Final Grade and City-Approved Topsoil Installation
Final Grading In Edmonton: City-Approved. Deposit Returned.
Final grading is the precision topsoil and elevation work that closes out your new build, conforming to your lot grading plan, directing water away from your foundation, and satisfying City of Edmonton requirements under Drainage Bylaw 18093.
Rough grade sets the base. Final grade finishes it, refining slopes, confirming drainage performance, and preparing your lot for the Alberta Land Surveyor certificate that triggers City approval. For most new builds, that approval is what releases your builder deposit.
We handle everything: site shaping, topsoil placement, swale protection, 2% slope confirmation, and surveyor coordination. Once approved, you move straight to sod or paving stone patios.
- Step 1: Elevation Review We pull your lot grading plan, verify drainage targets, and flag deficiencies before a shovel goes in the ground.
- Step 2: Grade and Topsoil We shape, compact, and smooth to approved elevations, preserving swales and building the correct slope away from your foundation.
- Step 3: Certificate and Inspection We coordinate your Alberta Land Surveyor, prep the site for City inspection, and cover re-inspection if deficiencies are flagged.
How Much Does Final Grading Cost?
Most residential lots run $1,500 to $3,500 depending on lot size, site access, and topsoil required. When grading and sod are done together, most new build projects fall in the $3,000 to $8,000 range. Most lots take one to two days on site.
Larger or irregular lot shapes, infill properties, retaining walls, or significant fill requirements can push costs above the typical range. We flag all of that during the site visit so your quote reflects the real scope.
Most builders collect a Landscaping and Grading Deposit at closing, often up to $5,000. You recover it once the grade is complete and your builder confirms it doesn't interfere with community drainage. Getting the grade right the first time is the fastest path to getting that money back.
- $1,500 to $3,500 for most residential lots
- Grading and sod combined typically $3,000 to $8,000
- Most lots completed in 1 to 2 days on site
- Alberta Land Surveyor coordination included
- Re-inspection covered under our pass guarantee
- No deposit required to book
Final Grading in St. Albert: No Certificate Required, But the Drainage Still Has to Work
Does St. Albert require a final grade inspection? No. St. Albert skips the formal final grade inspection. No certificate, no City sign-off, one less thing to manage. But your yard still needs to follow the original lot design, preserve swale patterns, and drain away from your foundation. Skip that and you're looking at pooling, erosion, and a yard that won't support sod or paving stones properly.
St. Albert's clay-heavy soil makes this more unforgiving than most. Poor compaction or improper topsoil depth shows up fast, usually the first wet spring.
We work throughout Erin Ridge, Jensen Lakes, Riverside, Oakmont, Braeside, and Lacombe Park. If your yard isn't draining right or you're prepping for sod and full landscaping, we'd be glad to take a look.
Why Homeowners Choose Us for Final Grading
Our projects need more than good-looking installs. We plan every job for long-term performance, clean execution, and dependable communication from quote to completion.
City-Ready Final Grade Execution
Drainage-First Planning
Licensed & Insured
No Deposit Required
Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove & Nearby
We provide final grading across Edmonton and surrounding communities including St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Leduc. We regularly work in Secord, McConachie, Heritage Valley, Windermere, Chappelle, Keswick, and Riverbend, and in St. Albert we serve Erin Ridge, Jensen Lakes, Braeside, Lacombe Park, Riverside, and Oakmont. Call 587-566-9879 or request a free quote and we'll confirm availability for your area.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Sc C
Jan 18, 2025The job was well done and the budget was fair. Steve was easy to talk to and he makes you feel confident in the process. He was prompt and his team works hard. We are happy with the results and can't wait to continue enjoying our landscape next summer.
Ahmed
5 months agoI know there are many landscaping companies out there, but Steve and his team truly stands out. They did an excellent job on our new build landscaping as well as constructing our new fence. The team was very professional, polite, responsive, and their pricing was fair. Highly recommended!
Don McDonnell
8 months agoI was lucky enough to find Serene construction landscaping through a Facebook group, the team showed up and walked me through the process and explained where the costs were coming from. They were all extremely professional and knowledgable. They worked like dogs for three days to get my lawn in pristine condition. It looks absolutely amazing.
I would have no worries, recommending Steve and his team for any landscaping project.
L Zook
38 weeks agoSteve from Serene Landscaping was great to deal with: professional, reliable and attentive to our requests. Our landscaping project was finished in a timely manner and we are very pleased with the final outcome.
Luis Corrales
43 weeks agoMy wife and I contacted Steve for a landscaping project in our house. We are extremely happy with the results, we definitely recommend Steve. Steve and his entire team are very hardworking people. They are attentive to details and provided great suggestions to improve our initial idea. We hope to work with Steve in future projects.
Christina Jean
47 weeks agoVery friendly, easy to work with and professional. Would recommend them for sure.
Questions About Final Grading?
Quick answers about grading, drainage, and timelines.
Get a Free QuoteFinal grading is required for new builds and for lots with drainage issues before landscaping goes in. Property owners must initiate Final Grade Approval within one year of the Rough Grade Approval, within 60 days of completing the final grade, or within 30 months of receiving a building permit (per City of Edmonton residential lot grading guidelines).
Many residential lots take 1 to 2 days. Larger sites or significant corrections can take longer.
Yes. We add fill to low spots, cut high areas, and re-grade to 2% slope. For persistent wet spots, we install drain tile or French drains.
A typical residential lot ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 depending on lot size, access, and site conditions. If grading and sod are done together, many projects fall in the $3,000 to $8,000 range.
The certificate must be prepared by an Alberta Land Surveyor. We coordinate the survey and certificate for you and handle submission so you don’t have to manage it yourself.
We set and verify slope with a laser level and grade checks so the lot meets City Drainage Bylaw 18093 requirements. We maintain at least a 2% slope away from foundation walls (5% where practical) so water drains away from the structure and the grade passes inspection.
We offer a pass guarantee: if the City finds deficiencies we correct them and cover re-inspection—you’re not left paying re-inspection fees. We fix issues before inspection when possible to avoid delays.
Yes. We often follow grading with sod installation as a complete package.
No. Unlike Edmonton, the City of St. Albert does not require a formal grade inspection or certificate. However, grading must stay consistent with the original lot design and preserve drainage patterns established at the subdivision level.
