Before I book
Do I need a permit to clear or grade my land?
It depends on your county and what the work is tied to. Clearing brush on private land is usually simple. Work near a creek, in a floodplain, or tied to a house or driveway can bring the county in. I will tell you what I have seen on jobs like yours, and a call to your county codes office settles it.
What usually brings a permit into it
Not a full list, but the things that come up most:
- Building. A house pad, a shop, or a barn means a building permit, and the site work follows that.
- A driveway that meets a public road. Some road departments want a say in the culvert and the entrance.
- Water. Work near a creek, a wetland, or inside a floodplain gets attention from more than the county.
- Burning debris. Many counties have burn rules by season, and some want a burn permit.
Who handles it
The permit is yours as the landowner, and I am not the county, so I will not tell you that you are covered when I do not know. What I do is tell you plainly what I have run into on similar jobs around Middle Tennessee, point you at the right office, and hold the start date until you have an answer. I call 811 on every job that breaks ground.
Why it is worth a phone call
The county can make you undo work that was not allowed, at your cost. One call before we start is a lot cheaper than that. If you are not sure who to call, tell me on the walk and I will help you find the office.
Want a real number for your land?
Tell me what you are picturing and I will come walk it with you. You get a firm number before any work starts, and the quote costs nothing.
Serving Middle Tennessee