone retaining wall 4 feet high and 50 feet long typically costs $8,000 to $12,000 in Ontario. Taller or longer walls, or walls using more expensive stone like granite, cost more. Limestone is usually the most affordable natural stone option in the GTA.
Strong and long-lasting. Poured concrete walls are formed on-site with rebar reinforcement. They’re often the best choice for tall walls or walls that need to support heavy loads.
Installed cost: $30 to $60 per square foot
Lifespan: 50–75+ years
Maintenance: Low — may need sealing or parging over time
Poured concrete requires formwork, which adds to labour costs. For walls over 4 feet, it’s often more cost-effective than block because of its structural strength.
The lowest-cost option. Timber walls use pressure-treated landscape timbers or railroad ties stacked horizontally and anchored with rebar or deadman anchors.
Installed cost: $15 to $30 per square foot
Lifespan: 10–20 years
Maintenance: Moderate — wood eventually rots, even when treated
Timber walls work for short walls (under 3 feet) in low-visibility areas. They’re not a long-term solution and will need replacing within 15–20 years.
Large natural boulders (typically 1–3 ton pieces) stacked by machine. Popular in Ontario for a rugged, natural look. Common in cottage country and rural properties.
Installed cost: $25 to $55 per square foot
Lifespan: 50–100+ years
Maintenance: Almost none
Boulder walls require heavy equipment (excavator or loader) for placement. If machine access is limited, costs go up significantly.
Retaining Wall Material Comparison Table
Feature
Concrete Block
Natural Stone
Poured Concrete
Timber
Boulder
Installed Cost (per sq ft)
$25–$50
$35–$85
$30–$60
$15–$30
$25–$55
Lifespan
30–50 years
50–100+ years
50–75+ years
10–20 years
50–100+ years
Maintenance
Very low
Very low
Low
Moderate
Almost none
Appearance
Uniform, modern
Natural, unique
Smooth, industrial
Rustic
Natural, rugged
Best For
Most residential projects
High-end landscapes
Tall/structural walls
Short, temporary walls
Rural and large properties
Max Practical Height
6–8 ft (with engineering)
4–6 ft
10+ ft
3–4 ft
6–8 ft
How Long Does a Retaining Wall Take to Build?
Project timelines depend on the wall size, material, site conditions, and whether permits and engineering are involved.
Small wall (under 3 ft tall, under 25 ft long): 1 to 3 days of active work
Medium wall (3–4 ft tall, 30–50 ft long): 3 to 5 days
Large wall (4–6 ft tall, 50+ ft long): 1 to 2 weeks
Add 2 to 6 weeks for permits and engineering if your wall is over 1 metre. The engineering drawings alone can take 1–2 weeks. Municipal permit review varies — some cities turn permits around in a week, others take a month.
Poured concrete walls take longer than block walls because of formwork setup and curing time (concrete needs at least 48–72 hours to cure before backfilling). Boulder walls go up quickly if machine access is good — an experienced operator can place a 50-foot boulder wall in 1 to 2 days.
Weather can also slow things down. Rain makes excavation messy and dangerous. Frozen ground in early spring or late fall adds difficulty.
Special Features That Affect Retaining Wall Price
A finished cap on top of the wall gives it a polished look and protects the top course from water. Natural stone caps or premium concrete caps add $8 to $20 per linear foot to the project. Basic matching block caps run $3 to $8 per linear foot.
Under-cap LED lighting is a popular upgrade. Lights tuck beneath the cap stones and cast a soft downward glow along the wall face. Expect to pay $15 to $45 per linear foot for materials, plus $500 to $2,500 for professional installation depending on the wall length and wiring complexity.
Individual fixtures (recessed wall lights or step lights) cost $100 to $300 per fixture installed.
Curved walls require more cutting, fitting, and time. Most block systems accommodate gentle curves, but tight radii need smaller blocks or custom cutting. Curves add $5 to $15 per linear foot compared to straight walls.
A retaining wall at the right height (16–20 inches) can double as a seat wall. This typically requires a wider cap and a slightly wider wall build. Adding a seating section costs $50 to $120 per linear foot depending on the cap material.
Building planter boxes into the wall adds soil retention pockets for flowers, shrubs, or small trees. Each planter section adds $300 to $800 depending on size and material.
