Site prep for a pier foundation

[youngins]

Is it necessary to remove organic growth (ie sod) from the building site when building with a pier foundation?

Thanks

[glenn-k]

I would see no real reason for that except from the pier holes.  Might even give you a comfy place to catch a few "z"s while everyone thinks you are hard at work underneath doing the plumbing.

[jraabe]

If you're going to have an open foundation around the piers there is no harm in leaving the existing soil in place.

If you want to skirt the foundation and have some storage under the floor, then it wll be helpful to clean out the organics that could be food or nesting for critters and lay down a tough vapor barrier such as cross-laminated poly to keep soil moisture out of what is now a crawlspace.