Brush, stump and debris clearing
Lot Clearing and Site Prep in Los Gatos
Clearing brush, stumps, junk and old structures from Los Gatos lots, from flat town parcels to steep mountain land, so the next phase of building can start.
Lot Clearing on Los Gatos Hillside and Mountain Parcels
A lot of the land we clear around Los Gatos is steep, overgrown and hard to reach. Mountain parcels off Highway 17, Summit Road and Old Santa Cruz Highway often have years of brush, fallen trees, old fencing, abandoned cars or sheds and piles of debris. Before anyone can survey, drill a well or plan a house, the ground has to be cleared enough to see what is there.
Clearing in the hills is mostly about access and erosion. We use compact equipment that can work on slopes, and smaller trucks that can get up the driveway. We clear in stages and leave enough cover on steep ground that the winter rains do not wash soil down onto the road or into a creek.
Clearing After a Fire or Storm in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Fire-damaged structures need a different approach. Burned homes and outbuildings leave ash and debris that can contain asbestos, heavy metals and other hazardous material. Before general clearing, the site is assessed, hazardous material is handled under the county's rules, and the ash and remaining structure are removed in a way that keeps dust and runoff down. Insurance companies often want records of each step.
Winter storms can also bring down large trees, wash out driveways and damage outbuildings. We clear storm debris, cut and haul fallen trees that are blocking access, and stabilize the area. Removing a damaged protected tree in town usually still needs a permit, though emergency rules may apply when a tree is an immediate hazard.
Septic Systems, Wells and Utilities on Rural Lots
Many mountain lots near Los Gatos are not on sewer. They have septic tanks and leach fields, and often a private well. When a property is cleared for a rebuild, the old septic tank is pumped and then removed or abandoned under the county's environmental health rules. An old well that will not be reused has to be destroyed under a separate permit. We coordinate those steps with the right agencies.
Rural lots also have buried propane lines, water tanks, old electrical runs and sometimes buried trash. We look for these before digging and work carefully around anything active. PG&E service or a propane tank is disconnected by the provider before structures near them are removed.
Brush Clearing, Defensible Space and Tree Rules
Much of the Los Gatos hillside is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and state and local rules require defensible space around buildings. We clear dry brush, low limbs and dead material on lots being prepared for building, and leave the cleared area in a condition that is easier to maintain.
Clearing does not mean taking every tree. The town's tree protection ordinance, and similar rules in Saratoga and Monte Sereno, protect many trees by size and species. On unincorporated land, county rules apply. We work with your arborist's report and only remove trees that are permitted or exempt, leaving the rest fenced and undamaged.
Rough Grading and Site Prep in Los Gatos
After clearing, we rough grade the building area, remove stumps and roots where the house will go, and set up drainage so water does not pond or run toward neighbors. Larger grading can need a grading permit and an engineered plan, especially on slopes. We work from those plans when they exist.
Before leaving, we put in erosion control like straw wattles, silt fence or mulch, especially from fall through spring. On steep mountain lots this is more than a formality: one heavy storm on bare soil can undo a lot of work and send mud onto a neighbor's property.
What Our Lot Clearing Includes in Los Gatos
Brush, Debris and Old Structure Removal
We clear brush, junk piles, fencing, sheds and old structures, and sort metal, wood and green waste for recycling or proper disposal instead of mixing it all together.
Stump and Root Removal on Building Pads
Stumps and roots are pulled where the new house, driveway or utilities will go. Trees that stay are protected with fencing at the distance in the arborist's report.
Septic and Well Removal Coordination
We line up septic tank pumping and removal or abandonment, and well destruction when needed, with the agencies that permit them on mountain parcels.
Rough Grading and Erosion Control
The building area is rough graded for drainage and left with erosion control in place, so the site holds up through winter until construction begins.
Lot Clearing: Job Site Photos
Lot Clearing and Site Prep Across Los Gatos
Demolition FAQs
Lot Clearing Questions in Los Gatos
What drives lot clearing cost in Los Gatos?
Lot size and slope, how dense the brush and debris are, the number and size of trees and stumps, structures to remove, access for trucks, and whether there is septic, a well or fire debris to deal with.
Do I need a permit to clear my lot?
Brush clearing usually does not, but removing protected trees, grading and demolishing structures do. Mountain parcels outside town limits go through Santa Clara County. We check what applies to your parcel.
Can you clear a lot after a fire?
Yes. Fire debris is handled differently from normal clearing because of ash and hazardous materials. We work through the required assessment and removal steps and keep records for insurance.
What happens to the old septic tank?
It is pumped, then removed or abandoned in place under county environmental health rules, depending on the plan for the new house. We coordinate with the septic contractor and the county.
Demolition quote
Price a Lot Clearing Job in Los Gatos
Note the parcel's location, rough acreage and slope, and what is on it now. We respond within a day.
- Permits
- Demolition
- Haul-off