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Land Clearing Contractors in Louisville, Kentucky

Find land clearing contractors serving Louisville 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 Louisville

11 land clearing contractors serving Louisville 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 Louisville

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 Louisville?

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 Louisville-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.

Louisville Permits and Local Rules

In Louisville Metro any land disturbance over 2,000 square feet requires a Site Disturbance Permit from MSD, and burning cleared brush or branches is illegal.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
MSD Site Disturbance PermitLouisville MSD requires a Site Disturbance Permit for all land disturbance over 2,000 square feet: a Small Site Disturbance Permit for over 2,000 sq ft up to one acre and a Large Site Disturbance Permit for over one acre, which adds requirements. Reviews follow the Louisville and Jefferson County EPSC and Floodplain Ordinances.Source
Floodplain permitsMSD enforces the local Floodplain Management Ordinance and issues floodplain permits for development in the floodplain.Source
Open burning banThe Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District says burning trash and yard waste, including fallen tree branches and limbs and construction debris, is always illegal in Louisville. Agricultural burns and controlled forest, range or wildlife burns may be allowed with a permit.Source
Tree canopy standards (Land Development Code Ch. 10)Chapter 10 of the Land Development Code sets tree canopy standards intended to protect, preserve and replace trees; canopy standards must be met on site to the maximum extent feasible, and tree preservation is the preferred way to meet them.Source
Call 811 before diggingUnder KRS 367.4911, each excavator or person responsible for excavation or demolition must notify the operators’ notification center (811) not less than two full working days and not more than ten full working days before starting work, unless a later start date is agreed.Source
Construction stormwater permitConstruction activities disturbing one acre or more, or part of a common plan that cumulatively disturbs one acre or more, need coverage under KPDES general permit KYR100000. Operators submit an electronic NOI at least seven days before construction, and coverage is effective only after written notice from the Division of Water.Source
Burning cleared brush401 KAR 63:005 allows fires for disposal of natural growth for land clearing, without tires or heavy oil and only on days that do not pose a forest fire threat. Land clearing burns for residential, commercial or industrial development are limited to two contiguous acres at a time, are not allowed May through September in listed counties, must follow KRS 149.400 fire hazard season rules, and do not override stricter local ordinances.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 Louisville

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 Louisville?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Louisville?

Yes, if you disturb more than 2,000 square feet. Louisville MSD requires a Site Disturbance Permit for land disturbance over 2,000 square feet, with a Large Site Disturbance Permit and added requirements above one acre, and MSD issues floodplain permits for work in the floodplain. Disturbing one acre or more also needs state KYR10 coverage from the Kentucky Division of Water. Cleared brush cannot be burned in Louisville.

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 Louisville?

The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District says burning trash and yard waste, including fallen tree branches and limbs and construction debris, is always illegal in Louisville. Agricultural burns and controlled forest, range or wildlife burns may be allowed with a permit.

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Sources

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