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Land Clearing Contractors in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Find land clearing contractors serving Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids

17 land clearing contractors serving Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids

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 Grand Rapids?

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 Grand Rapids-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.

Grand Rapids Permits and Local Rules

Grand Rapids requires a soil erosion (SESC) permit before any earth change over 2,500 square feet, or any earth change within 500 feet of a wetland, stream, lake or floodplain.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
SESC permit for earth changesThe city is the municipal enforcing agency for Part 91. A landowner must get an SESC permit before an earth change over 2,500 square feet, a parking area over 1,000 square feet, any earth change within 500 feet of a wetland, creek, stream, lake, water body or floodplain, or certain plats and site-plan developments. The permit is handled as part of the city’s Land Use and Development Permit.Source
Floodplain standardsThe city regulates development in the floodplain under the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and maps for Kent County dated February 23, 2023. The FEMA maps take precedence over any other floodplain information.Source
Permit for work on public treesNo one may perform tree work on or otherwise disturb any public tree without first getting a permit under the city’s tree chapter.Source
Private landmark treesA private tree of unique value because of size, age, history or ecology can be designated a Private Landmark Tree, but only with the property owner’s approval. The Urban Forestry Committee reviews nominations.Source
Call 811 before diggingAn excavator must notify MISS DIG 811 at least 3 business days before excavating or blasting. Notice can be given by calling 811 or through the MISS DIG website.Source
Construction stormwater permitEGLE’s Water Resources Division requires NPDES stormwater coverage for construction that disturbs one acre or more and has a point-source discharge to waters of the state. Coverage comes through Permit-by-Rule and depends on first getting a Part 91 soil erosion (SESC) permit. Sites of 1 to 5 acres are covered automatically once the SESC permit is issued; sites of 5 acres or more must also file a Notice of Coverage with EGLE. Separately, a local Part 91 SESC permit is typically needed for any earth change over 1 acre or within 500 feet of a lake or stream.Source
Burning cleared brushEGLE says open burning of trees, logs, brush and stumps must be done more than 1,400 feet from the boundary of an incorporated city or village. A burn permit is required when the ground is not snow-covered (from DNR offices in the north, local fire departments or municipalities in the south), and local laws may ban open burning. Demolition and remodeling waste should go to a construction and demolition landfill.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 Grand Rapids

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 Grand Rapids?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Grand Rapids?

Usually yes, if you will expose soil. Grand Rapids requires an SESC permit before earth changes over 2,500 square feet or any earth change within 500 feet of a wetland, stream, lake or floodplain, issued through the city’s Land Use and Development Permit. Disturbing public trees requires a separate tree permit, and floodplain sites must meet the city’s floodplain standards.

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 Grand Rapids?

EGLE says open burning of trees, logs, brush and stumps must be done more than 1,400 feet from the boundary of an incorporated city or village. A burn permit is required when the ground is not snow-covered (from DNR offices in the north, local fire departments or municipalities in the south), and local laws may ban open burning. Demolition and remodeling waste should go to a construction and demolition landfill.

More Directories

Sources

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