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Land Clearing Contractors in Houston, Texas

Find land clearing contractors serving Houston 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 Houston

35 land clearing contractors serving Houston 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 Houston

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 Houston?

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 Houston-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.

Houston Permits and Local Rules

Much of the Houston area sits in or near mapped floodplain, so the permit question usually starts with drainage and fill, not trees.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
City of Houston fill and grade permitExcavation, fill, or both need a grading permit, with plan review and inspection. Floodplain work also needs a floodplain development permit; fees vary with acreage and whether the parcel is in a floodway or conveyance zone.Source
City of Houston tree permitRemoving a tree on city property, including rights-of-way, medians and parks, or in a setback, requires a city permit.Source
Unincorporated Harris CountyHarris County requires a permit for all development, including filling and grading, in its unincorporated areas. No fill is allowed in a floodway, and floodplain projects need engineered drawings.Source
Call 811 before diggingHomeowners, excavators and contractors are required by law to call 811 at least two days before digging. The call is free.Source
Construction stormwater permitDisturbing 1 acre or more, including clearing, grading and excavating, needs TCEQ construction stormwater coverage. Smaller sites can too if part of a larger common plan of development.Source
Burning cleared brushTCEQ allows burning brush from on-site land clearing under certain conditions, but never during a county burn ban or red flag warning, and never materials such as plastic, tires or treated lumber. County burn bans are mapped daily by the Texas A&M Forest Service (https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/BurnBans/).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 Houston

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 Houston?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Houston?

Often, yes. Inside Houston city limits, removing trees on city property, rights-of-way or in a setback needs a city tree permit, and excavation or fill needs a City of Houston grading permit, plus a floodplain development permit on floodplain sites. In unincorporated Harris County, the county requires a permit for all development, including filling and grading.

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 Houston?

TCEQ allows burning brush from on-site land clearing under certain conditions, but never during a county burn ban or red flag warning, and never materials such as plastic, tires or treated lumber. County burn bans are mapped daily by the Texas A&M Forest Service (https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/BurnBans/).

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Sources

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