RSB Empire → Bell Land Services → Driveway Installation

Driveway
& Pad Site Prep
Palm Beach County

Before a driveway, parking pad or equipment access path gets its finish surface, the ground underneath has to be graded, compacted and sloped to drain correctly. Bobcat T740 with a 60" grapple, $385/day with an operator. (561) 779-3213.

Book a Free Lot Walk — (561) 779-3213 Price Your Lot in 3 Taps →
$385
Per Day
Operator Included
T740
Bobcat
Track Loader
60"
Grapple
Bucket
NOW
Available
to Book
What Driveway & Pad Site Prep Covers

A driveway or access pad is only as good as the ground it sits on. Before base material or a finish surface ever goes down, the path has to be cleared if it isn't already, graded to a consistent width and line, and sloped so rain runs off instead of pooling against a foundation, a garage slab, or the driveway itself. On low-lying Palm Beach County lots — especially west of the turnpike — that grading and drainage step is what keeps a new driveway from becoming next wet season's puddle.

The Bobcat T740 with its 60" grapple cuts the path, moves and shapes the base material, and compacts and grades it to line and slope — all at the same flat $385/day with an operator that anchors every land-services quote we write. The driveway's finish material itself — limerock, shell, gravel, or a paved surface — is priced separately from the machine and operator time; we say plainly: call for a quote, since that depends on the material, the run length, and how many loads the lot needs.

Bobcat T740 with a 60-inch grapple grading a driveway access path in Palm Beach County
The T740 on a graded access path — the same machine that grades and compacts a driveway base in Palm Beach County.
The Three Parts of the Job
Grading the Path
Cutting and leveling a consistent width and line from the road or right-of-way to the pad, garage, or equipment area — the first step if the path isn't cleared yet.
Base Compaction
Packing the graded subgrade so it holds up under vehicle weight instead of rutting or settling once the finish material or surface goes on top.
Drainage Sloping
Crowning or cross-sloping the pad so rain sheds to the sides instead of toward a garage, a home's foundation, or a low neighboring spot.
811 Before Anything Digs

Every driveway grading job starts with a free Sunshine State One Call (811) utility locate, so cutting and grading the path stays clear of buried power, water, and cable — required by law, and the cheapest insurance on the job. Grading, filling, and changing drainage can also trigger a permit review separate from simple vegetation clearing — see our permits & regulations guide. In unincorporated Loxahatchee and The Acreage, that review runs through the Palm Beach County Building Division, and a driveway crossing the swale or a culvert in front of an Acreage lot needs the Indian Trail Improvement District's sign-off as well, separate from anything the county issues. If your path still needs clearing first, see lot clearing or fill dirt & excavation — we can bundle both into one mobilization.

🚜
Our rate: Bobcat T740 with 60" grapple and operator, $385/day, for the grading, compaction and drainage work. Base and finish materials — call for a quote. Licensed & insured, Bell Engineering and Construction Corporation, CGC1528750. See the full Bell Land Services page ↗
Related Services & Guides
Bell Land Services →
Land clearing, site prep, grading, and storm cleanup across Palm Beach County with the Bobcat T740 and 60" grapple.
Fill Dirt & Excavation →
Raising a low or wet driveway path with fill, or digging it down to grade, before the base and compaction step.
Lot Clearing →
The step before grading, if the driveway path still has brush, saplings or a fence line to clear first.
Land Clearing Cost Guide →
Per-acre price ranges for clearing, and the factors — including grading — that move the number.
Land Clearing in Loxahatchee & The Acreage →
The driveway-and-culvert access problem specific to Acreage lots, and who regulates it.
Book Now — (561) 779-3213 ← Back to Bell Land Services

Driveway Installation Site Prep — FAQ

Do you install the driveway itself?

We handle the site prep — grading the path, compacting the base, and sloping it to drain correctly — using the Bobcat T740. The finish surface material (limerock, shell, gravel, or a paved surface) is priced and sourced separately; call and we'll talk through the options for your lot.

How much does driveway site prep cost?

Our Bobcat T740 with a 60" grapple is $385 per day, including an experienced operator, for the grading, compaction and drainage work itself. Base and finish materials are priced separately — call for a quote since it depends on the run length and material.

Why does a driveway need base compaction?

An uncompacted subgrade settles and ruts under vehicle weight once the finish surface goes on top. Compacting the graded base first is what keeps a new driveway from developing dips and potholes within its first year or two.

Why does drainage sloping matter on a driveway?

A flat or wrongly-sloped pad sheds rain toward a garage, a foundation, or a low spot on the property instead of away from it. Crowning or cross-sloping the grade during prep is what keeps water moving off the driveway instead of pooling on it.

Does the driveway path need to be cleared first?

If there's brush, saplings, or a fence line in the way, yes — see our lot clearing page. We can bundle clearing and grading into one mobilization if your lot needs both.

Do I need a permit to grade a new driveway in Loxahatchee or The Acreage?

Often, yes. In unincorporated Loxahatchee and The Acreage, grading and drainage review runs through the Palm Beach County Building Division, and a driveway that crosses a swale or culvert in The Acreage also needs a separate Indian Trail Improvement District approval. See our permits & regulations guide or ask us on the walk-through.

Is 811 required before driveway grading?

Yes — every driveway grading job starts with a free Sunshine State One Call (811) utility locate so cutting and grading the path stays clear of buried power, water, and cable. It's required by law on every job, no exceptions.

Can the Bobcat T740 also clear a fence line for the driveway approach?

Yes — clearing brush, saplings, and small trees along a fence line or property edge for a driveway approach is part of the same grapple work as lot clearing. Tell us the approach you're planning and we'll scope it on the free walk.

Which areas do you offer driveway site prep in?

All of Palm Beach County — Loxahatchee, The Acreage, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, and the rest of the county.

📞  Call (561) 779-3213 — Free Lot Walk