Markham project guide

Do you need a permit for a retaining wall in Markham?

Check Markham retaining wall building permit rules and the published exemption for walls under one metre high.

1 min readReviewed Oct 1, 2026

The short answerConditional

Markham lists retaining walls less than one metre high among housing projects that do not require a building permit.

A wall outside that exemption should be reviewed before construction. Grading, drainage and applicable-law conditions can still matter.

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What changes the answer.

Start with these conditions. The official reference is attached to each one.

Under 1 mPermit not requiredConditional

Markham lists retaining walls less than one metre high among projects that do not need a building permit.

Official sourceCity of MarkhamBuilding Permit Process · Roof, solar, retaining wall and accessory-building exemptions

Verified2026-10-01Open proof

Taller wallConfirm permit routeConditional

Walls outside the published exemption should be reviewed through the City’s building permit process.

Official sourceCity of MarkhamBuilding Permit Process · Roof, solar, retaining wall and accessory-building exemptions

Verified2026-10-01Open proof

Your preparation checklist

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Wall height and length
Site/property plan
Existing and proposed grades
Structural design where applicable

Fees and timing

TimelineConfirm the current municipal review stream after a complete application is submitted.

FeesConfirm the current Markham permit fee for the exact scope before filing.

Next steps

Measure wall height
Map the wall to property lines
Review grading/drainage impacts
Confirm permit requirements for walls outside the exemption

Same project, different city

See how this rule changes across Ontario.

Compare the source-reviewed answer for this project across every municipality BuildRules currently covers.

Compare retaining wall rules by city

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Turn the published rules, documents, timing and questions to verify into one project-specific preparation brief.

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BuildRules principle

Do not confuse “no permit” with “no rules.”

Zoning, overlays, safety rules and other constraints can still apply.

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