Every build starts with a clean slate — but un-cleared brush, trees, stumps, or poor drainage can wreck your timeline and your budget. Rocky Demolition clears land and grades sites for home builders, developers, and homeowners across Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Colorado Springs, and the entire Front Range. With GPS-guided dozers, forestry mulchers, and erosion-control crews, you get a ready-to-build site that passes local code and inspection — fast, safe, and fully insured.
| What We Do | Tree & brush clearing • Stump removal • Rough & final grading • Pad prep • Erosion & drainage |
| Who We Serve | Custom homes • Small subdivisions • ADUs • Garages • Parking lots • Driveways |
| Equipment | GPS dozers • Excavators • Forestry mulchers • Roll-offs |
| Recycling | Wood mulched on site • Clean soil re-used |
| Coverage | Denver • Aurora • Arvada • CO Springs & statewide |
| Book a Quote | 📞 720-442-1092 or Request a Quote |
Land clearing means removing vegetation, stumps, roots, rocks, and debris from raw land to create a safe work area. Grading means shaping the soil’s slope and level to ensure proper drainage, support new foundations, or prep for pavement.
| Scenario | Why It’s Needed |
|---|---|
| New custom home | Trees & brush block house pad, driveway, or septic |
| Garage or ADU add-on | Old fence, brush, or slope needs flattening |
| Storm cleanup | Wind-felled trees or debris bury usable yard |
| Drainage correction | Old yard grades toward foundation — risk basement leaks |
| Subdivision or driveway | ½–5 acres cleared & shaped for multiple pads |
Colorado code: Any new pad or major site change >1 acre must file a stormwater plan (SWMP). Rocky does it all.
| Step | What We Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Site Walk & Survey | Mark trees to keep, check slopes, locate utilities. | Avoid root damage, surprises underground. |
| 2. Permits & Compliance | File local clearing permit, SWMP/ECP if >1 acre. | Meet city/county erosion & storm rules. |
| 3. Tree & Brush Clearing | Mulchers, chainsaws, and dozer push brush. | Faster than burning, safer for air quality. |
| 4. Stump Removal & Root Rake | Uproot stumps, root rake to 18–24″ depth. | No regrowth, stable pad base. |
| 5. Cut & Fill Grading | Cut high points, fill low spots, compact soil. | Pads are level, water drains away from house. |
| 6. Erosion Controls | Install silt fences, straw wattles, or hydroseed. | Prevent runoff fines & inspection failures. |
| 7. Final Grade & Proof Roll | Laser-check slopes, compact pad, photo log for inspectors. | Pass inspection, ready for foundations. |
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| GPS Dozer | Precise grade, cut/fill to plan |
| Excavator with root rake | Stump pop & brush pull |
| Forestry mulcher | Mulch trees under 6″ dia |
| Roll-off containers | Haul logs, debris |
| Vibratory roller | Compact fills for pads |
| Silt fence & wattles | Control runoff per local code |
| Factor | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Lot Size | ¼ acre | 5 acres |
| Vegetation Type | Light brush | Large trees, stumps |
| Slope/Fill | Minor grade fix | Major cut & fill |
| Access | Easy front yard | Tight backyard, fences |
| Permits/Erosion | None | Full SWMP/ECP w/ engineer |
Ballpark:
• Small lot (¼ acre): $3,000–$6,500
• 1–2 acres with stumps: $6,500–$15,000
• Subdivision pad grading: $4,000–$8,000 per pad
| City | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | SWMP if >1 acre | Must pass erosion & drainage |
| Aurora | Grading & erosion | ECP plan if near streams |
| Arvada | Clearing/grading | Slope plan if cut/fill >4 ft |
| CO Springs | SWMP + city inspection | Must hit final slope specs |
Rocky provides as-built photo logs, compaction tests if requested, and erosion BMPs.
| Material | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Trees & brush | Mulched on site or trucked to green waste |
| Topsoil | Stockpiled for reuse |
| Fill dirt | Balanced on site if clean |
| Logs | Cut & recycled for timber if feasible |
✅ Average project diverts 80–100% of brush & trees into mulch for reuse on site or landscaping.
• 1-acre lot, overgrown brush & 18 trees
• 12 stumps removed to 24″ depth
• GPS dozer cut 2.5 ft slope to level pad
• Installed 250 ft silt fence & straw wattles
• Hydroseeded erosion area
• Pass final grade with city in 2 weeks
• $8,700 total — zero fines, sod installed 30 days later
✔ Licensed, insured up to $5M
✔ GPS dozers = fewer over-digs, less fill waste
✔ Forestry mulchers mean no open burning or smoke complaints
✔ Erosion pros — pass city inspection first shot
✔ Fast same-week starts if schedule open
📞 720-442-1092 or Request a Free Land Prep Quote
Same-day site walk, multi-acre crews ready for your project.
Q: Can you clear just brush but leave big trees?
Yes — we’ll flag keep-trees, mulch or remove underbrush, and grade around them.
Q: Do you haul logs?
We can chip them on site or haul to green waste if the logs are too big.
Q: Will my lot pass city slope inspection?
Yes — our GPS dozer and laser levels get the exact slope grade you need for drainage.