Lake Mary · Seminole County
Grading & Build-Ready Pads
in Lake Mary, FL
Most pads we cut in Lake Mary sit behind an existing house: an addition, a garage, a cabana, a slab for a shop. The lots in Heathrow, Timacuan and Greenwood Lakes are finished and landscaped, so the work has to be careful. We grade to your survey stakes, compact the fill, and leave a pad your builder can start on without rework.
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Grading & Build-Ready Pads done right
A properly graded pad sets up every trade that follows. We grade to your survey stakes, compact the fill, and leave a surface your builder, concrete crew, or installer can work from the same day. We've prepped pads for new homes, additions, outbuildings, and commercial slabs across Central Florida. Call us at 407-443-2863 for a free estimate.
How it works
Getting grading & build-ready pads done in Lake Mary
Check the exemption
We confirm with the Lake Mary Building Division whether your pad falls under an existing permit or needs the $35 written exemption request approved first, and we file whichever one applies.
Set grade to the stakes
We cut and fill to your surveyor's stakes, pitch the pad so water runs away from the existing house, and keep the finished yard around the work area intact.
Compact in thin lifts
Fill goes in thin lifts and each one is compacted before the next, so the slab your concrete crew pours on top does not settle or crack in a year or two.
The Mintel Difference
Owner-operated.
Every job.
No renting equipment after the handshake. No cheap subcontracted labor. We own and run our own fleet of machines, so the people who quote your job are the people on the controls.
Owned
Grading & Build-Ready Pads · Lake Mary
Permit exempt does not mean skip the city
Florida HB 803 made some home projects permit exempt on July 1, 2026. Lake Mary still wants a written exemption request approved by the Building Official before any work starts, and that request costs $35. So even when the grading for your project may fall under the new law, we do not assume. We check with the City of Lake Mary Building Division at 911 Wallace Court, and if the exemption applies, we get the request in front of the Building Official before our machines arrive. If the pad is part of a permitted addition or new home, it rides along with that permit instead. Either way, your builder does not get a stop order on day one because the dirt work started early. One short conversation with the city is cheap protection on a job like this.
Building a pad inside a finished neighborhood
Lake Mary's housing is newer than much of Seminole County, with a median year built of 1997 according to the Census. That means sod, irrigation, pavers and mature landscaping usually surround the spot where your pad goes. We map sprinkler lines, call Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before we dig, and keep our track machines on one set path wherever the yard allows.
Trees matter too. Lake Mary's arbor permit covers any living tree more than 15 feet from the house; it costs $30 and runs 60 days. If a tree stands in or near the pad footprint, we measure where it sits at the walkthrough so any permit it needs is in hand before grading day. A permit that runs 60 days also means timing matters, so we line it up with the start date your builder gives us instead of pulling it months early.
Local rules · Seminole County
What to know before you build or tear down in Lake Mary
Tree rules
Who issues the permit
Where the debris goes
Rules and fees checked against official sources in October 2026. Cities change them, so we confirm with City of Lake Mary Building Division before every job.
What Clients Say
Trusted Across Central Florida
5.0on Google, 8 reviews
“We hired Mintel Land Management to demo a house and the job was completed on time and everything was done correctly, inspectors were glad to have a good contractor on the job.”
“I have used this company over a dozen times with the removal of trees and stumps in my yard. The owner has become more of a friend then just a demolition company.”
“Reliable and dependable. Straightforward pricing does great work. Will definitely use again.”
“We contacted Kyle in hopes that he would be able to remove a very large pine stump from our back yard and grade the area after removal. He was above and beyond helpful and even cleared the vacant property lines on both sides of our property! He was very professional and respectful of our property, he was on time and his prices were very reasonable for the work performed. We will definitely be using his services in the future for our driveway widening project and any other future projects. 6 stars, I highly recommend using Mintel Land Management.”
“Excellent experience from start to finish. Fast, professional, and easy to work with. Would definitely recommend and use again.”
“Kyle came and pulled a few fallen trees out at my property and graded out another part. He came when he said he was going to as well.”
Lake Mary FAQ
Common questions
- Do I need a permit just to grade a pad in Lake Mary now?
- It depends on the project. Florida HB 803 made some home projects permit exempt on July 1, 2026, but Lake Mary still requires a written exemption request, $35, approved by the Building Official before work starts. If the pad is for a permitted addition or new home, it falls under that permit. We sort out which path applies before we start.
- Can you build a pad for an addition without tearing up my whole yard?
- Yes, that is most of what we do in Lake Mary. We plan one access path, protect the sod and irrigation along it, and size the machines to the space. We mark sprinkler heads and lines at the walkthrough, and anything we have to cross gets planned around before the first scoop of dirt moves.
- There is a tree where the addition goes. What happens to it?
- Lake Mary requires a $30 arbor permit to remove a living tree that stands more than 15 feet from the house, and the permit is good for 60 days. We measure where your tree sits at the site visit and, if the permit applies, get it approved before grading day so the schedule does not slip.
- What does grading & build-ready pads cost in Lake Mary?
- We grade to your survey stakes, compact the fill, and leave a pad your builder or concrete crew can work from the same day. Proper drainage is built in, not an afterthought. Every property is different, so the only honest number is one we give you after walking the site. Call 407-443-2863 for a free, no-obligation estimate in Lake Mary.
Free Estimate · Mon–Sat 7a–8p
Get a free grading & build-ready pads bid in Lake Mary
Tell us about the job and we’ll come walk the property. Written number, no obligation, usually same-day or next-day reply.
- Owner-operated — we run our own machines
- We own our fleet, so no rental delays
- Owner-operated, $4M insured, every piece hauled off
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Free Estimate · Mon–Sat 7a–8p
Ready to Clear the Lot?
Tell us about the job and we’ll come walk the property. Written number, no obligation, usually same-day reply.