What lot clearing includes
Clearing can mean selectively removing brush and small trees while keeping good ones, or taking a building area down to bare ground. Decide which you want before the estimate, and mark trees you want kept.
- Brush and undergrowth removal
- Tree and timber removal within the cleared area
- Grubbing: removing roots and stumps where the ground will be built on
- Debris hauling
- Rough grading to prepare for the next phase
What affects the price
A quarter acre of thin brush and a quarter acre of mature timber are very different jobs. Walking the lot together is the fastest way to get an accurate number.
- Acreage or square footage to be cleared
- Density and size of the trees and brush
- Whether stumps are ground, pulled, or left
- How much material is hauled off
- Slope, wet areas, and equipment access
- Whether rough grading follows the clearing
Erosion and permits
Removing vegetation exposes soil. In Pennsylvania, earth disturbance activities may require erosion and sediment control measures, and larger disturbances may require a plan or permit. The PA Department of Environmental Protection explains the requirements, and your county conservation district can help you figure out what applies.
Also check with your local municipality about any land development or permit requirements before clearing, especially near streams, wetlands, or property lines.
What a cleared lot should look like
Agree beforehand on the boundary of the clearing, which trees stay, where the debris goes, and how the ground is left. If building comes next, ask how clearing and rough grading line up with your builder's schedule.
Common questions
Can you leave certain trees standing?
Yes. Mark the trees you want kept with ribbon or paint before the estimate, and walk the boundary with us so everyone agrees on it.
Do you haul away the debris?
Lot clearing includes hauling the brush and timber away so you get a clean slate. Confirm specifics, such as keeping some firewood, during the estimate.
Do I need a permit to clear land?
It depends on the size, location, and purpose of the clearing. Check with your municipality, and review the PA DEP erosion and sediment control guidance for earth disturbance.
Can you clear and then prepare the site for building?
Yes. Clearing, grubbing, rough grading, and excavation can be handled by the same crew, which helps keep the phases in order.