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Land Clearing Contractors in Nashville, Tennessee

Find land clearing contractors serving Nashville 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 Nashville

11 land clearing contractors serving Nashville 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 Nashville

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 Nashville?

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 Nashville-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.

Nashville Permits and Local Rules

In Metro Nashville a grading permit from Metro Water Services is needed once you disturb more than 10,000 square feet or move more than 100 cubic yards, and any grading in a floodplain needs one regardless of size.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Grading permitMetro Water Services requires a grading permit for any change in site elevation or removal of ground cover unless the work disturbs no more than 10,000 square feet and moves no more than 100 cubic yards. The small-project exemptions do not apply in a designated floodplain, and tree cutting and logging require a tree removal permit.Source
Water quality buffersNew development must preserve stream buffers: 30 feet from top of bank for streams draining under 100 acres, 50 feet for 100 acres to 1 square mile, and floodway plus 50 feet (75 feet total) for FEMA-studied or larger streams, plus 25 feet around wetlands and connected ponds. Zone 1 is a no-disturb zone where vegetation cannot be removed without an approved restoration plan.Source
Floodway and floodplain limitsFill, excavation, clearing and new construction are prohibited in the floodway unless an engineer certifies no rise and a buffer variance is granted. Development on undeveloped land with floodplain must leave at least 50% of the natural floodplain undisturbed (including the floodway), and fill that removes floodplain storage must be compensated.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 Nashville

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 Nashville?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Nashville?

Yes, in most cases. Metro Water Services requires a grading permit when clearing or grading disturbs more than 10,000 square feet or moves more than 100 cubic yards, and any grading in a floodplain needs a permit regardless of size. Tree cutting and logging require a tree removal permit. Stream buffers must be left undisturbed, and disturbing one acre or more also needs state 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 Nashville?

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