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Land Clearing Contractors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Find land clearing contractors serving Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee

15 land clearing contractors serving Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee

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 Milwaukee?

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 Milwaukee-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.

Milwaukee Permits and Local Rules

Milwaukee requires an approved erosion control plan and permit before grading, vegetation removal, excavation or filling that affects 4,000 square feet or more.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Erosion control permitAn erosion control plan and permit from the Department of City Development are required before grading, removing ground cover or vegetation, excavating or filling 4,000 square feet or more, or moving or storing 100 cubic yards or more of material. Work in the public right-of-way needs a Department of Public Works permit instead.Source
Stormwater management planA stormwater management plan approved by the city engineer is required when development disturbs one acre or more (including one acre over three years) or adds half an acre or more of impervious area. Lower half-acre thresholds apply in the Milwaukee River Greenway overlay zone.Source
Floodplain overlay zonesFilling, grading and excavation in a mapped floodplain count as development and need a permit. Fill in the floodway is allowed only by permit under strict conditions, and grading in the flood fringe must not reduce the floodplain’s water-carrying and storage capacity.Source
Call 811 before diggingUnder Wis. Stat. 182.0175, the person excavating must notify Diggers Hotline at least 3 days before digging. Utilities then have three working days to mark the site.Source
Construction stormwater permitLandowners of most construction projects that will disturb one acre or more (clearing, grading, excavating or stockpiling) must apply for coverage under the DNR’s Construction Site Storm Water Runoff General Permit (WI-S067831-6). The whole project counts, including all phases of a common plan of development or sale.Source
Burning cleared brushDNR rules allow tree trunks, limbs and stumps from land clearing to be burned only under specific conditions, often using Air Program-approved methods, and generally on the property where the wood came from. Construction and demolition materials, painted or treated wood, plastics and garbage cannot be burned. Burns outside incorporated cities and villages may need a DNR burning permit, and local rules can be stricter.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 Milwaukee

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 Milwaukee?

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

Do I need a permit for land clearing in Milwaukee?

Yes for most real clearing jobs. Milwaukee requires an erosion control permit before grading, removing vegetation, excavating or filling 4,000 square feet or more, or moving 100 cubic yards or more of material. Disturbing an acre or more also requires a stormwater management plan, and any filling or grading in a mapped floodplain needs a floodplain permit.

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 Milwaukee?

DNR rules allow tree trunks, limbs and stumps from land clearing to be burned only under specific conditions, often using Air Program-approved methods, and generally on the property where the wood came from. Construction and demolition materials, painted or treated wood, plastics and garbage cannot be burned. Burns outside incorporated cities and villages may need a DNR burning permit, and local rules can be stricter.

More Directories

Sources

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