The City of Pickering prepared a set of Sustainable Development Guidelines in 2007.  The guidelines identify required and optional criteria.  When followed by developers and builders, the resulting development is more sustainable than typical subdivision design and building code requirements.

A combination of required and optional criteria must be met in order to achieve a rating of  Level 1, 2 or 3.  The levels are achieved based on points given for meeting the optional criteria.

 

In October 2009, Pickering Council approved a resolution requiring (with some minor exceptions) that all new development meet at least a rating of "Level 1”.