St. Johns County · Northeast Florida
Land Clearing in St. Augustine
Clearing, grading, driveways and drainage that get a property ready to build on. Licensed and insured, Florida Certified Building Contractor CBC1265492.
- Trees kept where keeping them is right
- SelectiveTrees kept where keeping them is right
- Pads built in lifts and tested
- CompactedPads built in lifts and tested
- Water routed before anything is built
- DrainedWater routed before anything is built
Land Clearing for St. Augustine property owners
We take on land clearing throughout St. Augustine, St. Johns County. We cover the whole of St. Augustine: the Castillo de San Marcos, St. George Street, and everything in between. What comes across our desk from St. Augustine is mostly historic-district homes, bayfront property and small commercial and hospitality buildings.
Two site conditions drive most of what land clearing costs here. Coquina, shell and centuries of fill — archaeological review can be triggered by excavation before a footing is ever poured. And Matanzas Bay tidal flooding reaches downtown streets on king tides, which sets the floor elevation conversation for any renovation.
What St. Augustine geology and review rules change
Clearing around St. Augustine is governed by the tree ordinance more than by anything else, and it has teeth. Removing a regulated tree without approval brings real penalties, and mitigation requirements can substantially exceed the cost of designing around the tree. Coquina, shell and centuries of fill — archaeological review can be triggered by excavation before a footing is ever poured. That means karst features can also appear during excavation, which is its own reason to proceed carefully. The Historic Architectural Review Board reviews exterior materials, windows, roofing and massing — approval comes before permitting, not after.
Something else that decides the scope here: some of the oldest building stock in the country alongside 1920s frame houses, all of it visually regulated. Any honest estimate for St. Augustine accounts for that before it accounts for finishes.
Approvals run through City of St. Augustine, with Historic Architectural Review Board approval. Sorting that out early is unglamorous and it is where schedules are won.
What that adds up to is a land clearing approach built around St. Augustine specifically: the site investigated before the design commits, materials chosen for the conditions they'll actually live in, and a schedule that reflects the real permitting timeline rather than an optimistic one.
What land clearing in St. Augustine covers
- Survey and drainage review
- Selective clearing
- Stump and debris handling
- Grading and pad construction
- Driveways and access
- Drainage and stabilization
Signs it's time to call
These are the things owners tell us on the first call. If more than one sounds familiar, it's worth a look.
- A previous clearing left stumps and debris pushed into a pile that's still there.
- You need an elevation certificate and don't know what the finished pad has to be.
How we deliver land clearing in St. Augustine
01
Walk the property
02
Plan and permits
03
Clearing
04
Stumps and debris
05
Grading and pad
06
Access and stabilization
What actually drives the cost
We won't quote a number sight unseen. These are the factors that move it, so you can see where your project is likely to land before we ever walk the property.
- Fill volume
- If the pad needs to come up two feet, that's a large volume of imported material plus compaction. Whether fill can be balanced on site is the biggest single variable.
- Access and haul distance
- A parcel with no road frontage or a long, soft approach costs more to work simply because getting equipment and material in and out takes longer.
On the ground in St. Augustine.
We clear and prepare sites around St. Augustine — selective clearing within the tree ordinance, pad construction and driveway work on wooded parcels. Historic-district homes, bayfront property and small commercial and hospitality buildings form the context. Getting the tree survey and approvals right before equipment arrives is essential here.
Because we're based in Keystone Heights, St. Augustine and its neighbors get worked together: Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Elkton and World Golf Village are all on the same rounds.
- historic-district homes
- bayfront property
- small commercial and hospitality buildings
Other work we do in St. Augustine
Custom Home Building in St. Augustine
Ground-up custom homes, from land clearing through the final walkthrough, with one builder accountable the whole way.
Learn more →Pole Barns & Metal Buildings in St. Augustine
Post-frame and steel-frame barns, shops and equipment buildings engineered for Florida wind loads.
Learn more →Seawalls & Bulkheads in St. Augustine
Shoreline stabilization built to stop the erosion that's already taking your yard.
Learn more →Land Clearing near St. Augustine
All areas we serve for land clearing →Land Clearing questions in St. Augustine
Do I need permission to remove trees near St. Augustine?
Almost certainly. The Historic Architectural Review Board reviews exterior materials, windows, roofing and massing — approval comes before permitting, not after. Regulated trees around St. Augustine require approval, and removing one without it brings penalties plus mitigation. We get the tree survey and the approvals in hand before any equipment comes onto the site.
What should I budget for land clearing in St. Augustine?
It depends on the site more than on the square footage. Coquina, shell and centuries of fill — archaeological review can be triggered by excavation before a footing is ever poured, and Matanzas Bay tidal flooding reaches downtown streets on king tides, which sets the floor elevation conversation for any renovation, both of which move the number materially in St. Augustine. We quote after a walkthrough, free of charge.
What's the permitting process for land clearing in St. Augustine?
Yes for anything structural or involving systems. Permits come from City of St. Augustine, with Historic Architectural Review Board approval, and there's a local wrinkle worth knowing: the Historic Architectural Review Board reviews exterior materials, windows, roofing and massing — approval comes before permitting, not after. We handle the whole submittal.
When could you get out to look at a St. Augustine property?
Quickly for the walkthrough — St. Augustine is close enough to Keystone Heights that scheduling isn't the constraint. Permitting is, and we'll be straight with you about how long City of St. Augustine, with Historic Architectural Review Board approval actually takes.
Do you actually travel to St. Augustine?
Yes, regularly. We're based in Keystone Heights and St. Johns County is core territory for us; Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach and Elkton are all on the same routes. (352) 478-6112 gets you a site visit.
Do I need a permit to clear my own land?
Usually yes, at least for grading and often for tree removal. Several jurisdictions in our area have tree ordinances with mitigation requirements. We confirm before clearing, not after.
How much does it cost to clear an acre?
Per-acre pricing is close to meaningless because vegetation density and debris disposal drive the cost, not area. We price after walking it — anyone quoting per acre sight unseen is guessing.
Ready to talk about land clearing in St. Augustine?
Free consultations, straight answers, and one contractor accountable from the first walkthrough to the last punch item.