AntoineAsphalt.ca
Liner · rock · waterfall · plants
Backyard Ponds & Waterfalls in Hamilton, Burlington & Oakville
A pond is a small ecosystem. We dig it, lay the underlayment and liner, set the rock and waterfall, and plan depth around both your fish and your city's pool by-law.
Step 1 of 6 — Dig with planting shelves
The pond is dug in tiers: shallow shelves for plants and a deeper zone in the middle.
Quick answer
Fish overwinter best in a pond at least 2 ft deep (Aquascape), and about 0.6 m is exactly where Hamilton and Oakville start treating a pond as a pool. So a fish pond needs a plan: a fastened grate (Hamilton), a full enclosure, or a shallower pond with fish wintered indoors or no fish. We sort that out before we dig.
- ServiceBackyard ponds
- AreasHamilton (incl. Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown), Burlington and Oakville
- CompanyEst. 2020 · 200+ projects
- QuotesFree on-site quotes
- Phone(647) 459-7775
Step by step
How we build a pond
Step 1 of 6 — Dig with planting shelves
The pond is dug in tiers: shallow shelves for plants and a deeper zone in the middle.
A non-woven geotextile underlayment protects the liner from stones and roots, then a fish-safe 45-mil EPDM rubber liner goes in.
A skimmer at one end holds the pump and catches floating debris. The return line runs under the yard to the waterfall.
A waterfall filter box sits on a raised berm at the other end; boulders frame the spillway.
Rock and gravel cover and protect the liner and give helpful bacteria a home. Plants go on the shelves.
Water circulates from the skimmer to the falls and back. Deeper than 0.6 m (2 ft) counts as a pool under Hamilton's and Oakville's by-laws.
- Dig with planting shelves. The pond is dug in tiers: shallow shelves for plants and a deeper zone in the middle.
- Underlayment and EPDM liner. A non-woven geotextile underlayment protects the liner from stones and roots, then a fish-safe 45-mil EPDM rubber liner goes in.
- Skimmer, pump and return line. A skimmer at one end holds the pump and catches floating debris. The return line runs under the yard to the waterfall.
- Waterfall filter and boulders. A waterfall filter box sits on a raised berm at the other end; boulders frame the spillway.
- Rock, gravel and plants. Rock and gravel cover and protect the liner and give helpful bacteria a home. Plants go on the shelves.
- Fill and run. Water circulates from the skimmer to the falls and back. Deeper than 0.6 m (2 ft) counts as a pool under Hamilton's and Oakville's by-laws.
Fish & depth
Deep enough for fish = deep enough to be a pool
Aquascape recommends a pond at least 2 ft (about 0.6 m) deep for fish to overwinter, and one Ontario installer builds koi ponds 1.2–1.5 m deep (Perfect Yard Landscape). Hamilton and Oakville start treating a landscape pond as a pool at about 0.6 m. So a fish pond comes with three options:
- Hamilton: a securely fastened grate with openings no more than 38 mm (By-law 16-184, s. 16)
- A full pool enclosure, with a permit first
- A shallower pond, with fish wintered indoors or no fish
| City | Depth threshold | Ponds | Grate option | Fence rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton By-law 16-184 | Can hold more than 0.6 m of water at any point | Named: the definition includes "a hot tub or landscape pond" | Allowed: a securely fastened grate with openings no more than 38 mm that stops a person descending deeper than 0.6 m can replace the enclosure (s. 16) | Pools in Hamilton |
| Oakville By-law 2006-071, s. 1(g) | More than 0.61 m deep at some point and an exposed surface of at least 1 m² | Named: "includes a hot tub or landscape pond meeting the above criteria" | Not in the by-law; plan for an enclosure | Pools in Oakville |
| Burlington By-law 74-2005, s. 2.1.5 | Able to hold more than 600 mm; covers bodies of water used for swimming or display purposes | Not named. A man-made display pond deeper than 600 mm could fall within it (our reading; we confirm with the City) | Not in the by-law; we confirm with the City | Pools in Burlington |
By-laws change; we confirm the rules and permit for your lot before we dig. Full guide: backyard pond fence rules.
Materials
Pond liners
| Liner | Thickness | Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPDM | 45 mil (standard) | 20–30 years | Fish-safe; UV resistant when covered; stiff in cold, so install on warm days |
| RPE (reinforced polyethylene) | 20–30 mil | 20+ years | 2–3× the puncture resistance of EPDM |
| PVC | Varies | 10–15 years | Brittle in UV; "not recommended for permanent ponds" |
Liner figures: Natural Waterscapes. Underlayment: 8–16 oz non-woven geotextile under the liner.
