# Landscaping in Pickering: interlock, lawns and cleanups

URL: https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/pickering/  
Updated: 2026-10-13  
By: Hotiv Landscaping, Markham, Ontario. Call or text (437) 684-2535.

**Short answer:** Hotiv Landscaping works in Pickering from our base in Markham, just across the York-Durham Line. Here we do interlock repair and polymeric sand, sod and lawn care, spring and fall cleanups, garden beds, and deck and fence staining. Pickering is in Durham Region, so Durham's rules apply: yard waste goes out from April to early December in bags of up to 20 kg, and odd-even lawn watering is mandatory from May to September.

Landscaping in Pickering changes a lot between the lake and the Oak Ridges Moraine. The south end, around Frenchman's Bay, is where the city's subdivisions started after the Second World War. Around Taunton Road and north toward Highway 7, Seaton is still being built. Further north it turns rural, with hamlets such as Whitevale, Claremont and Brougham.

A post-war house near the lake and a house finished in Seaton last year need very different things. Pickering is also in Durham Region, not York Region like Markham, so the leaf pickup, the watering rules and a few City by-laws are different. We've set those out below.

## What do older homes in south Pickering need?

Mostly repairs that catch up on age. In the established neighbourhoods in the south of the city, such as Bay Ridges, West Shore, Rougemount, Dunbarton and Liverpool, these come up most:

- Interlock driveways and walkways that have dipped, rocked loose or filled with weeds. Usually that means lifting and relaying the low section and putting in new joint sand, not a new driveway. See [interlock repair](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-repair/), [polymeric sand and weed removal](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/polymeric-sand-installation/) and our guide on [why interlock sinks](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fix-sunken-interlock/).
- Grey, splitting wood on older decks and fences. Washing it and putting on a new finish often buys a few more years. See [deck staining and sealing](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/deck-staining/) and [fence painting and staining](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/fence-painting-staining/).
- Big trees and the leaf drop that comes with them. Book a [fall cleanup](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/seasonal-cleanup/) before the ground freezes, or work through our [fall cleanup checklist](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fall-cleanup-checklist/) yourself.

## What do new builds in Seaton need?

Seaton yards are new, so the work is fixing a rushed builder finish rather than wear:

- Builder sod laid over compacted fill can brown in July or never knit at the seams. Sometimes patching is enough. Other times it's better to add soil and lay new [sod](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/sod-installation/).
- Bare front yards with a few shrubs. A planted and mulched [garden bed](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/garden-beds-planting/) does a lot for a small lot.
- New interlock is easier to keep clean than to bring back later, so decide early whether you want it [cleaned and sealed](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-cleaning-sealing/).

Moving a lot of soil is a different matter. The City says work involving more than 2 dump truck loads (20 cubic metres) of fill or topsoil may need a Fill and Topsoil Disturbance Permit, though minor gardening and landscaping is exempt.

Seaton also has its own parking and driveway rules. Properties in the Seaton Urban Area (zones that start with "S") follow Section 14 of Pickering's Zoning By-law 8149/24, not the Section 5 rules used elsewhere in the city. Check that section before widening a driveway there.

## Which Pickering and Durham rules affect yard work?

The Region of Durham handles yard waste pickup and lawn watering, and the City of Pickering sets the rules for trees, fences, boulevards and grass height. This is a summary of the City and Region pages listed in the sources, which have the final word.

| Rule | Limit in Pickering | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Yard waste pickup | April to early December, 20 kg per bag or container | Region of Durham |
| Brush bundles | Up to 1 m long, no branch over 10 cm thick | Region of Durham |
| Lawn watering | Odd-even, mandatory May to September | Region of Durham |
| Tree removal | Permit for trees 2.5 cm+ across, in mapped areas only | City of Pickering |
| Fence height | 2 m side and rear, 1 m solid in front | City of Pickering |
| Grass and weeds | No longer than 15 cm, boulevard included | City of Pickering |

### Yard waste pickup

In Pickering the Region, not the City, collects garbage, green bin and yard waste. Markham's 2026 season ends on October 30, so Pickering gives you more time to get the last leaves to the curb.

