Clearing and Grading Scope of Work Template
Download a clearing and grading scope of work template to define clearing, excavation, fill, hauling, compaction, erosion control, responsibilities, exclusions, and closeout requirements.
Define Clearing, Earthwork, and Grading Responsibilities Before Mobilization
A clearing and grading scope of work gives contractors, subcontractors, owners, and project teams a clear description of the site preparation, clearing, grubbing, topsoil handling, excavation, fill placement, hauling, compaction, grading, erosion control, testing, restoration, and closeout work included in a project. It establishes who is responsible for each activity before equipment mobilizes and earthwork begins.
This Clearing and Grading Scope of Work Template is designed for grading contractors, excavation subcontractors, earthwork contractors, land-clearing companies, site-development contractors, demolition contractors, utility contractors, general contractors, estimators, project managers, superintendents, and construction business owners.
What Is a Clearing and Grading Scope of Work?
A clearing and grading scope of work is a detailed description of the labor, equipment, materials, trucking, coordination, temporary controls, testing, and deliverables required to prepare a site for construction. It defines the contractor’s limits of work and identifies the drawings, specifications, surveys, geotechnical information, environmental requirements, addenda, approved submittals, assumptions, exclusions, and acceptance criteria that apply.
A complete scope may address mobilization, survey control, clearing, grubbing, tree and stump removal, demolition, topsoil stripping, mass excavation, structural fill, import, export, unsuitable-soil removal, rock excavation, moisture conditioning, compaction, rough grading, fine grading, erosion control, dust control, dewatering, testing, cleanup, restoration, punch-list work, and final acceptance.
When to Use This Template
- Preparing a clearing, grading, excavation, or earthwork subcontract
- Defining limits for land clearing and grubbing
- Assigning topsoil stripping, stockpiling, and respreading responsibilities
- Clarifying excavation, fill, import, export, and disposal requirements
- Defining unsuitable-soil, rock, groundwater, and dewatering procedures
- Assigning compaction, testing, proof-roll, and survey responsibilities
- Documenting erosion control, dust control, and stabilization requirements
- Separating base work from allowances, alternates, and unit prices
- Defining restoration, cleanup, punch-list, and closeout requirements
- Preparing revisions or change orders for added earthwork
Who Should Use This Template?
This template is suitable for clearing contractors, grading contractors, excavation subcontractors, earthwork companies, site-development contractors, demolition contractors, civil subcontractors, utility contractors, general contractors, estimators, project managers, superintendents, owners, civil engineers, geotechnical engineers, surveyors, and environmental consultants.
It can be adapted for residential subdivisions, commercial sites, multifamily projects, industrial facilities, municipal work, roadway improvements, utility corridors, schools, healthcare projects, warehouses, renewable-energy sites, and public infrastructure.
What a Clearing and Grading Scope of Work Should Include
| Scope Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Project and Work Limits | Identifies the project, work areas, phases, limits of disturbance, access routes, haul routes, stockpile areas, and physical boundaries. |
| Governing Documents | Lists civil drawings, grading plans, demolition plans, erosion-control plans, specifications, surveys, geotechnical reports, addenda, RFIs, and permits. |
| Survey and Layout | Defines benchmarks, control points, staking, cut-and-fill limits, grade checks, GPS models, as-built verification, and responsibility for survey accuracy. |
| Existing Conditions | Documents vegetation, trees, structures, pavement, utilities, slopes, drainage, groundwater, unsuitable soils, contamination concerns, and adjacent improvements. |
| Clearing and Grubbing | Defines clearing areas, tree and stump removal, brush, roots, debris, chipping, salvage, burning restrictions, haul-off, and disposal. |
| Demolition and Removals | Addresses existing pavement, concrete, foundations, fences, utilities, structures, and other items to remove, salvage, recycle, or dispose of. |
| Topsoil and Earthwork | Defines stripping, stockpiling, cut, fill, import, export, structural fill, common fill, topsoil respread, shrink, swell, and material suitability. |
| Unsuitable Soil and Rock | Establishes procedures for undercut, replacement material, groundwater, rock excavation, ripping, hammering, blasting support, measurement, and authorization. |
| Placement and Compaction | Defines lift thickness, moisture conditioning, compaction standards, proof rolling, density testing, rework, stabilization, and acceptance. |
| Rough and Fine Grading | Addresses building pads, pavement subgrade, sidewalks, slopes, berms, swales, ditches, basins, landscape areas, and final trimming. |
| Equipment, Hauling, and Logistics | Clarifies equipment spreads, operators, fuel, trucking, haul routes, payloads, borrow sources, disposal facilities, traffic control, staging, and maintenance. |
| Erosion and Environmental Controls | Defines stabilized entrances, silt fence, inlet protection, sediment controls, dust control, track-out cleanup, dewatering, stabilization, maintenance, and inspection support. |
| Testing, Inspections, and Acceptance | Assigns responsibility for density tests, proof rolls, soil testing, geotechnical observations, grade verification, failed-test correction, and final acceptance. |
| Restoration and Closeout | Defines cleanup, topsoil respread, final stabilization, removal of temporary controls, punch-list work, as-builts, tickets, test reports, and closeout documents. |
| Exclusions and Work by Others | Clarifies surveying, utility relocation, hazardous materials, blasting, dewatering, export, import, testing, traffic control, paving, landscaping, and other excluded work. |
How to Use the Template
- Enter the project, contractor, customer, contract information, work areas, phases, and governing documents.
