Landscaping and Lot Grading

If you're a homeowner in the City of Fort Saskatchewan, you can follow our lot grading program to protect your investment in your new home. Our program can help you make sure that your new lot is built to match the approved grading plan and reduce drainage issues.

You or your home builder have two stages to complete: rough grade and final grade.

If you have any question, please call 780-997-6691 or email us.

Rough grade stage

Home builders usually do the rough grade stage. They will get rough grade approval by doing these steps:

  1. The builder backfills and shapes your lot to match the grading plan (Your rough grade can be 100mm to 150mm below final grade).
  2. The builder has the lot measured by an Alberta Land Surveyor who creates a Lot Grading Certificate.
  3. The builder submits the certificate to the City and we review it within 10 working days and then return it with approval or any changes needed.
  4. The builder must make the changes within 60 days and they submit a new Lot Grading Certificate for review.
  5. We will tell the builder when we approve the rough grading.

Final grade stage

Homeowners usually do the final grade stage. You can also have your home builder do the final grade. You cannot start final grade until we approve the rough grade.

Spreading top soil and compact

You first spread top soil and compact, and then ready it for sod, liners, rocks, or other landscaping material. You must do this within one year of your rough grade approval. Your final grade can be 70mm below to 50mm above the grading plan.

Land surveying

You then have the lot measured by an Alberta Land Surveyor who creates a Lot Grading Certificate.

Submit your certificate to us

Submit the certificate to the City. We will review the certificate within 10 working days and return it to you with approval or changes needed. You must make the changes within 60 days. You then submit a new Lot Grading Certificate for review. We will tell you when we approve the final grading.