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Civil Site Clearing, Rough Grading, and Earthwork Services in Sacramento, CA

Before any building starts, the land has to be ready. That means clearing the vegetation, removing roots, shaping the soil, and getting the site to the right elevation. We handle all of this from start to finish.

We provide civil site clearing, rough grading, and earthwork services in Sacramento, CA. We work with general contractors, developers, homeowners, and civil engineers on residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects across Sacramento and Sacramento County.

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Complete Scope of Work

What Our Site Clearing, Grading, and Earthwork Service Includes

Here is a full list of what we provide from start to finish.

Site Clearing:

Grubbing:

Rough Grading:

Earthwork and Soil Management:

Mass excavation for commercial and civil projects
Soil compaction in lifts to geotechnical specification
Import of engineered fill dirt when required
Export and disposal of excess soil when required
Compaction testing coordination with third-party testing agency

Underground Utility Trenching:

Erosion and Stormwater Controls:

Systematic Sitework Execution

Clearing, Grubbing, and Rough Grading: What Happens at Each Step

Here is a closer look at what happens during each phase.

Site Clearing & Subgrade Grubbing:

First, we remove everything above ground, followed by root excavation to geotechnical specifications:

Trees and large shrubs cut, mulched, or hauled away
Brush and vegetation overgrowth cleared with forestry mulcher skid steers
Concrete remnants, debris, old fences, and surface boulders removed
Grubbing roots and stumps to depth required by your geotechnical report
Eliminating underground decay voids that cause uneven foundation settlement

Rough Grading & Engineered Drainage:

After grubbing, rough grading shapes soil to plan elevations using cutting and filling:

Cutting: Excavating and removing high spots to reach base subgrade
Filling: Placing soil into low spots to raise grade to plan specifications
Building Pad Creation: Stable, compacted building pad ready for foundation
California Code Drainage: Mandatory minimum 2% slope away for first 10 feet
Protecting the future structure from surface runoff, pooling, and saturation

Sacramento Valley Soil Conditions & Applications

Sacramento's Clay Soil: What It Means for Your Project

Sacramento is known for its heavy clay soil, sometimes called adobe soil. It creates specific challenges for grading and construction that every project owner in Sacramento should know about.

01

Clay & Adobe Soil Dynamics

Sacramento is known for its heavy clay soil (adobe soil). Clay expands when absorbing water and contracts/cracks when drying out. This movement creates severe pressure on foundations and slabs. Proper subgrade preparation is essential to prevent shifting.

02

Seasonal Timing & Caliche Hardpan

Sacramento rain (Oct-Apr) makes clay uncompactable. We plan around the dry season to prevent delays. When subterranean cemented caliche hardpan is encountered, we deploy specialized hydraulic tools to break it up before grading continues.

03

Residential & ADU Lot Preparation

We clear, grub, and rough grade residential lots for single-family building pads and tight-access backyard ADU pads. We coordinate directly with your GC or homebuilder to match foundation elevations and establish the 2% drainage slope.

04

Commercial & Subdivision Sitework

We provide large-scale clearing, mass excavation, and utility trenching for commercial pads, parking lots, residential subdivisions, and civil infrastructure projects under complete SWPPP environmental compliance.

Compliance & Regulations

Sacramento Grading Permits and Stormwater Requirements

Every grading project in Sacramento requires attention to permits and environmental compliance. We handle all of it for you.

County Chapter 16.44 Grading Permit Triggers (350 Cu Yds / 1 Acre)

Sacramento County requires a grading permit under Chapter 16.44 if your project moves 350 cubic yards or more of soil, or clears and grubs 1 acre or more of land. Smaller projects below these limits may still trigger California Green Code requirements or stormwater rules. The City of Sacramento has separate municipal rules. We check your jurisdiction and handle the permit application for you.