The Region takes only paper yard waste bags or clearly labelled, returnable open-top containers. Brush bundles can also be up to 76 cm wide. Grass clippings aren't collected.

### Trees

Pickering's tree by-law works differently from Markham's or Richmond Hill's, which require a permit for private trees above a set trunk size anywhere in the city. Pickering's By-law 8073/24 applies only inside mapped tree protection areas, which mostly run through and beside watercourses and green spaces.

Inside those areas you need a permit to remove any tree 2.5 cm or more across (measured 1.5 m above the ground), dead or diseased ones included. The City lists the permit at $155. A homeowner's first-offence fine is $2,000 per tree or $50,000, whichever is greater.

If your lot backs onto a creek or ravine, check it against the by-law's Schedule A map before any tree comes down.

### Fences

The City's fence by-law allows up to 2 m (6 ft 6 in) in side and rear yards. In the front yard a solid fence is limited to 1 m, and an open fence you can clearly see through can go to 1.5 m.

Replacing a shared fence and want your neighbour to pay part? Pickering's fence cost sharing by-law has you serve them notice, with copies of three estimates, at least 14 days before the work starts. Our guide on [fence height rules](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/fence-rules-markham-toronto/) covers Markham and Toronto if you're comparing.

### Watering

Under the Region's water by-law, odd-numbered houses water on odd dates and even-numbered houses on even dates, from May to September. The Region doesn't set hours, but it suggests watering early in the morning and about 2.5 cm of water a week, rain included.

The Region's page doesn't mention an exemption for new sod. If you're laying sod in summer, plan the watering around your days or ask the Region first. Our guide on [watering new sod](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/new-sod-watering-care/) explains how much it needs.

### Boulevards and grass height

Pickering homeowners look after the City boulevard in front of their house. Plants there have to stay under 1 m tall and at least 0.6 m back from the sidewalk, and rocks, bricks and concrete slabs aren't allowed.

Any hard surface on the boulevard, such as a wider driveway, needs City approval first. Cutting the curb to widen a driveway needs a permit.

## Getting a landscaping quote in Pickering

[Text us a few photos](sms:+14376842535?&body=Hi%20Hotiv%2C%20I%27d%20like%20a%20quote.%20Here%20are%20some%20photos%20of%20the%20area%3A) with your street or postal code at [(437) 684-2535](tel:+14376842535), or use the form below, and we'll book a free visit to see the job.

In Seaton, mention it when you write, because driveway and parking questions there run under Section 14 of the zoning by-law rather than the rules for the rest of the city. If you'd like a feel for typical Ontario rates first, our guide on [what landscapers charge per hour](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/guides/landscaping-costs-markham/) has the published ranges.

Across the Rouge River we also work in [Scarborough](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/scarborough/), and to the west in [Markham](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/markham/) and the rest of the [areas we cover](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/areas/).

## Neighbourhoods in Pickering we work in

We also work in Rougemount, Dunbarton, Liverpool, Amberlea, Brock Ridge, Duffin Heights.

### Bay Ridges and West Shore

Bay Ridges and West Shore surround Frenchman's Bay on the Lake Ontario shore, south of Highway 401, and the area around the bay is where Pickering's post-war subdivisions started. That makes many of the homes here older than those in the subdivisions further north, and plenty of driveways and walkways have been through decades of freeze and thaw. Low spots that hold water, pavers lifted by roots, and joints taken over by weeds are typical on interlock of that age, and most can be handled by relaying the low sections and putting in fresh polymeric sand instead of a full replacement.

### Seaton

Seaton is the planned community in north-central Pickering, between West Duffins Creek and Sideline 16, with Highway 7 to the north and the CP rail line to the south. Building started near Taunton Road in 2017, and the City plans for about 61,000 residents, with more than half of its roughly 7,000 acres kept as open space. Yards are new and small, the lawn is whatever sod the builder laid, and the topsoil under it can be thin. The jobs that make sense here are sod repair, first garden beds, and cleaning and resanding a new driveway before weeds get a foothold.

