Step 1: Pre-Construction Survey Verification

  Before any equipment arrives on site, Fortune Homes MD verifies that the property corners are marked and that the building footprint, setback lines, and proposed driveway location are staked by a licensed Maryland surveyor. Staking the footprint before clearing ensures that vegetation is removed only where required minimizing clearing costs and environmental impact, and verifying that the planned footprint fits within the legal setback lines.

  Cost: $800–$2,500 for staking if not included in boundary survey. This is a non-optional step clearing without verified property lines risks encroaching on adjacent properties or clearing protected areas outside the approved building envelope.

  Step 2: MDE Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Approval Before Breaking Ground

  Maryland COMAR 26.17.01 requires an approved Erosion and Sediment (E&S) Control Plan from the county Soil Conservation District before any land disturbance exceeding 5,000 sq ft. The E&S plan identifies where silt fences, sediment traps, inlet protection, stabilized construction entrances and other controls will be installed. Plan preparation: $1,500–$4,500 by a licensed civil engineer. County review: 2–4 weeks in most counties.

  MDE enforcement: Maryland MDE and county inspectors conduct unannounced site inspections during construction. A site with land disturbance in progress without an approved E&S plan in place faces: stop-work order, $1,000/day fine (COMAR 26.17.01.21), and requirement to restore disturbed areas and reapply for approval before work resumes.

  Step 3: Erosion and Sediment Controls Installation

  Before any vegetation is cleared or grading begins, the E&S controls identified in the approved plan are installed: silt fence along the downslope perimeter of the disturbed area (orange polypropylene filter fabric staked and trenched into the ground), stabilized construction entrance (aggregate apron at the driveway access point to prevent mud from being tracked onto adjacent roads), sediment trap or basin at the low point of the site’s drainage area, and inlet protection on any existing storm drains near the site.

  Inspection: Most Maryland counties require the E&S controls to be inspected and approved by the county inspector before clearing begins. This inspection is typically 1–3 business days after controls are installed. Never begin clearing before the E&S inspection is complete.

  Step 4: Temporary Construction Access Road

  A temporary access road from the public street to the construction area is established using compacted aggregate (typically MDOT #57 stone, 6–8 inches compacted depth over geotextile fabric). The temporary road serves as the stabilized construction entrance required by the E&S plan, provides all-weather access for delivery trucks and equipment throughout the construction period, and prevents the topsoil from becoming a rutted mud field after the first rainfall.

  Cost: $1,500–$6,000 depending on distance and materials. Rural lots with long driveways may require $8,000–$15,000 in temporary access roads. This cost is partially recovered when the access road becomes the base course for the permanent driveway.

  Step 5: Tree and Vegetation Clearing Building Envelope Only

  Vegetation clearing is limited to the building envelope, the area within the approved building footprint, driveway, utility connections, and a minimum working buffer (typically 10–15 feet around the footprint on all sides). Trees and vegetation outside this area are preserved. In Maryland, two regulations further constrain clearing: the Forest Conservation Act (for lots over 40,000 sq ft with forest coverage) limits forest clearing to the minimum necessary; and the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area regulations prohibit clearing within the 100-foot vegetated buffer from tidal waters.

  Tree removal specificity: Maryland tree law requires that trees over a certain diameter on certain properties must be permitted for removal. Baltimore City’s tree removal permit requirement, Montgomery County’s tree ordinance, and Howard County’s forest conservation requirements all add a layer of compliance to clearing that must be coordinated before chainsaw crews arrive.

  Step 6: Stump Grinding and Root Removal

  After tree removal, all stumps within the building footprint are ground to 12–18 inches below finished grade level. Root systems within the building pad area are excavated and removed. Leaving stumps or large root systems under the building pad creates long-term settlement risk as the organic material decomposing roots leave voids in the soil that cause settling in the concrete slab or foundation footings above.

  This is one of the most commonly skipped site preparation steps on self-managed Maryland projects and one of the most consequential. A $2,000 stump grinding investment prevents a $15,000–$40,000 foundation settlement repair 5–10 years after the home is built.

  Step 7: Topsoil Stripping and Stockpiling

  The topsoil layer (typically 4–8 inches of organic-rich A horizon soil) within the building pad is stripped and stockpiled in a designated location on the lot, protected by a silt fence and covered with erosion control fabric. Topsoil is the most biologically active and nutrient-rich soil layer; it is used to restore the final grade and establish permanent vegetation (lawn, landscaping) after construction.

  Topsoil management serves two purposes: it removes the organic layer from below the building pad (organic soil is compressible and unsuitable as bearing material for foundations), and it saves the resource that would cost $800–$3,000 per truckload to import after construction if it were scraped and hauled away.

  Step 8: Construction Staging Area Establishment

  A designated construction staging area separate from the building footprint is established for material storage, contractor parking, dumpster placement, and portable toilet location. The staging area is surfaced with compacted aggregate to prevent mud and to keep materials clean and accessible. Proper staging area planning prevents the most common construction site management problem: materials stored on the building pad that must be moved before foundation work can begin.

  The staging area location is coordinated with the temporary access road and the permanent driveway location materials placed on the future driveway base course preserve sub-base compaction while making them accessible. A well-planned staging area reduces daily construction time by 30–45 minutes per crew by eliminating material search and repositioning time.

🔶 Need Site Preparation for Your Maryland Build-On-Your-Lot Project?

MDE-compliant E&S plans. Full Ground-Zero Sequence. MHIC licensed. All 7 counties.

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