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Home & Neighbourhood Home Improvement Permits Lot Grading
Lot grading's purpose is to maintain compliance for all properties (public and private) with Surface Drainage Bylaws and subdivision lot grading plan requirements to prevent flooding on private property and other water-related damages.
Lot grading consists of sloping the land within a lot to direct the flow of surface water away from a building’s foundation (“positive lot grading”). Proper grading moves water towards the City storm system safely without negatively affecting adjacent properties. The City of Beaumont has a two-stage grading process where rough grade is the requirement of the builder and final grade is the requirement of the homeowner.
All residential lots must be graded in accordance with the City of Beaumont’s Surface Drainage Bylaw 732-08 [pdf] & 732-01-10 Amendment [pdf], City of Beaumont’s General Design Standards, and the accepted Surface Drainage Plan for the area. Lot grading inspections are conducted at two stages: Rough Grade and Final Grade.
Please check out the Lot Grading Guidelines and Why Inspections Fail resources below to review a complete breakdown of both inspection types.
A guide to effective yard drainage!
In this document, Lot Grading complied a set of most common deficiencies found during lot grading inspections.
Rough grade, final grade and post-construction inspection application
Step 1: Complete grading work. Step 2: Acquire a lot grading certificate from an Alberta Land Surveyor. Step 3: Pay inspection fee (if applicable). See below for more information on inspection fees. Step 4: Submit Lot Grading Inspection Application [pdf], lot grading certificate and inspection fee receipt (if applicable) by email: lotgrading@beaumont.ab.ca Step 5: Prepare the site so it’s ready and accessible for inspection. Pets must be inside and backyard gates should be easy to unlock. Note: Applicants do not need to be on-site for inspection. Lot Grading does not schedule inspection appointments and inspections will be performed on first come first served basis. Step 6: Lot Grading Inspector will perform an inspection and send inspection report indicating the status. If inspection has failed, applicant must repair all deficiencies noted on the inspection report and apply for re-inspection within 60 days. Applicant must submit a revised lot grading certificate (if requested) with re-inspection application and re-inspection fee receipt. Step 7: Inspection passes. Acceptance letter, inspection report and Accepted Lot Grading Certificate will be sent to the email provided on application form. Homeowners are responsible to maintain positive drainage and accepted surface grades in perpetuity.
Drainage issues may arise over time due to various reasons such as lot settlement, heavy precipitation, modifications to surface grades and changes in adjacent property grades etc. Homeowners are responsible for their own property’s grading and required to maintain positive drainage without negatively affecting neighbouring properties. Routine maintenance may be required to repair lot grading issues which can occur from time to time. Homeowners should seek advice from landscaping/lot grading professionals prior to undertaking lot grading activities/improvements.
Drainage issues can emerge as a result of neighbouring property sometimes but can easily be resolved via open dialogue between neighbours. Most property owners are interested in avoiding drainage problems on their own as well as neighbouring lots and maintaining positive surface runoff. Therefore, all homeowners are encouraged to communicate with each other and resolve any drainage issue among themselves.
If all attempts to work with your neighbour have not resulted in satisfactory results and there is a clear violation of Surface Drainage Bylaw, a homeowner may contact the City’s Lot Grading department to register a complaint. Lot Grading will send a Witness Statement Form with additional information and advise on the next steps. Please visit Resolving a Lot Grading Issue chart to seek guidance and take appropriate actions in the event of a lot grading issue.
Note: Lot Grading does not act as consultants on drainage disputes, the City will only provide information and guidance regarding Surface Drainage Bylaw requirements. Lot Grading offers inspections only to identify Surface Drainage infractions.
Resolving a Lot Grading Issue [pdf]
General questions about lot grading and information for home owners. Jump down for Builder FAQs.
For information on the rough and final grade acceptance requirements and steps, refer to the Residential Lot Grading Guidelines [pdf] document.
To receive final grade approval, a final grade certificate must be submitted to the Lot Grading Inspector at the City within one calendar year of rough grade approval and after topsoil has been put down. Certificates can be applied for from a surveying company.
Once the inspection fee is paid and the certificate received by the Lot Grading Inspector, your home will be added to the inspection list. Inspections are done between June 1 and Oct 15 each year. Based on the outcome of the inspection, inspection reports and approval of final grade will be sent via email. To minimize delays, use the elevations on the rough grade certificate to accurately finish on final grade.