Steps built into or alongside a retaining wall cost $50 to $200 per linear foot of step width. A standard 4-foot-wide set of 3–4 steps runs $1,500 to $4,000 depending on materials. Natural stone steps cost more than concrete block steps.
Instead of one tall wall, two or more shorter walls with a planted terrace between them. Tiered walls look better and can sometimes avoid the permit threshold (if each tier stays under 1 metre). However, total cost is usually 20% to 50% more than a single wall of equivalent height because of the extra base preparation, drainage, and material for each tier.
Integrating a waterfall or water spill into a retaining wall is a premium upgrade. A basic water feature adds $2,000 to $6,000+ to the project, covering the pump, basin, plumbing, and stone work.
General Ontario Requirements for Retaining Walls
Construction Hours
Ontario does not have one province-wide rule for residential construction noise. Each municipality sets its own hours. Most follow a similar pattern:
Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (some allow 7:00 AM starts)
Sunday and statutory holidays: No construction noise permitted
Always confirm with your specific municipality before work starts.
Ontario Building Code Requirements
Under the Ontario Building Code, retaining walls over 1 metre (3.3 feet) in exposed height are classified as designated structures. This applies when the wall is:
Adjacent to or accessible by the public
Near a building, driveway, or walkway
On or near a property line where collapse could affect neighbouring property
For designated structures, you need:
Engineered drawings prepared and stamped by a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) licensed in Ontario
A building permit from your local municipality
Inspections at key stages (typically footing/base and final)
Retaining walls under 1 metre on private property that are not accessible to the public and not near structures generally do not require a permit. But this varies by municipality — some are stricter than others.
If your wall is close to a conservation authority regulated area (near a ravine, creek, floodplain, or wetland), you may also need a conservation authority permit regardless of wall height.
Guards and Fencing
The Ontario Building Code requires a guard (fence or railing) at the top of any retaining wall where there is a drop of more than 600 mm (about 2 feet) and the public has access, or where required by the local property standards bylaw. In Toronto, a guard is required on any retaining wall with an exposed height exceeding 1,000 mm (1 metre).
Municipal Bylaws by Town
Below are the retaining wall permit requirements for municipalities within one hour of Toronto. The Ontario Building Code’s 1-metre rule applies across the province, but municipalities may have additional requirements. Rules can change — always confirm with your local building department.
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height that are accessible to the public or adjacent to buildings/driveways. Walls under 1 metre on private property with no public access generally do not need a permit.
Engineering required: Stamped drawings from a Professional Engineer for walls over 1 metre.
Guard required: Yes, for walls with exposed height over 1 metre.
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height, particularly those adjacent to public property, building entrances, or accessible areas. Engineering drawings required.
Note: Where retaining walls over 1 m are proposed as part of lot grading, a grading plan review is also required.
Contact: 311 (or 905-615-4311 outside city limits)
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls classified as designated structures under the Ontario Building Code (over 1 metre, near public areas or structures).
Note: Properties near conservation areas may also require a Conservation Halton permit.
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height that are accessible to the public or adjacent to structures. Walls under 1 metre on private property with no public access do not require a permit.
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Engineered drawings required. Properties in the Oak Ridges Moraine or near the TRCA regulated area may need additional approvals.
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Engineering and grading plans required.
Note: Many Caledon properties fall within conservation authority regulated areas (Credit Valley Conservation or Toronto and Region Conservation). Check if a conservation permit is also needed.
Contact: 905-584-2272 x7338 or planning@caledon.ca
Here are several tips how to negotiate a lower cost of retaining wall with a contractor:
1) If you have certain store discounts, credits, or credit card points that you want to use you can opt to buy retaining wall blocks yourself and have contractor only provide the installation. Note that when buying wall blocks, in addition to a block price you need to account for delivery and skid deposit. Most stone yards provide delivery, and they will unload skids of wall blocks right on your front yard with a truck-mounted piggyback forklifts. Also, stone yards usually take $50-$70 deposit for every skid which you get back when you return skids back to stone yard. For more information about retaining wall blocks, brands, and prices check out our stone pavers for driveway page
2) Some unethical ways that we do not endorse but which is quite popular is to pay cash for project as opposed to paying by cheque. In this case most contractors will still want you to pay for materials by cheque. While you may save some money this way it is harder to enforce warranty for the installation work should anything go wrong with the retaining wall such as alignment or stone cracks. Without a trail of cheque, invoice, and contract you are relying on a contractor’s integrity to provide warranty service repairs.
