Should the house come down before or after the severance is approved?

That depends on the conditions and timing your planner works out with the Town. In some cases the house stays until the severance is final, and in others demolition comes earlier. The planner sets the order, and the demolition is scheduled to fit it.

What happens to the old water and sewer connection?

It is usually disconnected and capped at the property line during demolition. Halton Region then plans new connections for each of the two lots. Keeping the old connection would rarely suit the new layout, so it is dealt with as part of the teardown.

Why are survey pins so important on a severance?

The new lot line exists only on paper and in the pins the surveyor sets. If a pin is buried or knocked out during demolition, the surveyor has to return to reset it before either builder can lay out a house. Protecting the pins keeps the whole process moving.

Can trees on the lot be removed for a severance?

Only as the approvals and the Town's Private Tree Protection By-law allow. Some severance approvals require certain trees to stay. Those are protected during demolition, and any removals follow the permits the owner obtains.

Planning

Demolition ahead of a lot severance in Oakville: what comes down and when

lot severance
teardown
planning

Severing a lot means turning one property into two. On an older Oakville street, that usually means the existing house sits right across the line where the two new lots will meet.

So the house has to go, but when? Here's how demolition fits around a severance, and what to protect along the way.

Lot graded to bare earth beside a new house with an excavator in the distance

Why a severance usually means a teardown

Most older houses were built centred on a single wide lot. Once the lot is split, the house no longer fits either piece. Unless the design keeps the house on one of the new lots, the teardown clears the way for two new homes.

Timing also matters for the neighbours. A severance often means two new houses built back to back or side by side, so the street may see construction activity for a longer stretch than a single rebuild. Planning the teardown as the first clean step helps everything that follows.

Two approvals, set in order by your planner

The severance approval and the demolition permit are separate processes. Your planner, working with the Town, sets the order, since the conditions of one can affect the timing of the other. Town of Oakville Building Services handles the demolition permit itself.

It is worth asking the planner early whether any condition affects the house itself, such as a requirement to keep it standing until a certain point. Knowing that before a demolition date is booked avoids cancelling crews and trucks at short notice.

Services for two lots

The old house has one set of services. Two new lots need two. The existing services are usually capped at the property line during demolition:

Halton Region handles the water and sewer connections for each new lot.
Oakville Hydro, Enbridge Gas and telecom providers plan new services for each house.
Old services are disconnected and capped so they do not interfere with the new layout.

Keeping what the new lot lines depend on

A severance relies on accurate boundaries. During demolition:

Survey pins, including any new ones set for the severance, are flagged and protected.
Trees that the approval requires to be kept stay behind hoarding.
Grades near the new line are left as the planner or engineer expects.

What the builder needs from two cleared lots

The builder usually wants both lots cleared, the old foundation removed and each lot left at a workable grade. Our guide on property pins and survey stakes covers why pins matter so much here, and our foundation removal page describes the handover options.

When to bring in a professional

A planner is essential for the severance itself, and a surveyor for the new boundaries. Bring the demolition contractor in once the planner has set the order, so the teardown fits the conditions of approval rather than getting ahead of them.

Two lots, one clean start

Getting the order right keeps a severance on track. Bolan Group Demolition Oakville plans the teardown around your approvals, protects pins and trees, and hands over two clear lots through our residential demolition service. Request a free estimate when your planner is ready.

Frequently asked questions

Should the house come down before or after the severance is approved?: That depends on the conditions and timing your planner works out with the Town. In some cases the house stays until the severance is final, and in others demolition comes earlier. The planner sets the order, and the demolition is scheduled to fit it.
What happens to the old water and sewer connection?: It is usually disconnected and capped at the property line during demolition. Halton Region then plans new connections for each of the two lots. Keeping the old connection would rarely suit the new layout, so it is dealt with as part of the teardown.
Why are survey pins so important on a severance?: The new lot line exists only on paper and in the pins the surveyor sets. If a pin is buried or knocked out during demolition, the surveyor has to return to reset it before either builder can lay out a house. Protecting the pins keeps the whole process moving.
Can trees on the lot be removed for a severance?: Only as the approvals and the Town's Private Tree Protection By-law allow. Some severance approvals require certain trees to stay. Those are protected during demolition, and any removals follow the permits the owner obtains.