Site clearing · Martin County
Site clearing in Martin County
In unincorporated Martin County, clearing waits for the building permit. The county's land-clearing rules put the permit first, and the plan has to show which native trees stay.
On an established single-family lot, the county says permission is not typically required to remove trees unless they sit in preservation areas, and homeowners associations may add rules. On a rebuild, the land-clearing plan must show native trees kept and protected with orange mesh barricades, and prohibited trees must come out before the certificate of occupancy.
The Village of Indiantown sets its own terms. Barricades, inspections and approval come before tree removal there, though a single-family or duplex lot needs no permit unless the tree is a protected species. Mangrove trimming anywhere in the county is FDEP's business.
Outside the Urban Service Districts, minimum lots run 20 acres for Agricultural land and 5 acres for Agricultural Ranchette, and regional sewer is barred. Clearing there covers more ground and has to work around the septic site.
Land-clearing debris is not curbside material in Martin County; disposal falls to the contractor or the owner, so we price the haul with the clearing. Send the survey and the site plan, and we will walk the lot.
Work order
- Review the survey, the approved land-clearing plan and any HOA rules.
- Confirm the building permit has been issued.
- Set orange mesh barricades around the native trees the plan keeps.
- File the Sunshine 811 notice.
- Clear, grub and remove prohibited species, with tree work by a licensed tree service.
- Haul the land-clearing debris and rough-grade the pad.
Where jobs slip
Common problems, and how each is controlled
A barricade knocked flat
Orange mesh moves when machines turn tight. We set barricades from the approved plan, check them daily, and keep equipment out of the protected zone.
Clearing ahead of the permit
Starting early puts the whole build at risk. We do not mobilize clearing until the building permit is in hand.
A preservation area on the plat
A preserve boundary changes what may come out. We read the plat and the plan for preserve lines before marking anything.
Work others are licensed for
Tree removal that needs a permit is done by a licensed tree service under that permit, and mangrove work goes through FDEP. Wetland, preserve and environmental determinations come from the county and state agencies. We clear to the approved plan and will not remove anything the plan keeps.
Questions
About site clearing
Do I need permission to remove trees on my lot?
On an established single-family lot, Martin County says permission is not typically required unless the trees are in preservation areas, and an HOA may add rules. On a new build, the land-clearing plan governs. Municipalities such as Sewall's Point and Indiantown set their own tree rules.
Can you clear the lot before my building permit?
Not in unincorporated Martin County. The county's rules say clearing may not begin before the building permit is issued, so we schedule the clearing after it.
What drives the cost of a demolition?
Six things move the number most: the building's size and construction, what the asbestos survey finds, the utility and septic work to coordinate, site access, debris weight, and what the permit office requires. We do not publish prices, because a guess is worse than none. Send the property survey and photos, and we return a written number after we walk the site.
Is there a job size you will not take?
No. Every kind of demolition gets a price from us, whether it is a single shed or to a multi-story building. On larger and coastal sites we self-perform dewatering, Support of Excavation and deep foundations, including in tidal ground, so the work below grade stays in our sequence instead of passing to another firm.
Is Romco licensed for this work?
Romco Builders is a licensed Florida general contractor. That matters in Stuart, which since July 1, 2025 no longer accepts county Certificates of Competency and requires state registration or certification. Asbestos surveys, abatement, electrical, plumbing and tree work are licensed separately, and we coordinate the firms that hold those licenses.
The sequence
Six stages, start to closed permit
Describe the job
Phone or use the form. Tell us the address, what comes down and what stays. Photos or a survey help.
Site visit
We look at the structure, the live services, access for trucks, trees, the seawall or water's edge, and any association rules.
Written scope with a price
Removal, protection, hauling and anything that hangs on the asbestos survey appear as separate lines.
Notices, releases, permit
The licensed survey and FDEP notice where required, the utility releases, then the application to the correct office.
Demolition and hauling
Work follows the agreed order, and debris goes to the county transfer facility in Palm City or another licensed site.
Inspection and close
The final inspection passes and the permit closes, leaving a level lot or the shell you specified.
Site clearing anywhere in Martin, including Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, Hutchinson Island, Jupiter Island, Sewall's Point, Indiantown, Ocean Breeze, and every other Martin city.
Other types
More demolition on quote
- Interior demolitionStrip-outs to the studs or the slab, with the survey and the floor plans settled first.Interior demolition in Martin →
- Selective demolitionOne part of a building comes off; the rest stays standing and in use.Selective demolition in Martin →
- Commercial demolitionPlazas, offices, restaurants and warehouses, sequenced around utilities and the next use.Commercial demolition in Martin →
- House demolitionTeardowns planned around what the lot may hold next and the steps the checklist skips.House demolition in Martin →
- Structural demolitionMulti-story and coastal buildings down to the foundation, with deep work self-performed.Structural demolition in Martin →
- Concrete removalSlabs, drives, patios and footings broken out, hauled and graded.Concrete removal in Martin →
- Pool removalPartial fill-in or full shell removal, with the access route and the permit settled first.Pool removal in Martin →
- Mobile home demolitionMobile and manufactured homes taken down, with the hookups and the pad dealt with.Mobile home demolition in Martin →
- Storm damage demolitionStorm-damaged buildings made safe and taken down under the county's recovery rules.Storm damage demolition in Martin →
- Asbestos coordinationThe licensed survey, the FDEP notice and the abatement firm, coordinated around the work.Asbestos coordination in Martin →
- Accessory structure demolitionSheds, detached garages, guest cottages and outbuildings, permitted and hauled.Accessory structure demolition in Martin →
- Something else?Demolition of every type is quoted, large or small. If yours is not shown, phone and describe it.Call (772) 310-3298 →
Every type and size, across Martin County
Send the address and the scope. We will quote it.
Romco Builders is a licensed Florida general contractor, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale. One wall or an entire building, every quote comes back as a written scope with a number attached.