St. Thomas, Ontario Landscaping and Excavation: A Local Guide
If you're planning landscaping or excavation in St. Thomas, Ontario, start with two checks. First, see whether your lot is in a Kettle Creek Conservation Authority (KCCA) regulated area, which can mean a permit for grading or fill. Second, check the City of St. Thomas's permit rules for pools, fences and site alteration. SPM Landscape & Excavation, based in London, serves St. Thomas and Elgin County with excavation, pool removal, grading and drainage, sod, and topsoil, mulch and gravel delivery.
Here's a local guide to what St. Thomas homeowners and property managers should know before their next project.
Services we offer in St. Thomas
SPM has worked across London and southwestern Ontario since 2006. In St. Thomas and nearby communities, we provide:
Pool removal and fill-in. Full and partial inground pool removal, backfill and grading. See our pool removal page.
Excavation and grading for additions, garages, driveways and landscaping projects.
Drainage solutions for wet yards, low spots and water heading toward foundations.
Sod installation for new and renovated lawns. See our sod page.
Material delivery: topsoil, mulch and gravel. We deliver across Elgin County.
Property maintenance and seasonal cleanups.
Tree trimming and removal.
Kettle Creek Conservation Authority permits
St. Thomas and much of central Elgin County fall within the Kettle Creek watershed. The KCCA regulates development near natural hazards under Ontario Regulation 41/24, which took effect April 1, 2024.
What's regulated
Regulated areas include:
watercourses and their valleys,
steep slopes,
wetlands, and
the Lake Erie shoreline.
What needs a permit
In a regulated area, a KCCA permit is needed for:
development, including building, grading, and placing or removing fill, and
interfering with watercourses or wetlands.
Timing and penalties
According to KCCA, processing can take up to 90 days, and penalties can reach $50,000 for individuals and $1,000,000 for corporations. If you live near Kettle Creek, one of its tributaries or a ravine, contact KCCA (519-631-1270 ext. 226) before you dig.
Pools in St. Thomas
The City of St. Thomas has its own pool rules, separate from London's. According to the City's swimming pool page:
A Swimming Pool Fence Permit is required, along with a Site Alteration and Grading Application.
The governing by-laws are 56-2011 and 162-2020.
Applications are made through Cloudpermit. Building Services can be reached at 519-633-2560.
Under the pool fence by-law (56-2011):
A "swimming pool" is anything deeper than 45.72 cm (18 in) at any point.
Pool fences must be at least 1.2 m (48 in) high.
Gates must be self-closing and self-latching.
No pool can be filled with water until the fence is inspected and approved.
Removing a pool in St. Thomas
If you're removing or filling in an inground pool, check with St. Thomas Building Services before work starts. Site alteration and grading rules may apply, and the fence has to stay up until the pool is gone and the hole is safely filled. Our pool removal procedure walks through each step, and our pool removal cost guide explains what affects the price.
Utility locates before you dig
Whether you're in St. Thomas, Port Stanley or Aylmer, every dig needs locates first. Ontario One Call locates are free. Request them at least 5 business days ahead for a typical single-address job. Homeowner-owned lines, like power to a shed or garage, gas to a BBQ, or a private septic line, need a private locate.
Planning checklist for a St. Thomas project
Check KCCA mapping or call to see if your lot is regulated.
Check City permit requirements for pools, decks, additions and site alteration.
Request locates at least 5 business days ahead.
Plan drainage. Make sure your project won't send water toward your house or a neighbour's.
Book early. Spring fills up fast, and permits take time.
Lawns and sod in St. Thomas
Many St. Thomas subdivisions, from newer builds on the edges of the city to older neighbourhoods near the core, have lawns that struggle with compaction, poor topsoil or drainage. Common fixes we provide:
New sod on prepared, graded topsoil for an instant lawn.
Topsoil and levelling to fill low spots and smooth out settled areas.
Grading corrections so water moves away from the house.
Repairing damage after construction, pool removal or grubs.
Fall sod can be laid until the ground freezes, and spring is ideal too. If you're working with a new build, ask about lot grading requirements before the final lawn goes in.
Nearby communities we serve
Beyond St. Thomas, we work throughout the area between London and Lake Erie, including Central Elgin, Port Stanley, Belmont and Dorchester. Our main service area covers London, Strathroy, Komoka, Ilderton and Kitchener-Waterloo, and we reach Lake Huron towns like Grand Bend, Bayfield, Goderich and Kincardine for drainage and excavation work. If you're not sure we cover your address, just call.
Why fall is a good time to plan
October and November in Elgin County are ideal for:
Pool removals, so the fill settles over winter and the yard is ready for spring sod.
Excavation and land clearing before the ground freezes.
Mulching and topsoil to protect beds and prepare areas for spring.
Permit applications for next season's projects, which can take weeks or months.
Why St. Thomas homeowners choose SPM
Local and established: operating since 2006 from 791 Manchester Rd in London.
Fully covered: WSIB covered, with $1M liability insurance.
One contractor, many trades: excavation, grading, pool removal, sod and material delivery under one roof.
Honest advice: we'll tell you when you need a permit, an engineer or a conservation authority sign-off.
Clean job sites: we protect driveways, haul away debris and leave the yard graded and ready for the next step.
Every project starts with a free site visit and a written quote, so you know the scope and price before any work begins.
See finished projects in our photo gallery.
FAQ
Does SPM serve St. Thomas, Ontario?
Yes. SPM Landscape & Excavation is based in London and serves St. Thomas and surrounding Elgin County communities for excavation, pool removal, grading and drainage, sod, and topsoil, mulch and gravel delivery.
Do I need a Kettle Creek Conservation Authority permit?
If your property is in a regulated area, such as near a watercourse, valley, steep slope, wetland or the Lake Erie shoreline, development including building, grading, and placing or removing fill needs a permit under Ontario Regulation 41/24. KCCA says processing can take up to 90 days, so apply early.
What are St. Thomas's pool fence rules?
St. Thomas requires a Swimming Pool Fence Permit and a Site Alteration and Grading Application for pools. Under By-law 56-2011, a swimming pool is anything deeper than 45.72 cm (18 in), fences must be at least 1.2 m high, and gates must be self-closing and self-latching.
Do I need a permit to remove a pool in St. Thomas?
Check with St. Thomas Building Services at 519-633-2560 before removing or filling in a pool. Requirements for site alteration and grading may apply, and the pool fence must stay in place until the pool is gone.
When should I book spring landscaping in St. Thomas?
Fall and winter are ideal for planning. Permits, especially conservation authority permits, can take weeks or months, so getting quotes and applications in early means your project can start as soon as the ground is ready.
Talk to SPM Landscape & Excavation
Planning a project in St. Thomas or anywhere in Elgin County? We're just up Highway 4 in London and happy to come take a look. SPM has served London and southwestern Ontario since 2006, is WSIB covered and carries $1M in liability insurance. Call (519) 474-0008, email spmlandscape@gmail.com, or visit us at 791 Manchester Rd, London, ON.
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