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Land Clearing Contractors in Chicago, Illinois

Find land clearing contractors serving Chicago 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 Chicago

8 land clearing contractors serving Chicago 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 Chicago

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 Chicago?

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 Chicago-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.

Chicago Permits and Local Rules

Disturbing 15,000 square feet or more of land in Chicago makes the project a Regulated Development under the city’s Stormwater Ordinance, which needs stormwater review before building or sewer permits are issued.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Stormwater Ordinance - Regulated DevelopmentConstruction, excavation or grading that disturbs 15,000 square feet or more of land, creates 7,500 square feet or more of at-grade impervious surface, or discharges stormwater to waters or a separate sewer is a Regulated Development under Chapter 11-18 of the Municipal Code. The ordinance includes erosion and sediment control provisions.Source
Stormwater review before permitsThe Department of Water Management says Regulated Developments must get stormwater review and approval before a building permit or sewer permit is issued.Source
Forestry permit for tree work in the public wayThe Bureau of Forestry issues permits for any work involving trees in the public way; contractors must carry liability insurance naming the City. Forestry asks for at least 10 working days’ notice for removal requests.Source
Landscape OrdinanceNew principal buildings, large additions and new parking areas of five or more spaces must include parkway plantings and landscaping reviewed by the Department of Zoning. Homes of three units or fewer are exempt.Source
Call 811 before diggingUnder the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act, anyone excavating or demolishing must notify utility owners through JULIE not less than 2 days and no more than 10 days before starting work.Source
Construction stormwater permitIllinois EPA issues the General NPDES Permit for Construction Site Activities (ILR10). It covers construction that disturbs 1 acre or more, including smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development. A Notice of Intent is filed electronically through EPA’s CDX system. The permit was renewed September 22, 2023.Source
Burning cleared brushState rules allow open burning of landscape waste (trees, branches, stumps, brush) only on the property where it was generated, when the air will disperse the smoke, and with no visibility hazard to roads, railroads or airfields. It is banned in municipalities over 2,500 people, in municipalities next to them, in all municipalities wholly within 40 air miles of Meigs Field in Chicago, and in rural areas within 1,000 feet of a municipality where it is banned. Local rules can be stricter.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 Chicago

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 Chicago?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Chicago?

Chicago has no stand-alone land clearing permit in the sources reviewed, but clearing or grading 15,000 square feet or more (or creating 7,500 square feet of paved surface) makes the project a Regulated Development under the Stormwater Ordinance, which needs city review before building or sewer permits are issued. Any work on trees in the public way, such as parkway trees, needs a Bureau of Forestry 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 Chicago?

State rules allow open burning of landscape waste (trees, branches, stumps, brush) only on the property where it was generated, when the air will disperse the smoke, and with no visibility hazard to roads, railroads or airfields. It is banned in municipalities over 2,500 people, in municipalities next to them, in all municipalities wholly within 40 air miles of Meigs Field in Chicago, and in rural areas within 1,000 feet of a municipality where it is banned. Local rules can be stricter.

More Directories

Sources

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