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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2

FAR 52.236-9 Protection of Existing Vegetation, Structures, Equipment, Utilities, and Improvements.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This clause requires the contractor to preserve and protect existing vegetation, structures, equipment, utilities, and improvements on or near the work site that are not scheduled for removal. The contractor must avoid damaging these items, repair any damage caused by its work or lack of care, and may be charged for repairs if it fails to act promptly.

Applies to: Contractors performing work at a site with existing vegetation, structures, equipment, utilities, or improvements

What it requires

  • Preserve and protect existing structures, equipment, and vegetation not to be removed and not unreasonably interfering with the work
  • Remove trees only when specifically authorized
  • Avoid damaging vegetation that will remain in place
  • Trim and paint broken tree limbs or branches with a clean cut and tree-pruning compound as directed by the Contracting Officer

Key terms: Contractor · Contracting Officer · work site · existing improvements · utilities

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

As prescribed in 36.509, insert the following clause:

Protection of Existing Vegetation, Structures, Equipment, Utilities, and Improvements (APR 1984)

(a) The Contractor shall preserve and protect all structures, equipment, and vegetation (such as trees, shrubs, and grass) on or adjacent to the work site, which are not to be removed and which do not unreasonably interfere with the work required under this contract. The Contractor shall only remove trees when specifically authorized to do so, and shall avoid damaging vegetation that will remain in place. If any limbs or branches of trees are broken during contract performance, or by the careless operation of equipment, or by workmen, the Contractor shall trim those limbs or branches with a clean cut and paint the cut with a tree-pruning compound as directed by the Contracting Officer.

(b) The Contractor shall protect from damage all existing improvements and utilities (1) at or near the work site and (2) on adjacent property of a third party, the locations of which are made known to or should be known by the Contractor. The Contractor shall repair any damage to those facilities, including those that are the property of a third party, resulting from failure to comply with the requirements of this contract or failure to exercise reasonable care in performing the work. If the Contractor fails or refuses to repair the damage promptly, the Contracting Officer may have the necessary work performed and charge the cost to the Contractor.

(End of clause)

Sections it refers to

  • 36.509 Protection of existing vegetation, structures, equipment, utilities, and improvements.

Sections that refer to it

  • 36.509 Protection of existing vegetation, structures, equipment, utilities, and improvements.

← 52.236-8 Other Contracts. · 52.236-10 Operations and Storage Areas. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 52

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 52.236-9 Protection of Existing Vegetation, Structures, Equipment, Utilities, and Improvements · SpendQuery