### Whitevale

Whitevale is a small hamlet on West Duffins Creek, first settled in the 1820s when a sawmill was built there, and it now sits right beside the new Seaton subdivisions. Council designated the whole hamlet a heritage conservation district in 1993. The City lists new fences and hard landscaping such as walkways, driveways and parking pads among the changes that may need a heritage permit there, so check with Heritage Planning before replacing a front walk. Planting and lawn care aren't on that list, but the district plan does aim to keep the hamlet's trees, so ask before a big one comes down.

### Claremont

Claremont is a rural village in the far north of Pickering, established around 1840, sitting just below the Oak Ridges Moraine in the Greenbelt. Brock Road was moved to bypass it on the east in 1970. Much of the land around it is wooded, and lots tend to be larger than in south Pickering, with long driveways, big lawns and a lot of trees. That usually means heavier fall leaf cleanups, regular mowing on bigger lots, and older decks and fences that need washing and a new coat.

### Brougham

Brougham is a hamlet around Highway 7 and Brock Road, and Highway 407 now runs through the area alongside Highway 7. The federal government expropriated it in 1972 for the Pickering airport, which was never built. In January 2025 the government cancelled the airport plan and said most of the lands would go to Parks Canada to expand Rouge National Urban Park. On rural lots like these, trimming, cleanups and deck and fence upkeep tend to matter more than interlock.

## Postal codes in Pickering

Pickering addresses have postal codes starting with one of these:

- L1V: southwest Pickering
- L1W: south Pickering
- L1X: central Pickering
- L1Y: north Pickering
- L0H 1A0: Brougham
- L0H 1M0: Whitevale

## What we do most in Pickering

- [Interlock repair & paver leveling](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/interlock-repair/)
- [Polymeric sand & weed removal](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/polymeric-sand-installation/)
- [Sod installation & lawn repair](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/sod-installation/)
- [Spring & fall cleanups](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/seasonal-cleanup/)
- [Garden beds, planting & mulching](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/garden-beds-planting/)
- [Fence painting & staining](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/fence-painting-staining/)
- [Deck staining, sealing & waterproofing](https://hotivlandscaping.ca/services/deck-staining/)

## Questions from Pickering homeowners

### Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Pickering?

Only if the tree is in one of the City's tree protection areas. Pickering's Tree Protection By-law 8073/24 covers designated areas that mostly run through and beside watercourses and green spaces, shown on the by-law's Schedule A map. Inside those areas, any tree 2.5 cm or more across at 1.5 m above the ground needs a permit, even a dead or diseased one. Outside them, the by-law doesn't apply.

### When does yard waste get picked up in Pickering?

The Region of Durham collects yard waste in Pickering from April to early December. Use paper yard waste bags or clearly labelled open-top containers, keep each under 20 kg, and tie brush in bundles no longer than 1 m, with no branch over 10 cm thick. Grass clippings and plastic bags aren't accepted. Your exact dates are in the Region's collection calendar or waste app.

### Are there lawn watering restrictions in Pickering?

Yes. Under the Regional Water System By-law, odd-even lawn watering is mandatory from May to September: odd-numbered houses water on odd-numbered dates and even-numbered houses on even dates. The Region doesn't set hours, but it suggests watering early in the morning, before the heat of the day, and about 2.5 cm of water a week, rain included.

### How high can a fence be in Pickering?

Up to 2 m (6 ft 6 in) in the side and rear yards. In the front yard, a solid fence that blocks sightlines is limited to 1 m, and the City lists 1.5 m as the limit for an open fence you can clearly see through. Privacy screens are allowed in side and rear yards only, at up to 2.6 m high and 8 m long, set back 0.6 m from any property line.

### Can I widen my driveway onto the boulevard in Pickering?

Not without the City. Cutting the curb to widen a driveway apron needs a permit, each lot gets one driveway access, and the access can be up to 3.0 m wide on lots with under 11 m of frontage or 6.0 m on wider lots. Adding a hard surface such as interlock or a wider driveway on the boulevard also needs the City's approval first.

