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Land Clearing Contractors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Find land clearing contractors serving Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh

31 land clearing contractors serving Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh

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 Pittsburgh?

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 Pittsburgh-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.

Pittsburgh Permits and Local Rules

In Pittsburgh, removing vegetation or trees over 10,000 sq ft, or on any slope steeper than 25%, requires a City Land Operations Permit.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Land Operations Permit (grading and clearing)A Land Operations Permit is needed for grading over 50 cubic yards, grading 5 feet deep or more on slopes over 25%, vegetation, tree and ground cover removal over 10,000 sq ft or on any slope over 25%, and new paved surfaces over 10,000 sq ft. Zoning development review and special inspections are required.Source
Stormwater permitA City stormwater permit is required for 10,000 sq ft or more of land disturbance (grading, excavation or fill) or a 5,000 sq ft or more increase in impervious surface; 5,000 sq ft of disturbance triggers it in some Riverfront (RIV) district projects.Source
Floodplain Overlay (FP-O)Zoning approval from the Zoning Administrator and a building permit are required before any construction or development in the floodplain. In the floodway no encroachment, including fill, is allowed unless analysis shows no rise in flood levels, and watercourses may not be altered without notifying neighbors and obtaining DEP permits.Source
Landslide-Prone Overlay (LS-O)In landslide-prone areas, no building or land operations permit involving grading or vegetation removal is approved until the Bureau of Building Inspection approves plans based on a professional site investigation showing the work will not increase landslide or erosion risk.Source
Call 811 before diggingHomeowners and contractors must call 811 (PA One Call) at least three business days before starting any digging or excavation. The PA One Call Law, Section 180(2.1), sets the window at not less than three nor more than ten business days before excavation or demolition.Source
Construction stormwater permitUnder DEP’s Chapter 102 program, construction activities with earth disturbance of one acre or more need NPDES permit coverage (PAG-01, PAG-02 general permits or an individual permit). Other activities disturbing 5 acres or more that are not listed elsewhere need an E&S permit.Source
Burning cleared brush25 Pa. Code § 129.14: open burning is prohibited in air basins, except that clearing and grubbing wastes may be burned there only in air curtain destructors approved in writing by DEP beforehand. Outside air basins, clearing and grubbing wastes may be burned if the fire causes no visible emissions beyond the property line, malodors, nuisance, or damage; DEP may order it stopped.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 Pittsburgh

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 Pittsburgh?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Pittsburgh?

Yes, for most sizable jobs. Pittsburgh requires a Land Operations Permit to remove vegetation or trees over 10,000 sq ft or on any slope over 25%, or to grade more than 50 cubic yards, and a City stormwater permit at 10,000 sq ft of disturbance. Work in the Floodplain Overlay needs zoning approval first, and grading or vegetation removal in the Landslide-Prone Overlay needs a geotechnical site investigation. Sites of an acre or more also need PA DEP NPDES 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 Pittsburgh?

25 Pa. Code § 129.14: open burning is prohibited in air basins, except that clearing and grubbing wastes may be burned there only in air curtain destructors approved in writing by DEP beforehand. Outside air basins, clearing and grubbing wastes may be burned if the fire causes no visible emissions beyond the property line, malodors, nuisance, or damage; DEP may order it stopped.

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Sources

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