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Land Clearing Contractors in Seattle, Washington

Find land clearing contractors serving Seattle 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 Seattle

22 land clearing contractors serving Seattle 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 Seattle

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 Seattle?

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 Seattle-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.

Seattle Permits and Local Rules

In Seattle, removing trees 6 inches DSH or larger is generally prohibited without development or SDCI approval, and tree service providers must be city-registered and post public notice before removal.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Tree protection codeTree removal on private property is generally prohibited when no development is proposed, with some exemptions; in most cases removal needs SDCI review, replacement, a registered tree service provider and public notice. Providers must post notice at least 6 full business days before removing a tree 6 inches DSH or larger; owners who remove their own trees skip the notice but may still need SDCI authorization.Source
Grading permitA grading permit is generally needed for more than 500 cubic yards of soil movement, land disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more, 750 square feet or more of new or replaced hard surface, or a grade change over 4 feet with more than 50 cubic yards. In most environmentally critical areas and their buffers the threshold drops to 25 cubic yards, and riparian corridors, wetlands and buffers need a permit regardless.Source
Trees in environmentally critical areasSDCI approval is required before removing a protected tree in an environmentally critical area or its buffer, except in emergencies; hazard removal needs a qualified tree risk assessor’s report and may require native replanting. SDCI does not treat removing established vegetation as routine maintenance.Source
ECA small project waiverLimited disturbance of ECAs is possible through a Director-approved small project waiver tied to a development proposal: up to 150 sq ft in riparian management areas and wetland buffers, or 300 sq ft in steep slope erosion hazard areas, with cumulative limits and native replanting required.Source
Floodplain developmentSDCI approval is required before construction or development in a designated floodplain; if no other permit is needed, a Floodplain Development License is required, and grading of any type or amount in a floodplain requires approval.Source
Call 811 before diggingUnder RCW 19.122.030, an excavator must notify the one-number locator service at least two full business days and no more than 10 full business days before the scheduled start date, unless exempted under RCW 19.122.031. Starting January 1, 2026, excavation may not begin until positive responses are received from all operators; markings expire 45 calendar days after notice.Source
Construction stormwater permitThe Department of Ecology’s Construction Stormwater General Permit is needed for clearing, grading, excavating or stockpiling that disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre if part of a common plan of development that will disturb one acre or more, when stormwater can reach surface waters. Ecology can also require coverage for any size site it considers a significant contributor of pollutants. Current permit effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030.Source
Burning cleared brushWAC 173-425-040 bars residential and land clearing burning in urban growth areas (after Dec. 31, 2000, with limited exceptions to 2006), in cities over 10,000 people, and in nonattainment areas; land clearing burning is also barred where population density is 1,000+ per square mile, and where a reasonable alternative to burning exists.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 Seattle

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 Seattle?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Seattle?

Usually, yes. Removing trees 6 inches DSH or larger is generally prohibited without development and typically needs SDCI review, a registered tree service and public notice. A grading permit is needed for land disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more or over 500 cubic yards of soil, with lower thresholds (25 cubic yards) in environmentally critical areas, and any grading in a floodplain needs SDCI 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 Seattle?

WAC 173-425-040 bars residential and land clearing burning in urban growth areas (after Dec. 31, 2000, with limited exceptions to 2006), in cities over 10,000 people, and in nonattainment areas; land clearing burning is also barred where population density is 1,000+ per square mile, and where a reasonable alternative to burning exists.

More Directories

Sources

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