Clearing is cheap early and expensive early, depending entirely on what it precedes. Done after the survey, the approvals and the utility locate, it gives the next verified task exactly the access it needs. Done before them, it removes screening for an area that may move, exposes soil that then needs stabilising for months, and occasionally clears ground that turns out to be regulated. The dependency list is not long but the order within it is unforgiving: survey, approvals, utility marking, erosion controls, clearing, technical tree work, excavation, drainage, stabilisation, soil, seeding, maintenance. Two items in that list have clocks attached, not positions: Vermont's Low Risk stormwater coverage requires stabilisation within the 7, 14 or 21 days its project authorization sets, counted from initial disturbance regardless of what happens next, and a permit application takes calendar time that has to sit in the schedule instead of being absorbed by it.
The short answer
The cheapest clearing pass can become expensive if it happens before the survey, approved plan, access decision, or next contractor’s requirements are known.
| # | Step | Cannot start until | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boundary survey | — | Weeks |
| 2 | Permits and approvals | Survey | Weeks to months |
| 3 | Utility location | Work area defined | 811 lead time |
| 4 | Erosion controls | Before disturbance | Same day |
| 5 | Clearing | 1–4 complete | Days |
| 6 | Technical tree work | Access cleared | Days |
| 7 | Excavation and grading | Clearing done | Days to weeks |
| 8 | Stabilisation | 7, 14 or 21 days from first disturbance | Hard deadline |
| 9 | Soil and seeding | Grading complete | Seasonal |
| 10 | Maintenance | Handover | Ongoing |
Sequence the project around verified information
Put survey, permits, utility marking, access, clearing, technical tree work, excavation, drainage, erosion control, soil, seeding, and maintenance on one dependency list. Clearing early is useful only when it gives the next verified task exactly the access it requires.
The sequence, in order
- Build the dependency list before pricing anything.
- Put permit lead time in the schedule as a line, not as slack.
- Install erosion controls before the first machine.
- Clear only what the next verified step needs.
- Diary the stabilisation deadline (7, 14 or 21 days) from first disturbance.
- Book the maintenance interval at handover.
What goes wrong
- Clearing first because the machine was available.
- Treating permit time as absorbable.
- Missing the stabilisation clock because the builder is delayed.