3) Construction contractors may quote different prices based on how busy they are (i.e., how many projects they have lined up). This usually varies greatly from one company to another but on average landscaping contractors have smaller backlog of projects at the beginning of the season (March – May) and in the middle of the season (July – August). Asking for quotes during these months may nail you a better price.
4) Homeowners can also save on retaining wall blocks if they follow the deals from stone yards. For example, sometimes Beaver Valley stone yard posts deals on their Instagram feed and website for wall blocks that go for discounted prices.
1) Get quotes from 2-3 contactors. You may be tempted to go with the contractor who got recommended to you by a friend or contractor who did a good job at a project down the street. While referral comes with certain promise for quality you may be overpaying greatly when selecting a contractor this way. When contractors get clients from referral or word of mouth, they tend to quote a higher than usual price because a) they know their reputation is working in their favor. b) they know a client is likely not shopping around.
2) Don’t put too much trust in reviews online. Large companies like Google and Facebook only relatively recently started enforcing major fight on fake reviews. Smaller companies tend to be slower at this because they neither have the resources nor have an incentive to tackle fake reviews ( often their business model depends on fees that they charge to contractors hence they are hesitant to remove the fake good reviews from their platforms ).
3) While selecting the most affordable contractor it’s better to be weary of the ones that quote prices below general market price. Firstly, inexperienced contractors may do a bad quality work. Bad retaining wall alignment or uneven stone cuts are only some of the examples of bad quality work. While some things are easy to catch right away, others such as poorly compacted grading may not present themselves until couple of years later. Secondly, small companies or the ones that haven’t been in business for long may not live long enough to fulfill any possible warranty incidents that may arise in future. Unfortunately, some construction companies go out of business and if the alignment of your retaining wall becomes uneven the company that’s out of business will not get fixed it as promised.
4) Ask contractor about the warranty that they are offering for the installation. 2–3-year warranty is the general norm among good quality contractors.
5) Check out contractor’s portfolio and pictures of previous projects. If any of their retaining wall were built at the front yard you can even drive around and check them in person. Ask if contractor has done commercial projects before. If they have usually it’s a good sign of their expertise.
6) When it comes to payments the good approach is to break it into 2 – 3 installments that come due as project moves along. Every contractor does things different here, but a good rule of thumb is split payments into 3 parts:
Contractor brough team and equipment on site and is ready to start work – 1st payment is due.
Middle of the project is done – excavation, grading, and compacting is done – 2nd payment is due.
Project is complete – garbage/bin is taken out. – 3rd payment is due
Also, it is normal for contractors to take small deposit of $500 after the estimate in order to put your project in their list of future work.
The cost of a retaining wall in Ontario ranges from $25 to $65 per square foot installed in 2026. A standard residential retaining wall — 3 feet high and 30 feet long — typically costs $3,500 to $8,000. Larger projects like a natural stone retaining wall 4 feet high and 50 feet long run $8,000 to $12,000. Taller walls, premium materials, or difficult site conditions push costs well above that.
Most Ontario homeowners pay somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000 for a professionally installed retaining wall. The final price depends on the material, wall height and length, site accessibility, and whether engineering is required.
Factors That Affect Retaining Wall Cost in Ontario
Wall Height
Height is the single biggest cost driver. Taller walls need more material, deeper foundations, and heavier equipment. Once a wall exceeds 1 metre (about 3.3 feet), most Ontario municipalities require a building permit and engineered drawings — adding $1,500 to $3,500 in engineering and permit fees alone.
A 2-foot wall might cost $40 to $100 per linear foot. A 4-foot wall jumps to $150 to $300 per linear foot. A 6-foot wall can reach $300 to $450+ per linear foot.
Wall Length
Longer walls cost more overall but can bring the per-foot price down slightly. Contractors spread setup and equipment costs across more linear footage. A 20-foot wall project has higher per-foot costs than a 60-foot wall.
Material Type
Materials range from pressure-treated timber at the low end to natural stone and poured concrete at the high end. This is covered in detail below.
Design Complexity
Straight walls are the simplest to build. Curves, corners, steps, tiered sections, and integrated planters all add labour and materials. Complex designs can add $5 to $15 per square foot to the base price.