Soils Report & Compaction Testing Verification

When a grading permit is required, the work is classified as engineered grading: a soils or geotechnical report may be required to confirm soil conditions, compaction testing must be done as fill is placed layer by layer, and a third-party testing agency verifies compaction meets the approved plan. We coordinate geotechnical services on your behalf.

SWPPP Stormwater Compliance & SMAQMD Rule 902

Any project disturbing 1 acre or more of land must file a SWPPP under the SWRCB Construction General Permit (CGP). We install all required BMPs: silt fencing, straw wattles, inlet protection, and stabilized construction entrances. If site clearing involves demolition of any structure built before 1980, SMAQMD Rule 902 applies-we manage all required certified asbestos surveys and 10-business-day notifications.

Equipment We Use for Sacramento Earthwork

We use professional-grade heavy equipment matched to the size and conditions of each site:

Bulldozers for mass grading and pushing large volumes of soil
Motor graders for finish grading tolerance work and drainage shaping
Excavators for clearing, grubbing, trenching, and mass excavation
Skid steers with forestry mulcher attachments for vegetation clearing
Vibratory rollers and plate compactors for soil compaction in lifts
Water trucks for dust control and moisture conditioning on clay soils
Dump trucks for soil export, material import, and debris hauling

Why Choose Sacramento Demolition Contractor

We work with GCs, developers, and property owners on a regular basis. We deliver dependable site preparation on schedule with zero surprises:

California Class C-21 Licensed & Fully Insured for total project protection
100% In-House Machine Fleet & Operators - no third-party equipment rental delays
Full Permitting & Regulatory Management: County Chapter 16.44, SWPPP, and SMAQMD
Precision Laser & GPS Elevation Control to match civil engineering pad tolerances
Direct Dispatch Review within 60 minutes with transparent, fixed-scope estimates

Serving Sacramento County and Northern California

We serve homeowners and businesses across all of Sacramento County. No matter where your property is, we can help.

Cities and areas we serve:

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START YOUR PROJECT?

Ready to Clear and Prep Your Site?

We are ready to help you clear the space and prepare it for the next phase. We work directly with general contractors, property managers, and commercial developers throughout Sacramento.
Contact us today for a free on-site commercial estimate.

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(916) 318-5272

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a grading permit for my Sacramento project?

In Sacramento County, a grading permit is required if your project moves 350 cubic yards or more of soil, or clears and grubs 1 acre or more. Projects below these limits may still have requirements under other codes. The City of Sacramento has separate rules. We check your jurisdiction and handle the permit application for you.

What is the difference between clearing and grubbing?

Clearing removes vegetation, trees, and debris above the ground. Grubbing removes root systems, stumps, and organic material below the ground. Both must be done before rough grading can begin. Skipping grubbing causes the soil to settle unevenly, which can damage any structure built on top.

Why does Sacramento's clay soil make grading more difficult?

Sacramento’s heavy adobe clay soil expands when wet and contracts when dry. Wet clay cannot be compacted to specification. Very dry clay becomes hard to excavate. Both conditions add time and cost compared to other soil types. We plan around Sacramento’s dry season and use soil stabilization when wet season work is needed.

What is a SWPPP and does my project need one?

SWPPP stands for Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. California requires a SWPPP for any project that disturbs 1 acre or more of land. The SWPPP outlines how soil, sediment, and runoff will be kept out of storm drains. We prepare and implement the SWPPP for all qualifying projects.

What is cut-and-fill balance and why does it affect my cost?

Cut-and-fill balance means the soil removed from high spots equals the soil needed to fill low spots. A balanced site does not need imported or exported soil. An unbalanced site adds to or more per cubic yard for import or export. We evaluate cut-fill balance during every free on-site estimate.

How long does site clearing and rough grading take?

A residential lot under 1 acre can typically be cleared and rough graded in 1 to 5 working days depending on vegetation density and soil conditions. Larger commercial or subdivision sites take longer. We provide a project timeline with every estimate.