TreeTec handles land and lot clearing for Edina's active tear-down rebuild market. From Country Club to Indian Hills, our ISA Certified Arborist navigates the city's tree preservation ordinance to clear your site efficiently while protecting trees that must be retained.
Edina is one of the most active tear-down rebuild markets in the Twin Cities metro. Homes built in the 1950s and 60s are being replaced with new construction at a steady pace, and nearly every one of those projects starts with clearing the lot. The challenge in Edina is that these are established neighborhoods with mature tree canopies — large elms, oaks, maples, and ash — and the city's tree preservation ordinance has real teeth.
TreeTec provides land and lot clearing throughout Edina, from the Country Club neighborhood and Morningside to Indian Hills, Parkwood Knolls, and the areas along Minnehaha Creek. Our ISA Certified Arborist handles the tree assessment and works with you and your builder to develop a clearing plan that keeps the city happy and gets you a buildable site.
The vast majority of clearing work in Edina is tied to residential redevelopment:
Edina lots are typically compact and surrounded by neighboring homes, fences, and mature trees that need to stay. We work with chainsaws for precise felling, compact skid steers that can operate in tight spaces, and grapple loaders for efficient material handling and cleanup.
Street access in Edina neighborhoods can be tight, especially with construction traffic already on site. We coordinate parking, staging, and material loading to minimize disruption to neighbors and keep the project moving. All wood and brush are removed the same day when possible.
Stump grinding is included in most clearing projects. We grind below grade so the site is ready for grading and foundation work without delays.
For more on our clearing process, visit our land and lot clearing service page.
Edina's heritage tree preservation ordinance protects significant trees and requires a permit for removal. The city calculates replacement obligations based on the size and number of trees removed — and those replacement costs can be substantial. Strategically retaining trees where possible saves money and satisfies the ordinance.
Our arborist inventories every tree on the lot, identifies which are protected under the ordinance, and recommends which ones are worth keeping from both a regulatory and structural standpoint. Some trees look healthy from the street but have decay, root damage, or species issues (like ash vulnerable to emerald ash borer) that make removal the better choice. Others are high-value oaks or elms that anchor the lot and should be preserved with proper tree protection during construction.
Need individual trees taken down? See our tree removal in Edina, MN page. For our full range of tree care services, visit our Edina tree service page.
Edina requires a tree removal permit for heritage trees, which includes most trees over a certain caliper. You'll need a tree survey showing what's on the lot and a plan for replacement. Replacement can be done with new plantings or payment into the city's tree fund. Our arborist prepares the survey and helps structure the removal plan to minimize replacement costs.
Most Edina lots are close to neighbors. We use directional felling, rigging, and controlled removal techniques to keep trees falling exactly where we want them. Equipment is sized for the space, and we protect adjacent driveways, fences, and landscaping with mats and barriers as needed.
Yes. We coordinate with builders and general contractors regularly in Edina. We can clear the lot before demolition, after demolition, or in phases as needed. Just get us in early enough to handle the tree permit process, which can take a few weeks.
Properties along Minnehaha Creek fall under the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District's rules, which include buffer requirements. We know these setbacks and work within them. Our arborist can identify the buffer boundaries and plan the clearing accordingly.
Planning a tear-down rebuild or redevelopment project in Edina? Call (612) 472-8733 or request a free estimate. We'll assess the lot, review Edina's tree requirements with you, and provide a clear price for the work.
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