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Land Clearing Contractors in Memphis, Tennessee

Find land clearing contractors serving Memphis 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 Memphis

7 land clearing contractors serving Memphis 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 Memphis

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 Memphis?

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 Memphis-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.

Memphis Permits and Local Rules

Removing trees 10 inches DBH or larger from a non-exempt lot in Memphis or unincorporated Shelby County requires filing a tree removal Notice of Intent with the Office of Planning and Development 10 to 45 working days before work starts.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Tree removal Notice of Intent (NOI)A tree removal NOI permit from the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Planning and Development is required to remove trees 10 inches DBH or larger from non-exempt lots in Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County, filed 10 to 45 working days before removal. Exemptions include residential lots of 10 acres or less with an existing dwelling, removing fewer than five trees per acre on lots with an existing structure, and removals tied to an approved site plan; the filing fee is $50.Source
Tree removal limits, perimeter and replacementThe NOI form’s tree removal matrix caps how much of a site may be cleared by use (for example 80% interior removal on single-family lots of 10,000 sq ft or more, 90% for office/commercial) and generally allows 0% removal in a 30-foot perimeter. Trees removed beyond the matrix must be replaced with four 2.5-inch caliper trees each, and preserved trees must be fenced at least 10 feet from the trunk.Source
Floodplain Development PermitAll development within the regulatory floodplain in Memphis requires a Floodplain Development Permit, applied for through the Develop901 portal under Engineering Permits. Floodplain development is regulated by the Memphis/Shelby County Unified Development Code.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 Memphis

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 Memphis?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Memphis?

Often, yes. Clearing trees 10 inches in diameter or larger on a non-exempt lot in Memphis requires a tree removal Notice of Intent filed with the Office of Planning and Development 10 to 45 working days ahead, and the form limits how much of a site can be cleared. Any development in the regulatory floodplain needs a Floodplain Development Permit, and disturbing one acre or more also needs state construction stormwater coverage from TDEC.

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 Memphis?

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 Memphis quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.