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Land Clearing Contractors in San Francisco, California

Find land clearing contractors serving San Francisco 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 San Francisco

8 land clearing contractors serving San Francisco 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 San Francisco

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 San Francisco?

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 San Francisco-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.

San Francisco Permits and Local Rules

Trees on private property within 10 feet of the public right-of-way that are 20 feet tall, 15 feet in canopy width or 12 inches in trunk diameter are ‘significant trees’ and need a Public Works permit before removal.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Significant trees (Urban Forestry Ordinance)Significant trees are on private property with any part of the trunk within 10 feet of the public right-of-way and are at least 20 feet tall, 15 feet in canopy width, or 12 inches in trunk diameter at 4.5 feet. They get the same protection as street trees, and a Public Works permit is required before removal.Source
Landmark treesTrees designated by the Board of Supervisors as landmark trees, on public or private land, are protected from physical damage and removal. The page lists designated landmark trees by address, including several in private backyards.Source
Construction Site Runoff Control (SFPUC)Projects disturbing 5,000 square feet up to 1 acre need an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and a project application to the SFPUC before construction; 1 acre or more needs a SWPPP and application (plus a state Notice of Intent in MS4 areas). Sites under 5,000 square feet must still use best management practices.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 San Francisco

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 San Francisco?

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 San Francisco-specific average is published, so compare written quotes for the same scope.

Do I need a permit for land clearing in San Francisco?

Often, yes. Removing a significant tree (near the sidewalk and above the size thresholds) or a street tree needs a Public Works permit, and designated landmark trees are protected from removal. If the work disturbs 5,000 square feet or more of soil, an SFPUC Construction Site Runoff Control application and erosion control plan are required before work begins.

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 San Francisco?

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 San Francisco quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.