- DEMOLITION GUIDE
How Long Does a House Demolition Take?
By Kevin Traub, Owner of Fly By Junk Haulers ·
Quick answer: Typically only 2-3 days of actual onsite work for an average sized 1 or 2 family house. This covers everything from the site prep, to the demo and haul away of the structure, backfilling the basement, then grading and reseeding the yard according to city spec and/or project expectations.
Before the onsite work begins you can expect an average of anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months for all of the permits to be pulled, surveys to be completed, and utilities to be disconnected. This part of the process depends on both your local city regulations and the details of the specific site.
Fly By Junk Haulers is a licensed, bonded and insured demolition contractor with 2,000+ jobs around Cleveland, and Google shows us at 5.0 out of 5 from 250+ reviews. The timelines below come from our own jobs. The permit and utility rules are general information, not legal advice, so check with your city.
How long does a house demolition take?
Everyone pictures the demolition as the long part, with an excavator and a lot of noise. It’s the shortest part. The slow part is a phone line, a form, and a person at a utility company who has never heard of your Tuesday.
| Stage | What happens | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Site visit and quote | We see the house, the lot, and what's inside | Booked after your call |
| Permit | Your city issues a demolition permit | Depends on your city |
| Asbestos inspection | A certified specialist inspects before work, where the rules apply | Depends on the lab and the scheduling |
| Utility disconnection | Water, sewer, gas, and electric are shut off and capped | Depends on the utility |
| Demolition and cleanup | The house comes down and the debris goes out | Typically 2-3 days on site for an average house, and about a week for a larger project such as two houses and two garages |
Timelines from Fly By Junk Haulers jobs, October 2026. We don’t give a single start-to-finish number because the first three rows aren’t up to us.
Do you need a permit to demolish a house in Ohio?
Usually, yes, and it’s issued by your city. As one example, the Cleveland Heights building department’s demolition rules say “a building permit is required for the demolition of any building or appurtenant structure.” That bulletin is from 1988, revised in 1997, so treat it as an example of what a city asks for, not today’s rulebook.
Rules differ by city and township. Call your building department first. For Cleveland, that’s the Department of Building and Housing, which lists (216) 664-2282.
Why do utilities have to be disconnected first?
Because nobody should take a house apart with live gas, water, or power running into it. The same Cleveland Heights rules say all “water, sewer, gas, electric, steam and telephone lines, or other connections” outside the building must be “properly disconnected, plugged or capped,” and that the work is done under the utility’s supervision or specifications.
One recent project in Brecksville is a good example. We were demolishing two houses and two garages, and the electric company was slow to disconnect service. Nothing came down while the house was still a customer of the electric company, which is the correct policy, and also a long stretch of staring at a building that’s technically still on the grid. That one ran longer than usual because of it.
What about asbestos?
Ohio has asbestos rules for demolition and renovation. Ohio Administrative Code rule 3745-20-02 says the building must be inspected by a certified asbestos hazard evaluation specialist before work begins. Rule 3745-20-03 requires notice at least ten working days before a covered demolition begins.
Whether a given house falls under those rules depends on the property, so ask your city or Ohio EPA. We don’t do asbestos removal ourselves, but we partner with companies who do.
What makes a demolition take longer?
Four things stretch it, and the first three happen before the excavator shows up.
Permits.
Each city sets its own steps.
The asbestos inspection and notice.
The ten working days adds up fast when it applies.
Utilities.
Shutoffs depend on the utility’s schedule, as in Brecksville.
What's inside.
A house full of belongings has to be cleared before it comes down.
That last one is why some jobs start with a cleanout. We cleared a full house in Brecksville and then demolished the house, garage, shed, and barn, and the whole thing took 2 weeks.
What we see in the field
The pattern is simple. The owner gets a date in mind, and then a form, an inspection, or a utility moves it. The best way to avoid that is to start the paperwork early and ask for a site visit before you pick a date.
Some of our demolition customers inherited a property or bought an abandoned neighboring lot. They want one crew for the cleanout and the tear-down, and they want to know what’s coming. We tell them what we know, and where the answer depends on the city or the utility, we say that instead of guessing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to demolish a house?
An average 1 or 2 family house typically takes 2-3 days of work on site. A larger project, such as two houses and two garages, typically takes about a week. Permits, inspections, and utility shutoffs come before that and vary by city and utility.
Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Ohio?
Usually, yes. Your city or township issues it, and the steps differ by place. Check with your local building department.
What has to happen before a house is demolished?
A permit, an asbestos inspection where the rules apply, and disconnecting and capping the utilities. Ask your city which ones apply to your property.
How much does a house demolition cost?
House demolition is quoted on site, because every lot and structure is different. A free site visit gives you the number.
Can you clear out the house before it's demolished?
Yes. We handle cleanouts and demolition, so one crew can do both.
Ready to plan a demolition?
Start with a visit and a quote. Learn about our demolition services, our shed, deck and fence demolition, or schedule a site visit and get your free estimate. Need the house emptied first? Our estate cleanout service covers that.
Kevin Traub, Owner. Kevin bought Fly By Junk Haulers in June 2023 and runs it from the company’s Broadway Avenue building in Cleveland.