Land Clearing Services
Full-Service Lot Clearing
Clearing Services
Start Your Project Right
Unlock the full potential of your property with Fraser Valley Land Management’s integrated clearing services. Our impressive fleet of heavy equipment effortlessly clears trees, bushes, and more! We can even handle challenging terrain, ensuring your land is transformed into a masterpiece.
Property Clearing Fraser Valley
Explore What We Can Do For You
Demolition
Unwanted buildings can take up precious space on your land. You can trust Fraser Valley Land Management to safely demolish old buildings like homes, barns, sheds, or other utility buildings that need to go.
Storm Cleanup
When storms hit, damage to your property can be an inevitable result. We can provide solutions after a storm to rid your land of debris in a safe and timely manner, restoring it to its natural state.
Land Clearing Service FAQ
What is land clearing?
Land clearing is the process of removing anything on the land, including brush, trees, buildings, debris, etc. In addition to providing land clearing, we also provide grubbing which is where you remove anything beneath the ground to about 18″, such as stumps, roots, and rocks.
Why do you clear land?
There are many reasons to clear and grub land, including prepping for pastures, crops, land development, subdivisions, and road expansion. Clearing the land will not only make the land more usable but it will also increase the land’s value.
How long does it take to clear land?
The amount of time that it takes to clear a plot of land will depend on several different factors, including:
- How much vegetation and trees need to be cleared. (The lower the density of vegetation, the faster the land can be cleared.)
- The size and age of the trees being removed.
- The terrain of the land that is being cleared. (The flatter the land, the easier it is to clear.)
- The size and logistics of the property.
- How material will be moved on the property.
- The type of equipment being used to clear the land.
How much does land clearing cost?
The overall cost of clearing your land will depend on the density of the trees and vegetation you want removed, as well as on how the green waste will be disposed of, as trucking green waste off the property can get quite expensive.
What equipment is used to clear land?
At Fraser Valley Land Management, we use a combination of chainsaws, excavators, bulldozers, grinders, chippers, skid steers, and specialized equipment and attachments for all of our land clearing projects.
Are there special permits required?
It depends what municipality you are in, since each municipality has its own bylaws in regards to cutting down trees. If you are in the ALR, cutting down trees is much easier, as long as you plan to farm the land being cleared. It is important to note that, before cutting down trees, you will also need to have a bird nesting survey done (from March until August).
What is bird nesting season?
Bird nesting season is the time when migratory birds build their nest, lay, and hatch their eggs. This general nesting season starts March 30th and ends on August 16th. During these months, you will need to have a bird survey completed before clearing any trees on your property.
What happens if a nest is found?
If a nest is found on your property, there will be a 20m buffer zone around the nest and that area will not be allowed to be cleared until the area has another survey done, ensuring the baby birds have left the nest and that no new nests have been made.
Can I clear land myself?
While you can clear your land on your own, it is not recommended, as it is not really feasible, efficient, or safe to clear land by yourself. You would need specialized equipment and the knowledge of how to use that equipment properly and safely. The most dangerous thing you can do is go out, buy a chainsaw, and just start cutting down trees.
How do I prepare for clearing land on my property?
The biggest thing you can do to prepare your property for land clearing is to have a clear vision of the end use for the property. Make sure to discuss your vision with your contractor beforehand to find out what options are available and the cost associated with each.
What are the potential challenges or obstacles in clearing land?
There are physical challenges and governmental obstacles unique to every property. Make sure to consult with your land clearing specialist to find out what challenges and obstacles you may face during the land clearing process, such as terrain, cost, and riparian areas.
Can land be cleared in environmentally friendly ways?
Yes, by following governmental requirements and by working with an environmentalist, we can ensure that your land is cleared in an environmentally friendly way. Forestry mulching can also be a great alternative to land clearing.
Are there any alternative methods to land clearing?
Yes! Forestry mulching is a great way to selectively clear trees and brush while causing very little ground/soil disturbance. It is great for opening up pastures, right of ways, fence lines, or any area that you want access to. Forestry mulching works by mulching all of the vegetation above ground, leaving the stumps and root system intact below. The vegetation is then left on the ground in a mulch to decompose and feed the soil nutrients. It is important to note that, if you have a dense forest of saplings, you could end up with a foot or more of mulch. In cases like this, sometimes a hybrid approach of mulching and chipping will work best to remove the unwanted green waste.
While forestry mulching is great for clearing away vegetation above ground, it is important to keep in mind that you don’t want stumps and roots left below ground if your end goal is to build a road or a new structure. Land clearing for roads and structures is performed both above and below ground level, ensuring that everything that needs to be removed is cleared away properly.
What are the steps involved in the land clearing process?
- Contact your municipality to find out if you need a permit. If a permit is required, you will need to get an arborist report.
- Contact your local land clearing specialist to get a quote and to discuss your project to give them a clear idea of what the end use for the land will be. With a clear end goal in mind, your land clearing specialist will be able to provide you with a range of options to choose from.
- Once you have a good idea on what you want done with the property and a range in cost, have the contractor come out to your property to do a site walk to make sure there isn’t anything he missed in the quote and that nothing was missed during the phone call.
- It is important to get a site survey to ensure that you only clear brush and trees on your property. Once you have all of the required environmental surveys, the site survey, and permits, make sure to talk with your contractor about scheduling and to find out if a bird nesting survey is needed.
- Get a permit and any environmental regulations needed. If trees are leaving the property on a logging truck, they will need to be scaled and have a timber mark. You can apply for the timber mark on the BC government’s website. If the work will be completed between March 30th -August 16th, you will also have to have a bird nesting survey completed.
- The equipment will be brought to the site.
- The contractor will begin clearing or mulching brush.
- The contractor will fell, limb, and chip any green waste.
- The trees will be skidded to the loading area.
- The contractor will scale the trees.
- The timber will be loaded and removed from the property.
- The green waste will be removed or piled on the property.
- The contractor will remove any stumps and perform any grubbing necessary.
- The contractor will handle grinding the stumps and roots or hauling them offsite, depending on your preference.
- The contractor will perform any rough grading required.
Will Bush and Tree Removal Affect My Property's Drainage?
Proper land clearing techniques can actually improve drainage by removing obstacles that disrupt the natural flow of water; however, it is important to discuss drainage considerations with our team in advance so that we can properly plan for your project’s drainage requirements.
Can Clearing My Property Assist With Wildfire Protection?
Yes, land clearing can help create a defensible space around your home or property by removing highly flammable vegetation and reducing the risk of wildfires.
Land Management Services
Explore Our Other Services
Tree Services
Fraser Valley Land Management can handle trees of any size, providing you with full tree removal and management solutions.
Forestry Mulching
Forestry Mulching is a sustainable land clearing service for dealing with unwanted vegetation and bushes. Find out if forestry mulching is the right solution for your property.
Blackberry Removal
Avoid the staggering growth of blackberries that can rapidly overrun your land, causing damage to your land, fences, gates, and infrastructure. Reach out to us now to discover effective brush clearing solutions that align with the unique needs of your property and budget.
Snow Removal
Don’t let the uncertainties of Canadian winters catch you by surprise. At Fraser Valley Land Management, we understand how snow and ice can pose risks to your property. Let us help you mitigate these risks by providing reliable winter management services throughout the season.
