LandClearingGuide
Search Find a Contractor

Land Clearing Contractors in Los Angeles, California

Find land clearing contractors serving Los Angeles for brush clearing, lot clearing, tree and stump removal, forestry mulching and full site clearing. Compare local companies, check which services each one offers, and contact them directly about your project.

Land Clearing Contractors Serving Los Angeles

19 land clearing contractors serving Los Angeles confirm on their own websites that they offer land clearing (checked October 2026). Each listing links to the page where the company describes the service, so you can check it yourself.

Land Clearing Services in Los Angeles

ServiceBest for
Brush clearingOvergrown lots, fence lines, pasture recovery
Forestry mulchingBrush and small trees, with no debris to haul
Lot clearingMaking a residential lot buildable
Full clearing and grubbingRemoving trees, stumps and roots for construction
Selective clearingKeeping chosen trees on a wooded lot

How Much Do Land Clearing Contractors Charge in Los Angeles?

Angi reports an average land clearing project cost of $3,780 in 2026, and HomeGuide estimates $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. These measure different things: one is per project, the other per acre. Stump removal, debris haul-off and grading are often priced separately. No published source gives a reliable Los Angeles-specific average, so use these as national planning figures and get local quotes. See land clearing cost per acre for prices by vegetation, lot size and method.

Los Angeles Permits and Local Rules

Native oaks, Southern California black walnut, western sycamore, California bay, Mexican elderberry and toyon with a cumulative trunk diameter of 4 inches or more are protected, and removing them requires a permit from the Board of Public Works through StreetsLA’s Urban Forestry Division.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Protected trees and shrubs (LAMC 46.00-46.06)Oak trees (excluding scrub oak), Southern California black walnut, western sycamore and California bay trees, plus Mexican elderberry and toyon shrubs, are protected once they reach 4 inches or more in cumulative diameter measured 4.5 feet above ground. Removal permits come from the Board of Public Works through StreetsLA’s Urban Forestry Division; nursery stock and trees planted as part of a planting program are excluded.Source
Grading permit (LADBS)A grading permit is generally required for any cutting or filling, or import or export of earth, unless an exception applies. Exceptions include excavations under 2 feet deep and fills under 1 foot deep on terrain flatter than 10 percent, but these exceptions do not apply if the cut or fill exceeds 50 cubic yards or changes the existing drainage pattern; Hillside Areas have additional rules.Source
Brush clearance in Very High Fire Hazard Severity ZoneOwners in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone must maintain vegetation within 200 feet of any structure and within 10 feet of combustible fences, roadways and driveways, year-round (LAMC 57.4906.5.2). Fire clearance must still comply with the protected tree and shrub ordinance (LAMC 46.00-46.06).Source
Call 811 before diggingUnder the Government Code, anyone planning to excavate must contact the appropriate regional notification center (811) at least two working days, and not more than 14 calendar days, before beginning to excavate. USA North 811 adds that each person or company doing the excavation must submit its own ticket; a subcontractor cannot work under another contractor’s ticket, and the day you notify does not count toward the two working days.Source
Construction stormwater permitProjects that disturb one or more acres of soil, or less than one acre if part of a larger common plan of development that disturbs one or more acres, must obtain coverage under the statewide Construction Stormwater General Permit (Order 2022-0057-DWQ, effective September 1, 2023). Projects in the Lake Tahoe Hydrologic Unit apply to the Lahontan Regional Water Board instead.Source
Burning cleared brushA statewide Air Resources Board control measure (effective January 1, 2004) bans outdoor burning of household trash and burn barrels at residences, but dry natural vegetation grown on the property may still be burned in open piles unless prohibited by local controls, and only on days authorized by the local air district. Open burning of land-clearing debris is therefore controlled by the local air district, which may ban it entirely or require permits.Source

Confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county before work starts. See land clearing permits for a full checklist.

How to Choose a Land Clearing Contractor in Los Angeles

Walk the property with each bidder or send the same marked site plan. Ask what happens to stumps and roots, whether debris is hauled, burned or mulched, who checks tree, grading and stormwater permits, and what condition the site will be in when the crew leaves. Compare written quotes for the same scope, not headline prices.

For background before you call, read the land clearing guide, land clearing cost per acre and land clearing permits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do land clearing contractors charge in Los Angeles?

Published national figures are the best guide: Angi reports a $3,780 average project and HomeGuide $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. No reliable Los Angeles-specific average is published, so compare written quotes for the same scope.

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Los Angeles?

Often, yes. Removing a protected native tree or shrub (oaks, black walnut, western sycamore, California bay, Mexican elderberry or toyon at 4 inches or more in diameter) requires a Board of Public Works permit through StreetsLA’s Urban Forestry Division. Grading generally needs an LADBS grading permit unless it is minor (shallow cuts and fills) and stays under 50 cubic yards without changing drainage. In the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, brush clearance is required, but it must still follow the protected tree rules.

Does land clearing include stump removal?

Not always. Some contractors grind or pull stumps as part of the job, others price them separately, and forestry mulching usually leaves stumps at or near ground level. Make sure the written quote says what happens to stumps.

Can I burn cleared brush in Los Angeles?

A statewide Air Resources Board control measure (effective January 1, 2004) bans outdoor burning of household trash and burn barrels at residences, but dry natural vegetation grown on the property may still be burned in open piles unless prohibited by local controls, and only on days authorized by the local air district. Open burning of land-clearing debris is therefore controlled by the local air district, which may ban it entirely or require permits.

More Directories

Sources

Listings checked October 2026 against each company’s website. Prices are attributed national estimates, not Los Angeles quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.