LandClearingGuide
Search Find a Contractor

Land Clearing Contractors in Tampa, Florida

Find land clearing contractors serving Tampa 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 Tampa

11 land clearing contractors serving Tampa 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 Tampa

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 Tampa?

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 Tampa-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.

Tampa Permits and Local Rules

Tampa requires a site clearing permit before any site clearing or demolition on a parcel where protected or grand trees, wetlands or other sensitive areas are within 30 feet of the proposed work, and protected trees start at just 5 inches DBH.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Site clearing permitNo one may start site clearing or demolition, or get a building permit, until the city issues a permit; a site clearing permit is required on any parcel where protected trees, grand trees, wetlands or other sensitive areas are within 30 feet of proposed development. Clearing underbrush with no construction also requires an application with a survey of trees and wetlands.Source
Protected and grand tree definitionsProtected trees include any non-exempt tree 5 inches DBH or larger, any mitigation tree, and any mangrove or cypress. Grand trees are at least 32 inches DBH (or state Champion/Challenger trees); specimen trees are at least 24 inches. Exempt species need no permit for removal.Source
Tree removal and pruning permitsAnyone planting, pruning, relocating or removing a protected or grand tree, or doing site work on environmentally sensitive land, must apply and get a permit first; the permit placard must be posted where visible from the street. The city’s checklist says grand tree removals require public notice unless the tree is imminently dangerous.Source
Wetland buffersDevelopment next to wetlands must keep an undisturbed buffer at least 15 feet wide and averaging 25 feet. Development within the landward 25 feet of a wetland needs a buffer application to the city, unless it already has a SWFWMD or DEP environmental resource permit.Source
Floodplain permits and coastal limitsDevelopment wholly or partly in a flood hazard area needs permits from the city’s Development and Growth Management Department first. In coastal high hazard and Coastal A zones, mangrove alteration must be permitted under the state Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act and dune alteration needs DEP approval.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 Tampa

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 Tampa?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Tampa?

Yes, in most cases. Tampa requires a site clearing permit before clearing or demolition where protected trees (5 inches DBH and up), grand trees, wetlands or sensitive areas are within 30 feet of the work, and separate permits to remove protected or grand trees. Work near wetlands must respect a 15-foot minimum (25-foot average) buffer, and flood-zone development needs a city 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 Tampa?

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