Here are some answers to questions that are often asked about engineering issues. If you can't find the answer to your particular question on this page or elsewhere on this web site, we invite you to contact us at the e-mail address shown at the bottom of this page.
Your property begins approximately 0.3m (1 foot) from the edge of the sidewalk farthest from the road or at the approximate location of the water shut off valve in front of your house. For exact measurements, please see the survey you received when you purchased your house.
The Town of Milton requires that the developer plant boulevard trees in all new subdivisions. However, subdivision servicing such as fire hydrants, bell boxes, hydro transformers and driveways will prevent the placement of trees on the frontage of some lots. For further information, please contact the Community Services Department at 905-878-7252, ext. 2211.
Sidewalk and utility boxes must be located throughout the subdivision in order to provide services to all homeowners. It is up to you, as a home buyer, to find out what is on your property before making your final purchase. If the builder can't provide this information, please contact Engineering Services at 905-878-7252, ext. 2500 to review the plans.
Lot grading can be carried out once all the work that requires heavy machinery has been completed. The builders usually wait until there are a number of streets where the houses have been completed before starting the lot grading. Top soil is brought to the site and spread/shaped on the lots. The developer's consultant then inspects it to confirm that it is according to plan and the lots are then sodded. Once the sod has been down for a minimum of two months, the engineering consultant contacts the Town to arrange an inspection with Town staff. Once your lot has been inspected by the Town and found to have no deficiencies, the engineering consultant for the developer will issue the Town a grading certification.
A rear lot catchbasin is a structure that connects to the storm sewer in the road via a pipe located along your property line. It collects surface water, such as rain water, from a number of properties and allows it to drain away. The easement is property that is identified as being required to house the rear lot catchbasin and pipe to allow the Town to maintain the facility. The Town has the legal right to access the rear lot catchbasin over the lands identified as the easement. Drainage to a rear lot catchbasin cannot be blocked or hindered otherwise flooding could occur.
You can build fences or install pools (also known as 'works') after your lot grading has been certified. (For grading information, see, 'When will my grading be approved and what is the process?') If you want to complete works before the certification, the Town requires a sign-off letter from your builder stating that they have no objections. The builder may require you to post a damage deposit; please contact your builder for more details. Please note that works requiring significant grade changes may not be approved.
A sump pump is required in your home to prevent ground water from rising high enough to seep into your basement. If the sump pump discharges to your lawn, there should be a concrete splash pad to help direct the water away from your foundation wall. Please note that it is illegal to connect the sump pump outlet to your basement floor drain as it is connected to the sanitary sewer.
The Town of Milton has enacted a by-law which prohibits mud tracking, obstructing and fouling of Town roads. If you live in a new subdivision, please notify the Engineering Services Department at 905-878-7252, ext. 2500 when there is a mud tracking problem. We will then notify the appropriate developer to have the road cleaned. If you live in an existing urban or rural area, please contact By-law Enforcement at 905-878-2130. In either case, if the roads are not cleaned in the time allotted by the Town, the Town can have the roads cleaned at the developer's cost and the developer can be charged under the by-Law.
Assumption is a term used to describe the process of the Town taking over responsibility for all municipal works in a new development, including storm sewers, roads and sidewalks.
A subdivision is usually assumed one year after all works that are part of the subdivision agreement have been completed by the developer/ builder and inspected by the Town (with no deficiencies). A good indication for the timing on a subdivision being assumed would be one year after the top layer of asphalt is put on the roads.
The only work that the Town carries out within a new, unassumed subdivision is winter snow control and parking enforcement. All other works are the responsibility of the developer and their builders. This includes, but is not limited to, sewers, watermain, roads, sidewalk, curb, stormwater ponds, grading and sound fencing. Please note that the Region of Halton is responsible for garbage pickup.
For information on changing parking limits, please see Parking enforcement.
Please call the Coordinator of Traffic and Transit at 905 878-7252, ext. 2500.
These ponds are stormwater management ponds. They collect rain runoff from the storm sewers and hold it for a period of time as water is released at a regulated rate so that there is no flooding downstream. Most ponds in Milton are 'wet ponds.' This means that the pond is designed to never drain completely. Please note that the land surrounding a stormwater management pond is designed to be a naturally vegetated area, so the Town will not conduct regular maintenance of these areas. Please note that residents cannot carry out their own maintenance, such as grass cutting, around the ponds. Swimming and skating are not allowed on the ponds.
For more information on this topic, please use our Feedback form to submit comments or inquiries to: 'engineering'
Phone: 905-878-7252 ext 2500
Fax: 905 876-5029