Commercial projects run on plans, schedules and inspections, and clearing is the first item on all three. We clear the site to the plan limits, put in the erosion control the plans require, set up staging and haul routes, and work with the general contractor to keep the job moving.
Commercial Site Clearing in Boise
On a commercial job, clearing isn't a judgment call. The civil plans show the limits of disturbance, which trees stay, where the construction entrance goes, and what erosion control has to be in place before the first tree comes down. A general contractor needs a clearing sub who reads those sheets, shows up on the scheduled day, and leaves the site the way the next trade expects to find it.
We clear commercial sites for general contractors, developers and business owners in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle and Kuna. That might be a new shop or office building, an empty parcel next to an existing business, a gravel storage yard, or an older lot being redeveloped.
Who We Work With
General contractors
We work as the clearing sub on your schedule. Send the plans and the start date, and we'll price the job from the sheets. On site, we take direction from your superintendent and coordinate with the crews coming in behind us, usually excavation, utilities and the building pad.
Developers
Developers sometimes want a parcel cleared before the rest of the site work is bid, to get a clean look at the ground, meet a permit condition or get ahead of the season. We clear to the approved plan and leave the erosion control in place and working for whoever follows.
Business owners
Some owners are adding a building, a parking area or a storage yard behind a business that's still open. On jobs like that, we plan the work around customers, deliveries and parking, and keep equipment and trucks out of the way of the people who need to get in the door.
Plans, Stormwater and Erosion Control
Commercial sites that disturb an acre or more generally need construction stormwater permit coverage and a stormwater pollution prevention plan before ground is broken. The owner or GC holds that permit and handles its inspections. Our part is building what the plan shows and keeping it working while we're on site. That usually includes:
- Silt fence or wattles along the low edges of the site
- A gravel construction entrance to keep mud off public streets
- Inlet protection on storm drains near the work
- Fencing around trees and areas marked to stay
- Stockpiles kept where the plans allow, with the cover or perimeter control they call for
Smaller commercial sites can still carry erosion control conditions from the city or county. If the plan notes aren't clear, the engineer or the permit office can tell you what applies. We'd rather ask before clearing than fix it after an inspection.
Staging, Hauling and Scheduling
A commercial site needs a plan for where everything goes. Before we start, we work out with the GC where equipment will be staged, where trucks will load, the haul route in and out, and where topsoil gets stockpiled so it doesn't block the building pad or the utility runs. On a busy road in Boise or Meridian, the city may also have rules about truck traffic and keeping the street clean. Mud tracked onto a public street is one of the first things an inspector notices, so we keep the entrance and the road clean through the job.
Clearing debris on a commercial site is mostly trees, brush, stumps and old fencing. Redevelopment lots add old asphalt, curbs, slabs and light pole bases. Clean concrete, asphalt and green waste get sorted for recycling where possible, and the rest is hauled. See concrete breaking and hauling, demolition and dirt hauling.
Locates come first on every site. We call Digline (811) at least two business days before breaking ground, as Idaho law requires. On older commercial lots, private lines for parking lot lights, irrigation and site drainage aren't marked by Digline, so as-built drawings or a private locator can help fill the gaps.
What Affects the Cost
The main factors are the size of the site, the amount of vegetation, stumps and old pavement, the erosion control the plans require, haul distance and disposal fees, and schedule constraints like phased clearing around an open business. We price from the plans and a site walk, and our estimates are free.
When clearing is done, the site is ready for commercial excavation and, where paving is planned, paving job site preparation. For residential builds, see site clearing, and for raw acreage, see land clearing. Tell us about the project and we'll tell you plainly what we can take on. We're an Idaho registered contractor (RCE-65836) with a 5.0 rating on Google. Call (208) 697-2429 or request a free estimate.