If you feel a part of your landscaping plan does not match the approved drainage pattern of your lot, please contact the Lot Grading Inspector to discuss your concerns.
Landscaping deposits are held by the builder or the developer. Please contact your builder or developer for more information as the City of Beaumont does not hold this deposit.
The lot grading inspection season typically runs from June 1 to October 15. These dates are weather and condition dependent. Any application received after October 1 may not get inspected before the season closes.
Applications submitted after the season closes will be rejected and you’ll be advised to re-apply when the season opens.
Based on the area of your yard, multiply the values below to get a basic understanding of how much topsoil you will need:
It’s important to always follow the approved drainage pattern of the lot outlined on the rough grade certificate and to add no more than six inches of topsoil when finishing.
Once your final grade is in place, you must send a request to an Alberta Land Surveyor to prepare a lot-plan of as-built elevations, known as a final grade certificate.
All final grade inspections require payment of an inspection fee and submission of a final grade certificate along with the Lot Grading Inspection Application.
Inspection fees are subject to change from year to year. Refer to the Fees and Charges Bylaw [pdf] document for the current inspection fee chart. Fees cover both the inspection and the necessary acceptance documentation.
Final grade certificates can be forwarded to lotgrading@beaumont.ab.ca along with the Lot Grading Inspection Application.
The builder is responsible for achieving rough grade acceptance within 18 months from the date final occupancy was granted.
You can be subject to penalty under the Surface Drainage Bylaw 732-08.
To obtain the status of your rough grade please contact your builder.
Final grade inspections are typically done within 10 business days (weather dependent) from application submission date.
Inspection reports and acceptance letters will be emailed to the address on the application.
Any type of material that will form your final grade needs to be in place at the time of the inspection. If rocks or wood chips are part of your landscaping plan, the clay base must be raised to final grade to promote surface drainage. Water will flow over the base surface, which is considered the final grade, not over the rocks or wood chips.
When problems arise, we encourage residents to speak to their neighbors and try to be understanding in areas of new construction. Topsoil is usually not washed onto adjacent properties intentionally and installing a temporary barricade can help correct the issue until the yard has been accepted and the sod has been put down.
The developer is responsible for finishing the boulevard but that can sometimes take up to two years to complete.
No, boulevards are landscaped according to predetermined requirements.
Homeowners are responsible for maintenance of all fences surrounding their property.
Frequently asked questions for builders and developers.
Rough grade inspections will not occur until final occupancy has been granted by the Building Inspections Department, no exceptions.
All inspections require an inspection application and must include a rough grade certificate. Please email all requests to lotgrading@beaumont.ab.ca. If the property requires re-inspection, please attach the proof of payments/receipt along with the application and a revised rough grade certificate (if requested by the City staff).
Rough grade inspections are typically completed within 15 business days. Inspection timelines are weather and volume dependent and can vary from season to season. All times are given as estimates only.
Once both the rough grade inspection and the final damage inspection have been accepted, the refund will be processed automatically. Check your current address is on file to receive your refund as quickly as possible. All cheques are issued to the name of the applicant on the building permit, and cheques are sent in the mail.
Once your lot has been inspected, an inspection report will be forwarded to the email address you provided. Please provide the most current information on your inspection request to receive your reports in a timely fashion.
Final damage inspection will occur at the time of rough grade inspection. If damages exist on the curb or sidewalk that were not previously recorded at the initial damage inspection, the damages will be added to the following years’ repair list and deducted from the deposit on file. Any remaining funds will be refunded. In addition to sidewalk and curb, the final damage inspection includes CC valve and third pipe.
The initial Lot Grading Inspection fee is collected at the time of Building Permit application. The initial fee covers:
Additional inspections require payment. Please refer to the Fees and Charges Bylaw [pdf] for information on inspection fees.
Final Grade Inspection fees or re-inspection fees can be paid by phone with a credit card (call 780-929-8782 ext.0) or in person at the Beaumont Administration Office. Proof of payments/receipts should be attached to the Lot Grading Inspection Application and emailed to lotgrading@beaumont.ab.ca.