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Land Clearing Contractors in Orlando, Florida

Find land clearing contractors serving Orlando 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 Orlando

10 land clearing contractors serving Orlando 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 Orlando

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 Orlando?

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 Orlando-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.

Orlando Permits and Local Rules

In Orlando any non-exempt tree 10 inches DBH or larger is protected and cannot be removed without a Tree Removal Permit, unless Florida law exempts it (homeowners with qualifying arborist documentation do not need a permit).

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Tree Removal Permit for 10-inch treesAny existing tree 10 inches DBH or larger (measured 4.5 feet above ground) is protected, except invasive exotic species. Removing one without a Tree Removal Permit is unlawful unless exempt by Florida Statutes, and approved removals require replacement trees or a payment.Source
Residential arborist exemption and feesThe city says residential owners do not need a permit if they get a report from a TRAQ-certified ISA arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect confirming the tree is a danger; commercial properties always need a permit. The application fee is $25 for residential and $50 per acre for commercial.Source
Tree Encroachment PermitEncroaching into a protected tree’s minimum undisturbed area (for example with grading or equipment) requires a Tree Encroachment Permit from the Parks Official.Source
Wetland retentionWetlands found during development review must be partly kept undeveloped: 100% of Protected Wetlands, 60% of Transitional Wetlands and 0% of Altered Wetlands. No dredging, filling, grading, excavation or development is allowed in retained wetlands.Source
Floodplain permitAny development activity wholly or partly within a flood hazard area requires a permit from the Floodplain Administrator (and Building Official if applicable) before work starts.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 Orlando

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 Orlando?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Orlando?

Usually yes if you are removing trees: Orlando requires a Tree Removal Permit for any non-exempt tree 10 inches DBH or larger, and a Tree Encroachment Permit to work in a protected tree’s undisturbed area. Homeowners with qualifying arborist or landscape-architect documentation that a tree is dangerous do not need a permit; commercial sites always do. Work in wetlands or flood hazard areas needs separate city review.

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 Orlando?

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