# Property maintenance in Pickering, from Seaton to the hamlets

Updated 2026-10-02.

Pickering has two urban areas, South Pickering and Seaton. [Seaton](https://www.pickering.ca/business-building-development/seaton-community/) covers more than 7,000 acres, is planned for about 61,000 residents and has an employment area aimed at up to 35,000 jobs along the Highway 7 and 407 corridor.

## New homes, first year work

New homes bring a predictable list: deficiencies at handover, warranty callbacks and the first turnover. A builder or an owner of new rental homes in Seaton can send those to us and keep the record for the warranty file. See [builders](https://roundhousegroup.ca/builders/).

## Every extra unit is inspected

[By-law 8040/23](https://www.pickering.ca/business-building-development/building-and-renovating/additional-dwelling-units/) makes registration mandatory and puts a City inspector through the unit. That makes the certificate the baseline: a later repair should leave the unit as it was inspected, with photos to show it. See [multiplexes and houses](https://roundhousegroup.ca/buildings/multiplexes-and-houses/).

## The hamlets

Pickering's [Official Plan](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/pickeringca-009-ca/media/320h0m40/op9acc.pdf) keeps rural settlement plans for Claremont, Whitevale, Greenwood, Brougham, Kinsale and Balsam in the north of the city. A rental in a hamlet gets its access notes and directions on the work order before the trade drives out.

## Water and reporting

The [Region of Durham](https://www.durham.ca/en/living-here/water-billing.aspx) owns water and sewers; call 311 in the region or 905-668-7711. Property standards go to the City at 905-683-7575 or through [Report an Issue](https://www.pickering.ca/council-city-administration/contact-us/report-an-issue/).

Plumbing is done by licensed plumbers and drain work by licensed drain contractors. Gas work is done by TSSA registered contractors. We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors. Pest control is done by licensed exterminators.

To send a Pickering job, [request work](https://roundhousegroup.ca/request-work/).

## Local rules

- Registering an additional dwelling unit is mandatory in Pickering under By-law 8040/23. That covers second units, basement apartments, secondary suites, carriage houses, laneway suites and in-law flats. Registration includes a City inspection and ends with a registration certificate. Source: [City of Pickering, Additional dwelling units](https://www.pickering.ca/business-building-development/building-and-renovating/additional-dwelling-units/)
- Every dwelling unit has heating equipment able to hold 20 C, or as the Residential Tenancies Act requires (section 97 of Property Standards By-law 7887/21). The section sets no dates. Source: [City of Pickering, Property Standards By-law 7887/21](https://corporate.pickering.ca/weblink/1/edoc/242128/By-law%20788721.pdf)
- The same by-law requires air conditioning that is present to be kept in good repair and its condensation kept off walkways (sections 31, 120 and 121). It does not require air conditioning or set a maximum temperature. Source: [City of Pickering, Property Standards By-law 7887/21](https://corporate.pickering.ca/weblink/1/edoc/242128/By-law%20788721.pdf)
- The Region of Durham's Basement Flooding Loan Program lends up to $3,000 interest free for an approved backwater valve and sump pump at a home that has already had a sanitary sewer backup, repaid on the water bill over up to three years. Source: [Region of Durham, Basement flooding](https://www.durham.ca/living-here/my-property/basement-flooding/)

## Related pages

- [Builders](https://roundhousegroup.ca/builders/)
- [Multiplexes and rented houses](https://roundhousegroup.ca/buildings/multiplexes-and-houses/)
- [Repairs and handyperson work](https://roundhousegroup.ca/services/repairs/)

## Questions

### What is Seaton in Pickering?

A new community of more than 7,000 acres under the Central Pickering Development Plan, over half of it kept as open space, planned for about 61,000 residents with a long term target of 70,000.

### Does a Pickering basement apartment need a City inspection?

Yes. Registration under By-law 8040/23 is mandatory and includes a City inspection before the registration certificate is issued.

### Is there a heating season in Pickering's by-law?

No dates are written into section 97 of Property Standards By-law 7887/21. It requires heating equipment able to hold 20 C, or what the Residential Tenancies Act requires.

### How do I report a property standards issue in Pickering?

Call the City at 905-683-7575 or use its online Report an Issue page.