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Land Clearing Contractors in Jacksonville, Florida

Find land clearing contractors serving Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville

17 land clearing contractors serving Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville

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 Jacksonville?

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 Jacksonville-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.

Jacksonville Permits and Local Rules

In Jacksonville you need a city permit before removing a protected tree, which on most lots means a tree of 6 inches DBH or more within 20 feet of a street, 8 inches or more within 10 feet of another property line, or 11.5 inches or more elsewhere on the lot.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Protected tree removal permitNo one may cut down, remove, damage or destroy a protected tree, or harm its roots through heavy machinery, grade changes or paving, without first obtaining a permit. Nuisance and invasive species such as Chinese tallow, camphor and chinaberry are exempt, and the requirements may be waived during declared emergencies.Source
What counts as a protected treeA private protected tree is any tree with a DBH of 6 inches or more within 20 feet of a street right-of-way, 8 inches or more within 10 feet of any other property line, or 11.5 inches or more elsewhere on the lot. Trees on City or other public land and easements are public protected trees.Source
Single-family lot and pine/palm exemptionsTrees on an occupied single-family or mobile home lot that cannot be further subdivided are exempt, as are most palms and pines (other than cabbage palm and longleaf pine) more than 20 feet from a street and 10 feet from other property lines. Where an exemption is claimed, the code still says the applicant must obtain a permit (for a fee) and show evidence of the exemption to the Building Inspection Division.Source
Floodplain development permitAnyone planning development wholly or partly in a flood hazard area must apply to the Floodplain Administrator (and Building Official if applicable) and get the required permits first. ‘Development’ includes filling, grading, excavation and any other land-disturbing activity.Source
Call 811 before diggingNotify Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before you want to dig. Business days do not include Saturdays, Sundays, or state and national holidays.Source
Construction stormwater permitThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers coverage under its NPDES Construction Generic Permit (CGP). Coverage is needed when a project disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre if it is part of a larger common plan of development or sale, and discharges stormwater to surface waters of the state or to an MS4. Sites of 5+ acres are ‘large’ and 1 to under 5 acres are ‘small’; a coverage term is five years. DEP says it is proposing updates to the CGP.Source
Burning cleared brushOpen burning of land-clearing debris (residential or non-residential) requires authorization from the Florida Forest Service (FFS) before burning. The debris must come from the same property, burning is limited to daytime and must end one hour before sunset, and the fire must be at least 1,000 feet from occupied buildings not owned by the landowner and at least 100 feet from paved public roads, wildlands, brush or combustible structures, with extinguishing equipment ready. Debris that cannot meet these conditions must be burned in an air curtain incinerator under DEP rules. Residential yard trash from homes of no more than two family units does not need FFS authorization but has its own setbacks (pile no more than 8 feet across; 150 ft from others’ occupied buildings, 50 ft from paved roads, 25 ft from wildlands/brush).Source
State residential tree lawUnder Section 163.045, Florida Statutes, a city or county can’t require a permit, fee or mitigation to remove a tree on a single-family residential lot if the owner has signed documentation from an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to people or property. Mangroves are excluded.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 Jacksonville

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 Jacksonville?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Jacksonville?

Jacksonville does not have a stand-alone land clearing permit in the sections we verified, but removing any protected tree requires a city permit, and protected trees start at 6 inches DBH near the street. Occupied single-family lots that cannot be subdivided are exempt, though the code says you still apply for a permit to claim the exemption. Any grading, filling or other land disturbance in a flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit.

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 Jacksonville?

Open burning of land-clearing debris (residential or non-residential) requires authorization from the Florida Forest Service (FFS) before burning. The debris must come from the same property, burning is limited to daytime and must end one hour before sunset, and the fire must be at least 1,000 feet from occupied buildings not owned by the landowner and at least 100 feet from paved public roads, wildlands, brush or combustible structures, with extinguishing equipment ready. Debris that cannot meet these conditions must be burned in an air curtain incinerator under DEP rules. Residential yard trash from homes of no more than two family units does not need FFS authorization but has its own setbacks (pile no more than 8 feet across; 150 ft from others’ occupied buildings, 50 ft from paved roads, 25 ft from wildlands/brush).

More Directories

Sources

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