Ground and access
Should I clear an overgrown lot before the first assessment?
Do not remove trees or disturb unfamiliar ground just to improve visibility for an enquiry. Explain what can be seen from safe access and which parts of the property are obscured. The assessment can establish what further information is needed.
TrueNorth Demolition · Reviewed 8 October 2026
Separate the decisions
Vegetation, protected features and buried material should not be treated as one indiscriminate clearing task. Richmond Hill’s permit and site requirements may affect what can be altered. A future building footprint is useful context, but it is not permission to clear every area around it.
What to explain next
Provide existing survey or design information if available and identify the intended access point. Ask what can be assessed without clearance and which permissions or specialist reviews must come first. Keep any missing boundary information explicit rather than marking a guessed property line.
An example, not a completed job
Put the uncertainty into words
“The rear lot is overgrown and we cannot see all of the old pad. We have a survey but no clearing approvals, and want an initial assessment of the proposed work.”
- Which areas can be observed safely?
- Are boundaries and protected features documented?
- What is the actual proposed use of the lot?
Choose your next step
Use the short enquiry, or organise what you know in the optional three-step planner. You can leave uncertain details for assessment. The form does not accept attachments.