The lots
Gently rolling terrain across the Don and Rouge watersheds. Subdivision geometry in the newer communities, older and more irregular lots in Unionville and Markham Village.
Markham, York Region · L3P · L3R · L3S · L3T
Property care in Markham
Markham runs the tightest residential rules of any city on this corridor. Grass capped at 15 cm including the boulevard, trunk diameter measured at 1.37 m rather than 1.4 m, a permit needed for any tree at 20 cm regardless of its health, and the strictest boulevard regime of the four.
East of Yonge and Highway 404, from Steeles north
An overgrown shrub, a bed line that had disappeared into the lawn, and interlock losing its edge. Cleared, pruned back to structure, re-edged and mulched. See how it was done Real Orbit work across Toronto and York Region. Not stock, and not a render.
The housing
A wide span across the city's communities, from the Thornhill and Milliken Mills side through Unionville and Markham Village to the newer Cornell, Berczy, Greensborough and Wismer subdivisions.
The canopy
Mature in the older villages, young in the 2000s subdivisions, with valley corridors along the Don and Rouge systems carrying the heaviest cover.
Winter here
Markham clears driveway windrows only for residents registered in its assistance program, which is limited to people with disabilities and elderly residents. For everyone else the windrow is the homeowner's, and parking is prohibited on both sides of city streets during clearing operations.
What actually changes the work
The things that catch
people out here.
Every one of these is a real constraint on Markham properties, not a sales angle. Knowing them before the quote is the difference between a job that holds and a job that gets redone.
The boulevard is effectively off limits without a permit
Under Markham's road occupancy by-law, landscaping or grade alteration in the boulevard requires a permit, and fences, posts, light posts, irrigation components, snow melting equipment, rocks and decorative retaining walls are prohibited there without authorisation. Interlock aprons and boulevard rock gardens are permit matters.
Tree health is not a defence
The by-law applies to any tree at 20 cm or more regardless of health or risk level. A declining tree still needs the permit before it comes down.
15 cm is the lowest grass limit on the corridor
Markham caps ground cover at 15 cm and applies the same limit to the abutting boulevard. A cutting interval that keeps you compliant in Vaughan will not necessarily keep you compliant here.
The rules that actually apply
City of Markham,
not the one next door.
Markham is in the City of Markham. The thresholds below are that city's, and they are not the same as the city on the other side of the boundary.
A permit is needed for any private tree 20 cm in diameter or more, and Markham measures at 1.37 m rather than the 1.4 m used elsewhere. The by-law applies regardless of the tree's health or risk level, so a declining tree still needs the permit.
Markham Tree Preservation By-law 2023-164Ground cover must be kept under 15 cm, the lowest limit of any municipality on this corridor, and the same limit applies to the abutting boulevard.
Markham By-law 2017-27Depositing snow or ice on the travelled portion of the road is prohibited without a permit, and so is moving it onto a boulevard that is not contiguous with the property it came from. Nothing may be placed within 1.2 m of a fire hydrant.
Markham Road Occupancy By-law 2018-109Markham clears driveway windrows only for residents registered in its assistance program, which is limited to people with disabilities and elderly residents. Everyone else clears their own windrow.
This is the strictest boulevard regime on the corridor. Landscaping or grade alteration in the boulevard requires a Road Occupancy Permit, and fences, posts, lighting, irrigation components, rocks and decorative retaining walls are prohibited there without authorisation.
Before any quote
Protected-area status is checked per address, never per neighbourhood.
Markham sits across the Don and Rouge watersheds and inside TRCA jurisdiction. Valley and wetland setbacks are checked by address, and inside them a retaining wall, a regrade or a patio over 15 square metres is development activity requiring a permit.
Markham quotes
Tell me about your Markham property.
Send your postal code and a few photos. I'll confirm the scope, flag anything that needs a permit, and give you a straight number.