How we deliver it
Clearing jobs vary more than most people expect. Our photos show a narrow backyard where a mini excavator and dump trailer had to work between two fences, a wooded lot where a track loader pushed timber debris into piles, and an open lot left as bare, level soil at the end. The machine is chosen for the access, not the other way around.
On tight residential lots, a mini excavator can work through a side gate and load straight into a trailer on the driveway. On larger or rougher sites, a compact track loader moves material faster and spreads its weight on soft ground.
Stumps and root balls are lifted out whole where we can, like the trunk in our photo being swung over a fence, so the hole can be filled and compacted properly. Before any tree comes down, the owner should check the City of Vaughan's tree protection by-law, since some trees need a permit before removal.
Debris is sorted as it's cleared. Metal goes to scrap, clean concrete and masonry are kept apart, and wood and brush are loaded separately so each goes to the right facility.
The finished lot is graded to the level agreed in the scope. If soil is leaving the site, Ontario's excess soil rules (O. Reg. 406/19) can apply, and we'll talk through what that means for your project.
We also look up before we start. Overhead hydro and telecom lines cross many residential and rural lots in Vaughan and Kleinburg, and machines working near them need clearance kept at all times. Where a line is too close, we talk to the utility before any work starts under it.
Illustrative future building footprint
Consider a hypothetical property whose responsible team has established the approvals and design for a future garden suite. The existing garage removal, other outbuildings, retained trees and new building footprint still need distinct boundaries. The example does not establish permission for a real property or mean that clearing the garage includes excavation and construction for the new suite. Use the actual authorised design and retained-site instructions for assessment.
What to expect
- 01
Walk the lot
We check access, what's on the lot, trees, overhead lines and where trailers can park.
- 02
Written scope
The scope lists what's being cleared, what stays and the finished grade.
- 03
Locates and permits
Underground locates are requested, and you confirm any tree permits with the City.
- 04
Clear and sort
Material is removed and separated into metal, concrete, wood and mixed loads.
- 05
Grade and hand over
The lot is left level and clear of debris.
Photos from this work
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to remove trees when clearing a lot in Vaughan?
- Possibly. The City of Vaughan has a tree protection by-law, and some trees need a permit before they can be removed. Check with the City before clearing starts, since removing a protected tree without one can lead to fines.
- Can you clear a backyard with narrow side access?
- Yes. Mini excavators fit through many side gates, and we load into a trailer parked on the driveway. We'll measure the access at the site visit.
- What happens to the soil if it leaves the site?
- Ontario's excess soil regulation, O. Reg. 406/19, sets rules for where soil can go and what records are kept. How it applies depends on the project and the volume, and we'll go over it with you.
- Do you remove old sheds and outbuildings as part of clearing?
- Yes. Small outbuildings are often taken down as part of a clearing job, with the material sorted for disposal.
Related services
Questions to resolve before this work
- Kleinburg demolition enquiries: assemble the property constraints
- King property access: distinguish road frontage from a working area
- Vaughan demolition and site alteration: separate the scope lines
- Unknown underground voids in a proposed demolition working area
- Survey benchmarks and control points: identify what demolition must preserve
- Between demolition and excavation: assign water-management responsibility
Choose your project area
Start with Vaughan communities and planning, browse the GTA and surrounding area directory, or check a postal reference. Access, occupancy and the retained structure determine how this scope is assessed.
Planning this work?
Book a site visit and get a written scope for your project.