Site Accessibility and Slope
If the crew can’t get equipment close to the wall location, labour costs go up. Steep slopes, narrow side yards, or obstacles like trees and fences mean more hand-digging and manual material handling. Difficult access can add 10% to 30% to the project cost.
Drainage Requirements
Every retaining wall needs drainage behind it. Without it, water pressure builds up and eventually pushes the wall over. A basic drainage system with perforated pipe and gravel costs $5 to $10 per linear foot. If the site has serious water issues, more extensive drainage work can add $1,000 to $3,000+.
Soil Conditions
Clay soil, rocky ground, or unstable fill all affect the foundation work. Clay expands and contracts with moisture. Rock requires breaking or cutting. Poor soil may need to be excavated and replaced with compacted granular material. Expect $500 to $2,000+ in extra costs for difficult soil.
Engineering Requirements
Under the Ontario Building Code, retaining walls over 1 metre (3.3 feet) in height are classified as designated structures. This means you need:
Engineering fees for a retaining wall in Ontario typically run $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the wall size and complexity. The building permit itself usually costs $200 to $500+ depending on the municipality.
Retaining Wall Projects & Prices
Backyard retaining wall project at Newmarket
Front yard retaining wall project at Newmarket
Types of Retaining Wall Materials and Cost Breakdown
The most popular choice in Ontario. Interlocking concrete blocks (like Allan Block, Techo-Bloc, or Unilock systems) stack together with a built-in lip or pin system. No mortar needed for most residential heights.
Techo-Bloc and Unilock are the two most popular suppliers in Ontario. Techo-Bloc offers modern textures and finishes. Unilock has a wide range from standard to premium lines. Other brands include Permacon, Belgard, and Oaks Landscape Products. Material costs vary by product line — basic blocks start around $5 to $8 per square foot, while premium textured blocks run $10 to $18 per square foot.
Natural stone retaining walls use materials like limestone, granite, fieldstone, or flagstone. Each piece is unique. Natural stone comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours — and each type varies in price.
A natural stone retaining wall 4 feet high and 50 feet long typically costs $8,000 to $12,000 in Ontario. Taller or longer walls, or walls using more expensive stone like granite, cost more. Limestone is usually the most affordable natural stone option in the GTA.
Strong and long-lasting. Poured concrete walls are formed on-site with rebar reinforcement. They’re often the best choice for tall walls or walls that need to support heavy loads.
Poured concrete requires formwork, which adds to labour costs. For walls over 4 feet, it’s often more cost-effective than block because of its structural strength.
The lowest-cost option. Timber walls use pressure-treated landscape timbers or railroad ties stacked horizontally and anchored with rebar or deadman anchors.
Timber walls work for short walls (under 3 feet) in low-visibility areas. They’re not a long-term solution and will need replacing within 15–20 years.
Large natural boulders (typically 1–3 ton pieces) stacked by machine. Popular in Ontario for a rugged, natural look. Common in cottage country and rural properties.
Boulder walls require heavy equipment (excavator or loader) for placement. If machine access is limited, costs go up significantly.
Retaining Wall Material Comparison Table
How Long Does a Retaining Wall Take to Build?
Project timelines depend on the wall size, material, site conditions, and whether permits and engineering are involved.
Add 2 to 6 weeks for permits and engineering if your wall is over 1 metre. The engineering drawings alone can take 1–2 weeks. Municipal permit review varies — some cities turn permits around in a week, others take a month.
Poured concrete walls take longer than block walls because of formwork setup and curing time (concrete needs at least 48–72 hours to cure before backfilling). Boulder walls go up quickly if machine access is good — an experienced operator can place a 50-foot boulder wall in 1 to 2 days.
Weather can also slow things down. Rain makes excavation messy and dangerous. Frozen ground in early spring or late fall adds difficulty.
Special Features That Affect Retaining Wall Price
A finished cap on top of the wall gives it a polished look and protects the top course from water. Natural stone caps or premium concrete caps add $8 to $20 per linear foot to the project. Basic matching block caps run $3 to $8 per linear foot.
Under-cap LED lighting is a popular upgrade. Lights tuck beneath the cap stones and cast a soft downward glow along the wall face. Expect to pay $15 to $45 per linear foot for materials, plus $500 to $2,500 for professional installation depending on the wall length and wiring complexity.
