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Land Clearing Contractors in Baltimore, Maryland

Find land clearing contractors serving Baltimore 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 Baltimore

33 land clearing contractors serving Baltimore 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 Baltimore

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 Baltimore?

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 Baltimore-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.

Baltimore Permits and Local Rules

Clearing or grading 5,000 sq ft or more (or 100 cubic yards of earth) in Baltimore needs a City-approved erosion and sediment control plan, and grading or building permits on parcels of 5,000 sq ft or more also trigger the City’s Forest Conservation requirements.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Erosion and sediment control plan required for gradingNo one may grade land in Baltimore City without erosion and sediment control plans approved by the Department. Clearing or grading that disturbs less than 5,000 sq ft and less than 100 cubic yards of earth is exempt, as are agricultural practices and work subject only to State approval.Source
Forest and Tree Conservation (Forest Conservation Plan)Anyone applying for a grading or building permit on a parcel totaling 5,000 sq ft or more (or a subdivision/development plan over 5,000 sq ft) is subject to the City’s Forest and Tree Conservation rules, unless exempt. Permits are issued subject to approval of and compliance with a Forest Conservation Plan, and a forest stand delineation must be submitted.Source
Floodplain development permitA building permit is required for all development in the Floodplain District, and it may be granted only after required State (Water & Science Administration) and other agency permits are obtained and verified by the Planning Department.Source
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area overlayThe Critical Area covers tidal waters and tidal wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries plus land within 1,000 feet of them, with a Buffer of at least 100 feet. Under the City’s Critical Area overlay, ‘disturb’ includes any amount of clearing, grading or construction (but not gardening or lawn maintenance).Source
Street tree removal permitA written permit from the Department of Recreation and Parks is required to remove a tree in or along a public street; removal must be done by a licensed tree expert, and approved removals of trees over 1 inch DBH require inch-for-inch replacement or a fee in lieu.Source
Call 811 before diggingMiss Utility (811) must be notified no sooner than 3 business days and no later than 12 business days before planned excavation or demolition. Homeowners are told to contact Miss Utility; a contractor working for you must have a ticket in the company’s name.Source
Construction stormwater permitMDE issues the General Permit for Discharges from Stormwater Associated with Construction Activity (20-CP, current version 20-CP-A, effective April 1, 2023). Coverage applies to construction that will disturb one or more acres, or less if part of a larger common plan that will ultimately disturb one or more acres. NOIs are filed electronically through MDE ePermits, followed by a 14-day public notice period.Source
Burning cleared brushCOMAR 26.11.07.03: in Baltimore City and Group B counties (incl. Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard, Harford) open burning is prohibited June 1 through August 31; from September 1 through May 31 the control officer may issue a written permit only where there is no practical alternative disposal method, and in several of these jurisdictions burning may not be within 500 yards of occupied buildings or heavily traveled roads. Material must originate on the premises. Group A (mostly rural) counties may get permits on application with similar conditions.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 Baltimore

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 Baltimore?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Baltimore?

Often, yes. Grading or clearing 5,000 sq ft or more (or 100 cubic yards of earth) in Baltimore needs a City-approved erosion and sediment control plan, and grading or building permits on parcels of 5,000 sq ft or more come with Forest Conservation Plan requirements. Any development in the mapped floodplain needs a building permit, and removing a tree along a public street needs a Recreation and Parks permit. Sites of an acre or more also need MDE construction stormwater permit coverage.

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 Baltimore?

COMAR 26.11.07.03: in Baltimore City and Group B counties (incl. Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard, Harford) open burning is prohibited June 1 through August 31; from September 1 through May 31 the control officer may issue a written permit only where there is no practical alternative disposal method, and in several of these jurisdictions burning may not be within 500 yards of occupied buildings or heavily traveled roads. Material must originate on the premises. Group A (mostly rural) counties may get permits on application with similar conditions.

More Directories

Sources

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