- Define the limits of disturbance, haul routes, stockpile areas, access points, staging areas, and protected improvements.
- Assign responsibility for benchmarks, survey control, staking, GPS models, grade checks, and as-built verification.
- Describe clearing, grubbing, tree removal, stump removal, demolition, salvage, recycling, haul-off, and disposal.
- Define topsoil stripping, stockpiling, excavation, fill placement, import, export, and material-classification requirements.
- Document shrink, swell, moisture, compaction, lift-thickness, proof-roll, and testing requirements.
- Establish procedures for unsuitable soil, rock, groundwater, contaminated material, and changed conditions.
- Assign equipment, trucking, fuel, haul-route, borrow-source, disposal-site, traffic-control, and maintenance responsibilities.
- Define erosion control, dewatering, dust control, stabilization, cleanup, restoration, punch-list, and closeout requirements.
- Separate included work, allowances, alternates, unit prices, exclusions, and work by others before approval.
A grading subcontractor is awarded a 28-acre distribution-center package. The scope includes clearing and grubbing, topsoil stripping, mass excavation, structural fill, building-pad grading, pavement subgrade, imported aggregate, unsuitable-soil export, moisture conditioning, compaction, temporary sediment controls, dust control, proof-roll support, final trimming, and cleanup. Survey control is provided by the general contractor, while GPS modeling, production staking, haul-route maintenance, and density-test coordination are assigned to the grading subcontractor. Rock excavation and contaminated soil are excluded unless authorized through a written change order.
Best Practices for Clearing and Grading Scopes of Work
- Organize the scope by work area, phase, material type, and cost code.
- Reference the latest civil plans, survey, specifications, geotechnical report, and erosion-control plans.
- Keep bank, loose, and compacted quantities clearly distinguished.
- Define shrink, swell, compaction, and moisture assumptions.
- Identify who approves material suitability and changed conditions.
- Define borrow sources, disposal facilities, haul routes, payload limits, and ticket requirements.
- Assign responsibility for survey control, GPS models, grade checks, and as-built verification.
- Clarify unsuitable soil, rock, groundwater, dewatering, and stabilization procedures.
- Define testing, failed-test correction, proof-roll, punch-list, and closeout requirements.
- Preserve revisions and written approvals when the scope changes.
Common Clearing and Grading Scope of Work Mistakes
- Using broad language such as “complete site grading” without work-area details
- Failing to identify current plans, survey information, geotechnical reports, and permits
- Leaving survey control, staking, and grade-check responsibilities unclear
- Mixing bank, loose, and compacted earthwork quantities
- Omitting shrink, swell, moisture, compaction, or material-suitability requirements
- Failing to define unsuitable-soil, rock, groundwater, or contaminated-material procedures
- Leaving borrow, disposal, haul-route, and trucking responsibilities undefined
- Omitting erosion-control maintenance, track-out cleanup, or temporary stabilization
- Failing to define testing, correction, punch-list, and closeout responsibilities
- Changing the scope without a documented revision or change order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of a clearing and grading scope of work?
It defines the contractor’s work limits, earthwork activities, equipment, trucking, material responsibilities, testing, environmental controls, exclusions, and closeout requirements before fieldwork begins.
Should clearing and grading be separated into individual activities?
Yes. Separate clearing, grubbing, demolition, topsoil, excavation, fill, import, export, compaction, rough grading, fine grading, erosion control, and restoration so responsibilities and changes are easier to track.
How should earthwork quantities be described?
State the quantity basis, such as bank cubic yards, loose cubic yards, compacted cubic yards, tons, loads, acres, or square feet, and identify the measurement method.
How should unsuitable soil be addressed?
Define who identifies unsuitable material, who authorizes removal, how quantities are measured, where material is disposed of, what replacement material is used, and how additional cost and time are handled.
How should rock excavation be handled?
Define the criteria for rock, approved excavation methods, measurement procedures, production limitations, vibration or permit requirements, disposal, replacement material, and applicable unit prices.
Who is responsible for compaction testing?
The scope should identify who schedules, performs, pays for, and distributes test results, along with responsibility for failed tests, rework, retesting, and delayed access.
What hauling responsibilities should be defined?
Define haul routes, truck types, payload limits, staging, traffic control, tickets, scale requirements, disposal facilities, borrow sources, road cleaning, and responsibility for route damage.
When should the clearing and grading scope be revised?
Revise it when earthwork quantities, material classifications, site conditions, haul routes, disposal locations, elevations, grading limits, environmental controls, schedule, or trade responsibilities change.
Create a Clear Earthwork Execution and Contract Record
A structured clearing and grading scope of work helps contractors define work limits, material movement, equipment responsibilities, testing, environmental controls, restoration, and closeout before field production begins.
SimplySub can help clearing and grading subcontractors organize jobs, estimates, documents, schedules, change orders, purchase orders, daily logs, time records, equipment, invoices, and job-cost information within one workflow.