Individual fixtures (recessed wall lights or step lights) cost $100 to $300 per fixture installed.
Curved walls require more cutting, fitting, and time. Most block systems accommodate gentle curves, but tight radii need smaller blocks or custom cutting. Curves add $5 to $15 per linear foot compared to straight walls.
A retaining wall at the right height (16–20 inches) can double as a seat wall. This typically requires a wider cap and a slightly wider wall build. Adding a seating section costs $50 to $120 per linear foot depending on the cap material.
Building planter boxes into the wall adds soil retention pockets for flowers, shrubs, or small trees. Each planter section adds $300 to $800 depending on size and material.
Steps built into or alongside a retaining wall cost $50 to $200 per linear foot of step width. A standard 4-foot-wide set of 3–4 steps runs $1,500 to $4,000 depending on materials. Natural stone steps cost more than concrete block steps.
Instead of one tall wall, two or more shorter walls with a planted terrace between them. Tiered walls look better and can sometimes avoid the permit threshold (if each tier stays under 1 metre). However, total cost is usually 20% to 50% more than a single wall of equivalent height because of the extra base preparation, drainage, and material for each tier.
Integrating a waterfall or water spill into a retaining wall is a premium upgrade. A basic water feature adds $2,000 to $6,000+ to the project, covering the pump, basin, plumbing, and stone work.
General Ontario Requirements for Retaining Walls
Construction Hours
Ontario does not have one province-wide rule for residential construction noise. Each municipality sets its own hours. Most follow a similar pattern:
Always confirm with your specific municipality before work starts.
Ontario Building Code Requirements
Under the Ontario Building Code, retaining walls over 1 metre (3.3 feet) in exposed height are classified as designated structures. This applies when the wall is:
For designated structures, you need:
Retaining walls under 1 metre on private property that are not accessible to the public and not near structures generally do not require a permit. But this varies by municipality — some are stricter than others.
If your wall is close to a conservation authority regulated area (near a ravine, creek, floodplain, or wetland), you may also need a conservation authority permit regardless of wall height.
Guards and Fencing
The Ontario Building Code requires a guard (fence or railing) at the top of any retaining wall where there is a drop of more than 600 mm (about 2 feet) and the public has access, or where required by the local property standards bylaw. In Toronto, a guard is required on any retaining wall with an exposed height exceeding 1,000 mm (1 metre).
Municipal Bylaws by Town
Below are the retaining wall permit requirements for municipalities within one hour of Toronto. The Ontario Building Code’s 1-metre rule applies across the province, but municipalities may have additional requirements. Rules can change — always confirm with your local building department.
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height that are accessible to the public or adjacent to buildings/driveways. Walls under 1 metre on private property with no public access generally do not need a permit.
Engineering required: Stamped drawings from a Professional Engineer for walls over 1 metre.
Guard required: Yes, for walls with exposed height over 1 metre.
Contact: 311 (or 416-392-2489 outside Toronto)
Website: toronto.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height, particularly those adjacent to public property, building entrances, or accessible areas. Engineering drawings required.
Note: Where retaining walls over 1 m are proposed as part of lot grading, a grading plan review is also required.
Contact: 311 (or 905-615-4311 outside city limits)
Website: mississauga.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls classified as designated structures under the Ontario Building Code (over 1 metre, near public areas or structures).
Note: Properties near conservation areas may also require a Conservation Halton permit.
Contact: 905-845-6601 or service@oakville.ca
Website: oakville.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height. Engineered drawings required.
Note: Conservation Halton permits may also apply for properties near regulated areas.
Contact: 905-335-7600
Website: burlington.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Engineering and grading plans typically required.
Note: Conservation Halton may require a separate permit for properties in regulated areas.
Contact: 905-878-7252
Website: milton.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height. Small retaining walls under 1 metre do not require a building permit.
Engineering required: Stamped drawings from a Professional Engineer for walls over 1 metre.
Contact: 905-832-2281
Website: vaughan.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height or those adjacent to public areas. Engineering drawings required.
Contact: 905-771-8800
Website: richmondhill.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Permit applications require engineered drawings.
Contact: 905-477-5530
Website: markham.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height or those classified as designated structures.
Note: Properties on regional roads may need to coordinate with Durham Region.
Contact: 905-683-4550
Website: ajax.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height that are accessible to the public or adjacent to structures. Walls under 1 metre on private property with no public access do not require a permit.
