You bought a lot in or around Franklin. Right now it's trees, brush and a slope that doesn't look anything like the house plans. Before anybody pours a footer, that ground has to be cleared, shaped and packed.
We're Josh and Mark Collier with Middle TN Grading & Clearing. We run the machines ourselves. Here's a plain look at how land clearing and grading usually goes on a Franklin lot, and what to sort out before the first tree comes down.
What Clearing and Grading Actually Involves
Every lot is different, but the order of work is pretty steady:
- Survey and stakes. Know where your lines, setbacks and house corners are before anything gets cut.
- Erosion control first. Silt fence and other controls go in before the dirt gets disturbed. Franklin expects this, and it keeps mud out of the street and your neighbor's yard.
- Clearing. Trees and brush get cut and either piled or hauled off.
- Stumps and roots. Stumps come out where the house, drive and yard will be. Roots left under a pad rot and leave soft spots.
- Rough grade. The lot gets shaped so water runs away from where the house will sit.
- House pad and driveway. The pad is built up and compacted, and the drive gets cut in and based.
Permits to Check Before You Start in Franklin
This is the part folks skip, and it can stop a job cold.
City of Franklin. The City's permits page says a Stormwater & Grading Permit is required for projects disturbing 5,000 square feet or more, submitted to the Engineering Department. A house footprint, driveway and yard can reach that quickly. The same City of Franklin permits page notes a separate Tree Removal permit applies to single-family lots larger than 1 acre (lots of 1 acre or less don't need it). Rules change, so call the City of Franklin before you start.
TDEC. If you'll disturb 1 acre or more (or less, if it's part of a larger plan of development), Tennessee's Construction General Permit applies. According to TDEC, that means filing a Notice of Intent and having a stormwater pollution prevention plan in place. The research we've seen puts the NOI 30 days ahead of disturbance. A filing fee applies too, so check TDEC's current page for your project.
Burning brush. The Tennessee Division of Forestry requires a free burn permit for brush and debris piles from October 15 through May 15, obtained the day you burn. Local rules can be stricter. Whether burning is allowed inside Franklin city limits is something to ask the City, not guess at.
Williamson County Ground: Rock and Clay
Much of the Franklin area sits in Tennessee's Central Basin, where limestone can be close to the surface and subsoils tend to be clay. That matters in two ways.
Rock can change the scope of digging. You don't always know what's under there until a bucket finds it.
Clay makes a good pad only when it's put down right: moisture-conditioned and compacted in layers. Dumped loose, it settles. If you want to see what's mapped under your own lot, the USDA Web Soil Survey (websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov) is free.
When a pad needs fill, we haul fill dirt, gravel and stone straight from the quarry and spread and compact it on site.
What Drives Land Clearing Cost
We give quotes after we've walked the property, and we keep it that way on purpose. Every lot is different, and a number from a website won't tell you much about yours.
What moves the cost: how thick the trees are, how many stumps come out, whether debris gets hauled off or burned, how much rock shows up, how steep the ground is, how easy it is to get equipment in, and how much grading and fill the pad needs. Cost varies widely with site conditions, so call (931) 458-1500 for a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does land clearing cost in Franklin, TN? It depends on how thick the trees are, the stumps, haul-off, rock and grading, which is why it's worth having someone walk it. Call (931) 458-1500 for a free estimate.
Do I need a permit to clear or grade my lot in Franklin? Per the City of Franklin, disturbing 5,000 sq ft or more needs a Stormwater & Grading Permit. At 1 acre or more, TDEC's construction permit applies too. Check with both before you start.
Can I burn brush piles in Williamson County? From October 15 to May 15 you need a free state burn permit. Inside city limits, ask the City of Franklin about local rules first.
How long does it take to clear a lot? It depends on the trees, the stumps, the rock and the weather. We'll give you a realistic idea once we've seen it.
Let's Take a Look at Your Lot
You can read more about what we do in Franklin on our Franklin grading and clearing page.
If you've got a Franklin lot that needs clearing, a pad or a driveway, give Josh or Mark a call at (931) 458-1500. We'll come out, walk it with you and tell you straight what it'll take.