LandClearingGuide
Search Find a Contractor

Land Clearing Contractors in Knoxville, Tennessee

Find land clearing contractors serving Knoxville 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 Knoxville

28 land clearing contractors serving Knoxville 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 Knoxville

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 Knoxville?

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 Knoxville-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.

Knoxville Permits and Local Rules

In Knoxville you need a City site development permit before grading, filling or clearing any site in a way that disturbs soil, and you must leave a 30- to 60-foot riparian buffer along streams undisturbed.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Site development permit for any land disturbance (City Code 22.5-22, 22.5-26)A site development permit from the City engineering department is required to grade, fill, excavate, remove vegetation not exempted by the tree protection ordinance, clear a site in a way that disturbs soil, or begin any land disturbance; site development of one acre or more also needs a construction general permit. Residential projects need an erosion and sediment control plan only if they disturb more than 10,000 square feet (or when the director requires one); commercial projects need a stamped plan.Source
Riparian buffer zone and floodplain no-fill area (City Code 22.5-35, 22.5-34)A riparian buffer measured from top of bank must be kept along waters: at least 30 feet where the drainage area is under one square mile and 60 feet (may be averaged, minimum 30 feet) where it is one square mile or more; disturbing the buffer is prohibited except for listed activities such as stream restoration, invasive removal and native replanting, and any approved encroachment needs mitigation. In the flood fringe between the floodway line and the no-fill line, construction fill that alters floodplain conveyance or storage is prohibited unless a listed waiver applies.Source
Hillside Protection OverlayThe Hillside and Ridgetop Protection Plan was codified as the Hillside Protection Overlay in the City of Knoxville zoning code effective January 1, 2020. Projects require a formal application and fee; staff decide whether an Exemption, Level I (staff) or Level II (Planning Commission) Certificate of Appropriateness is needed, and a slope analysis shows how much land can be disturbed.Source
Tree protection: 25% limit on clearing (City Code 14-29, 14-34)On land other than parcels used for a single- or two-family dwelling (and other listed exemptions), destroying more than 25% of the trees on a parcel without a building permit or subdivision approval is prohibited without the urban forester’s prior approval; the article covers trees 2 inches DBH and up. Where a building permit or subdivision approval is required, at least six trees per acre must be retained unless cut or fill makes that impossible, in which case mitigation trees are expected.Source
Floodplain managementKnoxville participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and must identify, manage and protect flood-prone areas; its current flood maps became effective August 5, 2013. Development in floodplains is handled by Engineering Development Services under the City’s floodplain ordinance.Source
Call 811 before diggingAnyone who plans or performs any excavation must contact Tennessee 811 at least three working days (72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays) before digging. Each excavating company needs its own locate request; a homeowner’s ticket does not cover a hired excavator.Source
Construction stormwater permitConstruction activities (including clearing, grubbing and grading) that disturb one acre or more, or less than one acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale, need coverage under TDEC’s Construction Stormwater General Permit (TNR100000). The current permit is effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2031.Source
Burning cleared brushTDEC’s open burning rule (TAPCR 1200-03-04) has an exception for burning wood waste solely for disposal, subject to Tenn. Code Ann. 68-201-115(c): within 200 feet of an occupied building someone must attend the burn the whole time, each burn may last no more than 48 hours, and no more than twice in 30 days; within 100 feet an adult occupant must give written authorization. Construction/demolition debris and vegetation not grown on site may not be burned. Separately, a Tennessee Division of Forestry burn permit is required from October 15 to May 15 where local rules do not supersede, and cities may have their own permit systems.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 Knoxville

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 Knoxville?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Knoxville?

Yes in most cases. Knoxville requires a site development permit from the City engineering department before grading, filling, excavating or clearing a site in a way that disturbs soil, an erosion control plan for residential work disturbing more than 10,000 square feet, and a state construction general permit at one acre or more. Streams carry a 30- to 60-foot riparian buffer that may not be disturbed, fill is barred in the floodplain no-fill area, and on non-exempt (non single- or two-family) land clearing more than 25% of a parcel’s trees without a permit needs the urban forester’s approval.

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 Knoxville?

TDEC’s open burning rule (TAPCR 1200-03-04) has an exception for burning wood waste solely for disposal, subject to Tenn. Code Ann. 68-201-115(c): within 200 feet of an occupied building someone must attend the burn the whole time, each burn may last no more than 48 hours, and no more than twice in 30 days; within 100 feet an adult occupant must give written authorization. Construction/demolition debris and vegetation not grown on site may not be burned. Separately, a Tennessee Division of Forestry burn permit is required from October 15 to May 15 where local rules do not supersede, and cities may have their own permit systems.

More Directories

Sources

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