Contact: 905-420-4660
Website: pickering.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Engineering drawings and inspections required.
Contact: 905-436-3311
Website: oshawa.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height. Designated structure permit application with engineered drawings.
Contact: 905-430-4300
Website: whitby.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height. Engineering required for designated structures.
Contact: 905-895-5193
Website: newmarket.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Contact the building department for application requirements.
Contact: 905-727-1375
Website: aurora.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Engineered drawings required. Properties in the Oak Ridges Moraine or near the TRCA regulated area may need additional approvals.
Contact: 905-833-5321
Website: king.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre. Engineering and grading plans required.
Note: Many Caledon properties fall within conservation authority regulated areas (Credit Valley Conservation or Toronto and Region Conservation). Check if a conservation permit is also needed.
Contact: 905-584-2272 x7338 or planning@caledon.ca
Website: caledon.ca
Permit required: Yes, for retaining walls over 1 metre in height. Engineered drawings and a building permit application required.
Note: Conservation Halton permits may apply for properties near regulated areas.
Contact: 905-873-2601
Website: haltonhills.ca
Tips and FAQ
1) If you have certain store discounts, credits, or credit card points that you want to use you can opt to buy retaining wall blocks yourself and have contractor only provide the installation. Note that when buying wall blocks, in addition to a block price you need to account for delivery and skid deposit. Most stone yards provide delivery, and they will unload skids of wall blocks right on your front yard with a truck-mounted piggyback forklifts. Also, stone yards usually take $50-$70 deposit for every skid which you get back when you return skids back to stone yard. For more information about retaining wall blocks, brands, and prices check out our stone pavers for driveway page
2) Some unethical ways that we do not endorse but which is quite popular is to pay cash for project as opposed to paying by cheque. In this case most contractors will still want you to pay for materials by cheque. While you may save some money this way it is harder to enforce warranty for the installation work should anything go wrong with the retaining wall such as alignment or stone cracks. Without a trail of cheque, invoice, and contract you are relying on a contractor’s integrity to provide warranty service repairs.
3) Construction contractors may quote different prices based on how busy they are (i.e., how many projects they have lined up). This usually varies greatly from one company to another but on average landscaping contractors have smaller backlog of projects at the beginning of the season (March – May) and in the middle of the season (July – August). Asking for quotes during these months may nail you a better price.
4) Homeowners can also save on retaining wall blocks if they follow the deals from stone yards. For example, sometimes Beaver Valley stone yard posts deals on their Instagram feed and website for wall blocks that go for discounted prices.
2) Don’t put too much trust in reviews online. Large companies like Google and Facebook only relatively recently started enforcing major fight on fake reviews. Smaller companies tend to be slower at this because they neither have the resources nor have an incentive to tackle fake reviews ( often their business model depends on fees that they charge to contractors hence they are hesitant to remove the fake good reviews from their platforms ).
3) While selecting the most affordable contractor it’s better to be weary of the ones that quote prices below general market price. Firstly, inexperienced contractors may do a bad quality work. Bad retaining wall alignment or uneven stone cuts are only some of the examples of bad quality work. While some things are easy to catch right away, others such as poorly compacted grading may not present themselves until couple of years later. Secondly, small companies or the ones that haven’t been in business for long may not live long enough to fulfill any possible warranty incidents that may arise in future. Unfortunately, some construction companies go out of business and if the alignment of your retaining wall becomes uneven the company that’s out of business will not get fixed it as promised.
4) Ask contractor about the warranty that they are offering for the installation. 2–3-year warranty is the general norm among good quality contractors.
5) Check out contractor’s portfolio and pictures of previous projects. If any of their retaining wall were built at the front yard you can even drive around and check them in person. Ask if contractor has done commercial projects before. If they have usually it’s a good sign of their expertise.
6) When it comes to payments the good approach is to break it into 2 – 3 installments that come due as project moves along. Every contractor does things different here, but a good rule of thumb is split payments into 3 parts:
Contractor brough team and equipment on site and is ready to start work – 1st payment is due.
Middle of the project is done – excavation, grading, and compacting is done – 2nd payment is due.
Project is complete – garbage/bin is taken out. – 3rd payment is due
Also, it is normal for contractors to take small deposit of $500 after the estimate in order to put your project in their list of future work.