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Land Clearing Contractors in Portland, Oregon

Find land clearing contractors serving Portland 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 Portland

27 land clearing contractors serving Portland 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 Portland

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 Portland?

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 Portland-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.

Portland Permits and Local Rules

In Portland, removing a private tree 12 inches DBH or larger, any Heritage Tree, or any tree in an environmental or other listed overlay zone needs a city permit, and any permitted ground disturbance of 500 square feet or more needs an erosion and sediment control plan.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Tree removal permit (private property)With no development, a Portland Urban Forestry permit is needed to remove a tree 12 inches DBH or larger, any Heritage Tree, or trees in listed overlay zones (c, e, g, h, i, n, p, q, r, s, v) or certain plan districts. If the site has active or upcoming development, a Portland Permitting & Development (BDS) permit is required instead; all street trees need a permit.Source
Erosion and sediment control plan (Title 10)For ground-disturbing work that requires a permit, an erosion, sediment and pollutant control plan is required when the disturbance area is 500 square feet or more, or when the site is a ‘special site’ under the Erosion and Sediment Control Manual. Planting with hand tools is exempt.Source
Environmental overlay zones (e-zones)In e-zones, removing or clearing native vegetation, removing trees, and grading or filling are regulated and must meet development standards or go through review unless exempt. Exemptions such as lawn and garden maintenance or nuisance plant removal do not apply if trees are removed.Source
Flood hazard area development (Title 24.50)A development or building permit is required before any construction or development, including fill, in a flood hazard area. Fill below base flood elevation must be offset by compensatory excavation at ratios from 1:1 up to 2:1 depending on the zone, and floodway encroachments are barred unless an engineer shows no rise in base flood elevation.Source
Call 811 before diggingHomeowners and contractors are told to call 811 (or 800-332-2344) or submit an online locate request before digging, then wait two business days before digging; weekends and holidays extend the wait and requests made after 5 p.m. count as the next business day.Source
Construction stormwater permitOregon DEQ issues the 1200-C Construction Stormwater General Permit, which regulates discharges from construction activities to surface waters of the state. The renewed permit is effective December 15, 2025 through December 14, 2030. Local DEQ agents exist (see DEQ stormwater contacts). The disturbance threshold was not stated on the page opened.Source
Burning cleared brushDEQ lists demolition burning, defined as burning from ‘the clearing of any site for land improvement or cleanup,’ and construction burning as regulated burn types, and notes local city or county ordinances may require permits beyond the state standard. DEQ says restrictions vary by location, Oregon Department of Forestry districts may ban burning or require permits, and cities, counties and fire districts have their own restrictions; check DEQ’s ‘Can I Burn?’ map before burning.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 Portland

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 Portland?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Portland?

Often, yes. Removing a private tree 12 inches DBH or larger, a Heritage Tree, or trees in listed overlay zones needs a city tree permit, and work tied to development goes through Portland Permitting & Development. Permitted ground disturbance of 500 square feet or more needs an erosion and sediment control plan, and any fill or development in a flood hazard area needs a permit first.

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 Portland?

DEQ lists demolition burning, defined as burning from ‘the clearing of any site for land improvement or cleanup,’ and construction burning as regulated burn types, and notes local city or county ordinances may require permits beyond the state standard. DEQ says restrictions vary by location, Oregon Department of Forestry districts may ban burning or require permits, and cities, counties and fire districts have their own restrictions; check DEQ’s ‘Can I Burn?’ map before burning.

More Directories

Sources

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