Backing Onto a Major Road in Markham: Road Widenings, Noise Fences and What to Check

Neeraj Moolchandani is a top real estate agent in Markham, Ontario. Published November 13, 2026 · By Neeraj Moolchandani, REALTOR®, Cofounder of the Kaizen Real Estate Team, eXp Realty, Brokerage

Homes backing onto busy roads often cost less than similar homes on quiet streets, and some buyers welcome the value. Our guide on homes backing onto ravines or major roads covers the tradeoffs. This post goes deeper on road plans and noise fences. Our Kaizen Real Estate Team is one of the teams Markham buyers trust for this kind of detail.

Who Runs Which Road

Many of Markham's major arterials, including 16th Avenue, Major Mackenzie Drive, Warden Avenue and McCowan Road, are regional roads run by York Region, while local streets are run by the City. Both plan for growth. Markham's 2026 capital budget, as Ontario Construction News reported, put $53.8 million toward road construction, repair and traffic improvements.

How Road Widenings Work

Major roads have a planned right of way, the full width the road authority expects to need over time. When a property is redeveloped, severed or rezoned, the authority can ask for land along the frontage to reach that width. A City of Markham staff report on a property with frontage on Woodbine Avenue, for example, listed a condition to convey land to establish a right of way of 21.5 metres from the centreline, noting the Region was protecting for a 43 metre road along that stretch.

• A typical resale purchase does not trigger a widening by itself.
• Applications such as severances, rezonings or site plans can.
• Widening plans can bring more lanes, transit lanes, cycle tracks and construction over time.
• Ask your lawyer to check the survey and title for any reserves or past conveyances along the road.

Noise Fences: Who Owns and Maintains Them

Markham's noise criteria for new development say noise barriers and their foundations must sit entirely on private property, not on City land. The standard warning clause on these homes says the barrier shall not be altered or removed, and places maintenance of the portion on each lot with that lot's owner. Fences are generally limited to 2.0 metres tall, or up to 2.5 metres with City approval.

In practice, this means that when you buy a home backing onto a main road, the section of noise fence on your lot is usually your responsibility to maintain, while you may not be free to remove or redesign it.

What to Check Before You Buy

1. Read the survey to see where the lot line and fence sit compared with the road allowance.
2. Ask your lawyer to check title and any subdivision agreement for noise warning clauses.
3. Look at the fence's condition: leaning panels, rotted posts, salt damage near the road.
4. Ask neighbours whether repairs have been coordinated along the row.
5. Visit at rush hour and on a weekend evening to judge noise.
6. Check whether bedrooms face the road and whether windows and air conditioning help.

Pricing a Road Backing Home

Homes backing onto busy roads usually sell for less than similar homes on interior streets, and they can take longer to sell. The size of the gap depends on the road, the fence, the layout and the market. The best guide is recent sales of similar homes on the same row and on nearby quiet streets. Our guide on comparing two homes at the same price shows how to weigh it, and our list of quiet streets helps if peace matters most.

If You Are Selling

• Repair or refresh the noise fence before listing.
• Show how the layout keeps living areas away from the road.
• Price from real comparables, and give buyers a reason to choose your home.
• Gather documents on any fence work or road related agreements.

Questions Markham Clients Ask

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