Building Pads and Site Prep in Pend Oreille County

A building pad is a level, compacted place for a house, shop or barn. In Pend Oreille County the main things to settle are who sets and checks the grade, what happens to extra soil, whether a soils or engineering report is needed, and whether a county permit applies.

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What a building pad involves

A building pad is the prepared ground a structure sits on. Site prep is the work that gets a lot ready for it: removing what is in the way, leveling, and compacting so the ground can carry the building. On a rural lot, that often follows land clearing and comes before foundations and utility trenches.

The ground on a lot is rarely level. Making a pad means cutting soil from the high side, placing it on the low side, or hauling soil in or out. That is why the question of what happens to extra soil comes up on nearly every pad job, along with who decides the finished grade and who checks it.

When people need a pad or site prep

A house, shop, barn or garage is planned on a lot that is sloped or uneven.
A cleared lot is ready for the next step before a foundation goes in.
A building location has been chosen and the ground needs to be level and firm.
An existing pad has settled or does not drain.
A lot is being prepared for a manufactured home or other structure.
Soil needs to be moved on or off the lot before building.

What the work usually looks like

Mark the footprint. The building location and size are marked so the pad can be sized with room to work around it.
Clear the area. Brush, trees and stumps inside the footprint are removed.
Strip and cut. Surface material is removed and soil is cut from the high side as needed.
Fill and compact. Soil or rock is placed in layers and compacted so the pad is firm.
Check the grade. The finished surface is checked against the planned grade.
Plan the water. The pad is shaped so water drains away from the building.

How to prepare

Before pad work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Choose the building location and size, and mark the corners.
Settle who sets the grade and who checks it when the work is done.
Decide what happens to extra soil: stay on the lot, be spread, or be hauled away.
Ask whether a soils or engineering report is needed for the building.
Ask Pend Oreille County whether a permit applies to the project.
Find out who will call 811 and get the ticket number.
Get the price and scope in writing.

What affects the cost

Excavation is commonly priced by the hour for operator and machine, or as a set price for a defined scope. For a pad, the total depends on how much ground has to move and what is done with it.

Size of the pad. A larger footprint takes more machine time.
How much soil moves. A steeper or more uneven lot means more cutting and filling.
Hauling. Soil hauled on or off the lot adds cost.
Fill material. Rock or soil brought in for the pad adds material cost.
Compaction and testing. Some projects need compaction checked or a report, which adds a step.
Clearing first. Brush, trees and stumps inside the footprint add work.
Travel and winter. Distance to the lot and winter roads can affect a job.

Local rules and sources

Permits. Whether you need a county permit depends on the project. For land in Pend Oreille County outside city limits, Pend Oreille County's Community Development Department handles building permitting. Inside a city such as Newport, ask the city.

Utility locates. In Washington, notice must go to the one-number locator service (dial 811) at least two full business days, and no more than ten full business days, before digging starts (RCW 19.122.030). Whoever is digging is responsible for making sure the notice is made, even if someone else makes the call for them.

Registration. Washington contractors are checked on the state Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page.

Winter. Frozen ground can slow digging in winter, so settle how winter work is handled.

Reasons to trust this page

Most rules on this page name their public source, such as a Washington statute or a county office.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

What is a building pad?

A building pad is a level, compacted place prepared for a house, shop or barn. Making one usually means clearing the area, cutting soil from the high side, filling and compacting the low side, and shaping the surface so water drains away from the building. The finished grade should be set and checked by someone you have named in writing.

What happens to the extra soil from a pad?

Extra soil can stay on the lot, be spread, or be hauled away, and each choice changes the cost. Settle the plan before work starts and get it in the written scope. Hauling adds machine time and distance, so a price that leaves it out is not comparable to one that includes it.

Do I need a soils or engineering report for a pad?

It depends on the building and the lot. Settle the question before the pad is built, because changing the ground afterward is costly. Ask Pend Oreille County's Community Development Department what applies to your project, and ask the company pricing the work whether a report is part of its scope.

Does a building pad need a county permit?

Whether you need a county permit depends on the project. Pend Oreille County's Community Development Department handles building permitting outside city limits, so contact it before work starts. Inside a city such as Newport, ask the city. Also settle who will handle any permit the work requires.

How is pad work priced?

Excavation is commonly priced by the hour for operator and machine, or as a set price for a defined scope. For a pad, the amount of soil moved, hauling and any fill material change the total. Get the scope and price in writing, with what is included, so prices can be compared fairly.

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