Winter
Winter fish care
- Stop feeding once the water drops below 10 °C (50 °F) (Aquascape).
- Keep a hole in the ice with a floating de-icer, or an aerator or small pump on a shallow shelf, so gases escape.
- Keep some circulation through the winter.
Tool
Size the waterfall pump
Pump sizer
Look for a pump rated about 3,000 US GPH (11,355 L/h) at the height it has to lift.
Aquascape's residential rule of thumb: 1,500 gallons per hour for each foot of waterfall width (about 19,000 L/h per metre). Pump output drops as the lift height increases. We size the pump to your design.
Typical market ranges
What it costs
Ontario installers quote after a site visit; the published figures we have are US data.
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pond | $3,675–$14,500 (avg $7,400) | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Garden pond | $1,900–$6,500 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Koi pond | $5,100–$15,875 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Pond with waterfall | $15,500–$35,000 | Landscapio, May 2026 |
| Koi / specialty pond | $35,000–$60,000+ | Landscapio, May 2026 |
Prices are typical market ranges from the named third-party sources and dates, not Antoine's prices. Your exact price comes from an on-site quote.
Other options
Other water features
Pondless waterfall
- Build time
- 2–4 days (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026)
- Price reference
- Avg $7,000, most $4,000–$10,000 (Angi, May 2026, USD)
Fountain
- Build time
- Small fountain 1–2 days (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026)
- Price reference
- From about $3,500 CAD installed (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026)
One plan
Pairs well with
Fire Features
A fire pit or fireplace beside the water.
Plan together →Pool Installation
Plan a pool and water feature together.
Plan together →Pattern Studio
Try paver patterns for the patio around it.
Plan together →Country & Estate Properties
Larger ponds on rural lots. Hamilton's by-law excludes livestock or irrigation water on farmland, and bodies of water on rural or agricultural land that can't hold more than 0.6 m within 2.0 m of the edge.
Plan together →Water features overview
Rules, tools and all three types.
Plan together →Guides: pond fence rules · pond vs pondless · winterizing a water feature
Straight answers
Backyard ponds FAQ
How deep should a fish pond be?
Aquascape recommends at least 2 ft (about 0.6 m) for fish to overwinter. One Ontario installer builds koi ponds 1.2–1.5 m deep (Perfect Yard Landscape). Both depths reach the point where Hamilton and Oakville treat a landscape pond as a pool.
Do I need a fence around my pond in Hamilton?
If it can hold more than 0.6 m of water, By-law 16-184 treats it as a pool: a permit first, then an enclosure. For a landscape pond, s. 16 allows a securely fastened grate instead, with openings no more than 38 mm, that stops anyone descending deeper than 0.6 m.
What about Oakville and Burlington?
Oakville's By-law 2006-071 includes a landscape pond more than 0.61 m deep with at least 1 m² of surface. Burlington's 74-2005 covers display pools able to hold more than 600 mm; ponds aren't named, so we read it as possibly applying and confirm with the City.
Which pond liner is best?
EPDM at 45 mil is the standard: 20–30 years, fish-safe and UV resistant when covered, though stiff in cold. RPE (20–30 mil) lasts 20+ years with 2–3× EPDM's puncture resistance. PVC lasts 10–15 years and isn't recommended for permanent ponds (Natural Waterscapes).
What goes under the liner?
An 8–16 oz non-woven geotextile underlayment (Natural Waterscapes). It sits between the dug soil and the liner to protect the liner from stones and roots. EPDM is stiff in the cold, so we install it on warm days.
How do I keep fish alive over winter?
Stop feeding once the water drops below 10 °C (50 °F). Keep a hole in the ice with a floating de-icer, or an aerator or small pump on a shallow shelf, so gases can escape, and keep some circulation (Aquascape).
Can I have a pond without fish?
Yes. A shallower pond with plants and no fish, or with fish wintered indoors, stays under the 0.6 m depth that triggers Hamilton's and Oakville's pool rules. Keep the water circulating to discourage mosquitoes.
What does a backyard pond cost?
US figures: a pond $3,675–$14,500 (avg $7,400), a garden pond $1,900–$6,500 and a koi pond $5,100–$15,875 (Lawn Love, Dec 2025, USD); a pond with waterfall $15,500–$35,000 (Landscapio, May 2026). Ontario quotes vary; we price after a site visit.
Start with the sound
Plan your backyard pond with the yard around it.
Tell us your city and the feature you'd like. We'll check the depth rules and power for your lot and arrange a free on-site consultation.
Get a free quote
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