### Can I ask my neighbour to share the cost of a new fence in Pickering?

Pickering has a fence cost-sharing by-law for boundary fences. To ask a neighbour to pay part of a new one, you serve them notice with copies of three estimates at least 14 days before the work starts. The City's fence cost sharing page sets out the steps, so read it before you book anyone.

### Do you work in Pickering?

Yes. Pickering is just east of Markham, across the York-Durham Line. Postal codes in the city start with L1V, L1W, L1X or L1Y, and rural hamlets such as Whitevale and Brougham have their own L0H codes. Try the postal code check on this page, or text (437) 684-2535 with a couple of photos of the job, and we'll let you know.

## Sources

1. [City of Pickering: Trees (Tree Protection By-law 8073/24)](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/property-standards-and-by-laws/trees/)
2. [City of Pickering: Fences](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/property-standards-and-by-laws/fences/)
3. [City of Pickering: Fence cost sharing](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/property-standards-and-by-laws/fence-cost-sharing/)
4. [City of Pickering: Driveway widening and curb cuts](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/parking-roads-and-driveways/driveway-widening-and-curb-cuts/)
5. [City of Pickering: Boulevard maintenance](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/property-standards-and-by-laws/boulevard-maintenance/)
6. [City of Pickering: Property standards and clean yards](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/property-standards-and-by-laws/by-laws/property-standards-and-clean-yards/)
7. [City of Pickering: Fill and topsoil permits](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/property-standards-and-by-laws/fill-and-topsoil-permits/)
8. [City of Pickering: Garbage, recycling and green bin](https://www.pickering.ca/property-roads-safety/garbage-recycling-and-green-bin/)
9. [City of Pickering: Heritage planning](https://www.pickering.ca/business-building-development/planning-and-development/heritage-planning/)
10. [City of Pickering: Whitevale Heritage Conservation District Plan](https://www.pickering.ca/media/brybu3aj/hcd-district-plan-1990.pdf)
11. [City of Pickering: Seaton community](https://www.pickering.ca/business-building-development/seaton-community/)
12. [Region of Durham: Yard waste and Christmas tree collection](https://www.durham.ca/living-here/garbage-green-bin-and-other-collection/curbside-collection/yard-waste-and-christmas-tree-collection/)
13. [Region of Durham: Water efficiency](https://www.durham.ca/living-here/my-property/water-efficiency/)
14. [City of Markham: Yard material collection](https://www.markham.ca/neighbourhood-services/recycling-garbage/yard-material)
15. [City of Markham: Tree permit application](https://www.markham.ca/neighbourhood-services/trees/tree-permit-application)
16. [City of Richmond Hill: Tree cutting permit](https://www.richmondhill.ca/en/learn-more/Tree-Cutting-Permit.aspx)
17. [Landscape Ontario: 2022 charge out rate survey (April 2022)](https://landscapeontario.com/2022-charge-out-rate-survey)
18. [Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST rates by province](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/charge-collect-which-rate/calculator.html)
19. [Wikipedia: Pickering, Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickering,_Ontario)
20. [Wikipedia: Markham, Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markham,_Ontario)
21. [Wikipedia: Rouge River (Ontario)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rouge_River_(Ontario))
22. [Wikipedia: Frenchman's Bay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenchman%27s_Bay)
23. [Wikipedia: Seaton, Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaton,_Ontario)
24. [Wikipedia: Whitevale, Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitevale,_Ontario)
25. [Wikipedia: Claremont, Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claremont,_Ontario)
26. [Wikipedia: Brougham, Ontario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brougham,_Ontario)
27. [Wikipedia: Pickering Airport Lands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickering_Airport_Lands)
28. [Wikipedia: List of postal codes of Canada: L](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_postal_codes_of_Canada:_L)
29. [Wikipedia: List of postal codes of Canada: M](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_postal_codes_of_Canada:_M)
30. [Canada Post: Find a postal code](https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/tools/find-a-postal-code.page)