House Pad Grading and Building Pads in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Who This Service Is For

Building pad grading services in Broward County are essential for general contractors, custom home builders, developers, commercial property owners, and anyone preparing a site for new construction throughout Broward County, including Weston, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, and other growing communities.

Whether you're building a single-family home in Fort Lauderdale, a commercial building in Weston, or a multi-unit development in Plantation, proper building pad grading ensures your foundation will be stable, code-compliant, and properly drained. We coordinate licensed contractors with the right equipment and expertise for your specific Broward County project requirements, including Base Flood Elevation (BFE) compliance and 100-year, 3-day storm event protection for properties in flood zones.

Broward County Building Pad Considerations

Building pad grading in Broward County requires specialized knowledge of local conditions and regulatory requirements:

• Base Flood Elevation (BFE) and Storm Event Protection: Properties in flood zones (AE, VE, or X) must have building pads graded to specific elevations above Base Flood Elevation (BFE) as required by FEMA and Broward County building codes. First floor elevations of all structures must be protected from a 100-year, 3-day storm event. Many Broward County properties are in flood zones, particularly in coastal areas like Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Pompano Beach. Updated flood maps effective July 31, 2024, established new elevation requirements that must be used for all new construction.
• High Water Table: Broward County's high water table, which can be within 2-3 feet of the surface in many areas, affects grading depth and compaction. Proper dewatering may be required, and building pads may need to be elevated above the water table for foundation stability. SFWMD Environmental Resource Permits are required for dewatering activities affecting state waters. This is especially important in areas like Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and coastal neighborhoods.
• Coastal Soil Conditions: Coastal areas in Broward County including Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach have unique soil characteristics including limestone bedrock, sandy soils, and organic materials. Building pad grading must account for these conditions and may require specialized compaction techniques.
• Development & Environmental Review (DER): Building pad grading typically requires Development & Environmental Review through ePermits OneStop for applicable building permits. All DER submittals are only accepted electronically. Broward County's Planning and Development Management Division ensures that proposed developments comply with the Broward County Land Development Code and Natural Resource Protection Code.
• Development Permits: Projects involving development work as described in Florida Statute 380.04 require a development permit prior to the issuance of a building permit. This is a critical prerequisite for building pad grading projects in Broward County.
• Natural Resource Protection Code: Broward County's Natural Resource Protection Code (Chapter 27) regulates environmental activities and enforces requirements for development in environmentally sensitive areas, including flood zones and stormwater management systems. Building pad grading must comply with these requirements.
• SFWMD Environmental Resource Permits: Building pad grading affecting state waters and wetlands requires SFWMD Environmental Resource Permits. As of June 28, 2024, new water quality performance standards were implemented. We coordinate permit applications and ensure compliance throughout operations.
• Stormwater Management: Building pad grading must incorporate proper drainage and stormwater management to meet SFWMD Environmental Resource Permit requirements and Broward County Natural Resource Protection Code standards. Pads must be graded to direct water away from structures, essential given Broward County's flat topography and heavy rainfall.
• Engineering Specifications: Building pads must be graded to exact elevations and slopes specified in engineering drawings, typically within 0.1 feet of specified grades. A site plan and grading plan, prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer, must be submitted with the building permit application showing proposed pad elevation relative to BFE and 100-year, 3-day storm event protection.
• Climate Resilience: Broward County's Land Use Plan incorporates long-term resilience planning, including requirements that all land use and planning decisions within Priority Planning Areas consider and effectively address future climate predictions for a 50-year planning horizon, accounting for approximately 2 feet of sea level rise. Building pad grading should consider these long-term resilience requirements.
• Permit Validity: Broward County permits are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. If work doesn't begin within this period, the permit will expire, though extensions can be requested by contacting the Broward County permit department.

The Building Pad Grading Process in Broward County

Our coordinated approach ensures your building pad meets all specifications and regulatory requirements in Broward County:

1. Project Review: We review your engineering drawings, survey data, and site plans to understand grading requirements, identify challenges, and determine the scope of work needed, including Base Flood Elevation (BFE) analysis and 100-year, 3-day storm event protection for properties in flood zones.
2. Development Permit Coordination: We help identify required development permits as described in Florida Statute 380.04, which must be obtained prior to the issuance of building permits for building pad grading projects in Broward County.
3. Broward County DER Coordination: We help identify required Development & Environmental Review (DER) through ePermits OneStop and coordinate with Broward County Planning and Development Management Division to ensure proposed building pad grading projects comply with the Broward County Land Development Code and Natural Resource Protection Code. All DER submittals are only accepted electronically.
4. Broward County Permit Coordination: We help identify required grading permits including Uniform Building Permit Applications (updated November 14, 2025), DER through ePermits OneStop, SFWMD Environmental Resource Permits for activities affecting state waters and wetlands, Natural Resource Protection Code compliance, and coordinate with regulatory agencies. We coordinate with Broward County Building Code Division, SFWMD, and other regulatory agencies as needed.
5. Contractor Selection: We match your project with licensed contractors who have the right equipment (graders, compactors, laser-guided systems) and experience for precise building pad grading in Broward County, including expertise with high water table conditions, flood zone requirements, and climate resilience considerations.
6. Rough Grading: Contractors perform initial earthmoving to achieve approximate elevations. This may involve cut and fill operations to balance site grades and bring the pad area to approximate final elevations, accounting for Broward County's high water table and coastal soil conditions.
7. Fine Grading: Precise grading work using laser-guided equipment to achieve exact elevations and slopes specified in engineering drawings, typically within 0.1 feet of specified grades. Fine grading ensures Base Flood Elevation (BFE) compliance and 100-year, 3-day storm event protection for properties in flood zones.
8. Compaction: Proper soil compaction using rollers and compactors to achieve required density for foundation support. Compaction testing ensures soils meet Broward County building code requirements, accounting for unique soil characteristics including limestone bedrock and sandy soils.
9. Final Inspection: We coordinate final grading inspections with Broward County Building Code Division or municipal building departments and engineers to ensure the building pad meets all specifications, Base Flood Elevation (BFE) requirements, 100-year, 3-day storm event protection, and is ready for foundation construction.

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