Building a house or commercial space from the ground up is an exciting venture. It can bring new opportunities for financial and personal growth. However, you must exercise caution before you break ground on your new development.
WR Land Development has extensive land clearing experience in New Smyrna, Florida, and the surrounding areas so we know a thing or two about preparing the property for this service. Our team outlined five things you should do before you clear the land.
#1 Consider Your End Goal
Why are you clearing the land in the first place? Many property owners want to build something new, but you might have other visions, such as:
- An open pasture for livestock
- Crop fields for harvesting
- Protect trees, shrubs, grass, and other plant life
- Improving your property management capabilities
These objectives will influence your service provider’s approach and the equipment it uses to clear the land.
#2 Remember the Environment
Responsible property clearance involves protecting the environment. New Smyrna, Florida, houses numerous delicate ecosystems, like lagoons, oceanic forests, dunes, and swamps. You must work with an environmentally conscious land cleaner for sustainable tree and vegetation management.
Look for companies that use methods like:
- Forestry mulching: This service reuses cut wood to re-enrich the soil after clearing the land.
- Topsoil protection: Some techniques keep the land close to how you purchased it.
- Selective clearing: Land clearing doesn’t necessarily mean removing all the vegetation in the area. Skilled crews can save lots of plant life.
- Native species protection: If you must remove native trees and plants, you might explore ways to replace them in other property areas.
The listed options are just a few ways to protect the environment. You might discover others that work better for your needs.
#3 Professionally Survey the Land
You can learn a lot about your property and project from site surveying services, including:
- The precise location of underground utility hookups
- Where your property boundaries sit
- Land features that might give you trouble
- Protected plants, animals, and ecosystems you must care for
While the land survey isn’t an official hazard assessment, it can outline problems you might encounter when clearing the land and building new structures. You can strategize how to mitigate these hazards before breaking ground.
#4 Look Into Zoning Laws and Other Local Regulations
Many municipalities have zoning regulations that you must follow throughout your land-clearing project. These rules might include the examples listed below:
- Emergency responders must easily access your property if needed.
- Build structures within a predetermined measurement from the property boundary as deemed appropriate by the municipal government.
- Minimize damage to protected ecosystems, like coastal habitats.
- Develop your property in accordance with Florida’s community values and goals.
While these examples come from state-wide regulations, they may vary based on city and county. You must verify the local rules regarding clearing properties and make sure you adhere to them throughout your project.
#5 Work With a Professional Service Provider
As you can tell from the above information, land clearing is rarely as simple as knocking down trees and other plant growth for a clean, open area. You must consider numerous facets to avoid fines or other penalties. Plus, you need the right clearing or excavation equipment for your particular task.
Not every project looks the same. Some property owners need to prepare a piece of land for a building foundation. Others just want to remove excess brush to simplify their property maintenance.
Each task requires wildly different equipment and skill levels. So, you can’t choose any land-clearing company for the job. You need one that:
- Knows your local regulations
- Has the manpower and tools needed for the project
- Keeps the environment and ecosystem in mind throughout the service
- Understands your needs and proactively helps you achieve your goals
Identify three or more candidates to discuss your project with and request quotes from. Request portfolios from previous projects that were similar to yours. Check online for reviews and testimonials, and ask for references that showcase satisfactory services.
Additional Land Clearing Tips
You can discuss the following aspects with your land-clearing service and construction company. However, arming yourself with a general idea of these elements can give you and your service providers a more solid jumping-off point.
- Speak with your city’s zoning and building departments. Sometimes, online information might not accurately reflect current regulations.
- Talk with your homeowner’s association, if applicable. If you live in an area governed by an association, you might have additional rules.
- Consider where you’ll place septic, sewage, and other underground utilities. You can mark these places to better highlight their position.
WR Land Development Is Ready for Your New Smyrna Project
WR Land Development is ready to take on your land-clearing project. Call us at 407-993-1439 to discuss your plans for your New Smyrna property.
