Clearing a building lot in Ooltewah, reclaiming an overgrown field near Soddy-Daisy or opening up a fence line in Walker County? We’ll connect you with a local crew that has the equipment for it. Call (423) 275-4820 to set up a free site walk.
Call (423) 275-4820 Get a free estimate
Kinds of clearing
- Building lot clearing. Trees and brush cleared from the house footprint, driveway and drain field, often with stumps pulled for a clean grade.
- Selective clearing. The best trees stay and the rest go. A good way to open up a wooded lot while keeping shade and privacy.
- Forestry mulching. A tracked mulcher grinds brush and small trees where they stand and leaves a mulch layer that helps hold soil on hillsides. No burning or hauling.
- Underbrush and invasive removal. Privet, honeysuckle, kudzu edges and multiflora rose that choke out woodlots around the Tennessee Valley.
- Fence lines and pasture edges. Reopening fence lines and pushing back tree lines that creep into fields.
- View clearing. Opening sight lines on ridge and brow properties, a common request on Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain.
How clearing is priced
Clearing is quoted per acre or as a fixed bid after a site walk. Typical ranges in the area:
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Light brush and small trees | $1,500 to $3,500 per acre |
| Moderate woods, mixed sizes | $3,000 to $6,000 per acre |
| Heavy timber with stump removal | $5,000 to $9,000 or more per acre |
| Forestry mulching | $1,800 to $4,500 per acre |
Slope, access, how many stumps come out and whether debris is hauled or mulched all change the price. On larger tracts, mature hardwood can have timber value that offsets part of the cost.
Rules to check before you clear
New development in Chattanooga. The city’s tree ordinance, passed in April 2025, applies to new development rather than homeowners cutting trees on their own lots. Developments must account for 36 inches of tree caliper per acre, roughly 18 new trees, by preserving trees, replanting or paying into the city’s tree bank. If you’re clearing for a new build inside city limits, ask your builder or engineer how it applies.
Public trees. Any work on trees in the city right-of-way or on city-owned land needs a city permit.
Grading, streams and sinkholes. Larger land disturbance can need a grading or stormwater permit, and work near streams, wetlands or sinkholes has extra protections. A good crew will flag these, but the responsibility is the owner’s.
Land clearing questions
Can the debris be burned? In Hamilton County, burning brush from your own property needs a seasonal permit from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, and the burn season runs October 1 to April 30. The permit costs more inside Chattanooga, Collegedale, East Ridge, Red Bank and Ridgeside because it includes an inspection. Most crews chip, mulch or haul instead. Georgia has its own rules, so check locally across the state line.
How long does it take to clear an acre? One to three days for most residential acreage, longer for heavy timber or steep ground.
Should I clear before the surveyor or builder comes? Often the surveyor needs a cut path first. Ask your builder what they need before clearing everything.
Get a free estimate
Prefer to talk? Call (423) 275-4820.
Need a tree crew around Chattanooga?
Call (423) 275-4820 or send a few details. We’ll match you with an independent local crew for a free written estimate, usually the same day.