How much does it cost to clear an acre of land in Florida?

Land clearing in Florida runs $3,500 to $6,500 per acre for typical wooded or palmetto-heavy land. Smaller lots under an acre often run a flat $1,500 to $3,500 because setup time is similar regardless of size.

Do you burn the brush or haul it off?

Almost always we mulch in place. It's faster, cleaner, and there's nothing to haul. We can burn or haul if you prefer; haul-off adds 30 to 50% to the cost.

Will you save certain trees?

Yes. Mark trees with flagging tape (orange = save is the common convention) before we start, and walk the property with the operator the morning of the job. We work around them carefully.

Do I need a permit for land clearing?

Depends on the county and what you're clearing. Residential lots under an acre usually don't need one. Clearing for commercial development, work near jurisdictional wetlands, or removing certain protected trees does require permits. We can point you in the right direction; we don't pull permits ourselves.

How fast can you start?

Usually within 1 to 2 weeks of accepting the quote, weather permitting. Urgent jobs (code enforcement letters, closing dates) we'll prioritize when we can.

Clearing Overgrown Land (a.k.a. Land Clearing)

Got a lot full of palmettos, scrub oaks, and Brazilian pepper? You’re not alone. Most of central Florida’s undeveloped land looks like that, and clearing it isn’t a weekend project unless you’ve got serious equipment.

We handle land clearing across Volusia, Seminole, Brevard, and Flagler counties: anything from a quarter-acre infill lot to 40-acre rural parcels. Below is what to expect, what it costs, and what to watch out for.

What “land clearing” actually looks like

Land clearing is the catch-all term for clearing trees, brush, and undergrowth so a piece of land is usable again. Depending on what’s on the property, the work involves some combination of:

Knocking down palmettos with a tractor
Mulching small trees and brush in place (so you don’t have to haul anything)
Pulling stumps with a brush rake or grapple
Hauling out logs that are too big to mulch

Most of the time, we use a tractor with a forestry mulcher attachment for the bulk of the work. It’s faster, cleaner, and leaves the ground in better shape than burning or hauling. The mulcher head grinds standing brush and small trees into mulch in a single pass, leaving a layer of organic material that helps the ground retain moisture and resist erosion.

For the bigger trees we can’t mulch, we cut them on the ground and either grapple them out or leave the trunks at the property line for you to use as firewood, edging, or whatever you’d like.

When you need this

People call us for land clearing for one of these reasons:

Building a house, workshop, or barn. You need a buildable footprint and the lot is wooded or overgrown.
Selling the property. Overgrown land sells for less and shows worse. A clean lot photographs better and gives buyers a real sense of what they’re getting.
Code enforcement letter. The county sent a “tall grass / overgrown lot” notice and you need it cleaned up fast.
Ag exemption. You’re qualifying your land for the Florida agricultural tax break and need to clean it up enough to put it to ag use.
You just bought it. That wooded “deal” you got at auction or inherited from a relative is now your problem.
Storm damage. Hurricane debris on a wooded lot can take out the existing trails, fences, and access. A tractor clears it faster than a crew with chainsaws.

What it costs

Honest answer: $3,500 to $6,500 per acre for typical Central Florida land. That’s palmetto-heavy with scattered small trees. Specifics that move the price:

Density of vegetation. A thick wooded lot costs more than open scrub. The mulcher chews through brush fast, but it slows down on every standing trunk.
Tree size. Anything over 6 inches in diameter takes longer; over 12 inches, we’ll likely cut and drop with a chainsaw before mulching the rest.
Access. Can our tractor get in without trouble, or do we have to navigate culverts, narrow gates, and tight corners? Tight access adds time.
Disposal needs. Mulching in place is cheapest. If you want everything hauled off, add 30 to 50%. If you want a burn pile, that’s between the two.
Stumps. Leaving them is cheapest. Pulling them adds $200 to $500 per acre depending on how many and how big.
Wetland buffers. Work near jurisdictional wetlands is slower and may need permits. We stay out of buffers unless you’ve cleared it with the water management district.

Smaller lots (under 1 acre) often run a flat rate around $1,500 to $3,500. Setup time, equipment hauling, and minimum crew time are the same regardless of whether the job is half an acre or two acres.

How long it takes

A typical 1-acre overgrown lot: half a day to a full day. 5 acres of moderate density: 2 to 3 days. Large rural parcels (20+ acres): a week or more depending on weather and tree size.

We work in dry weather. Florida sandy soil is tough but turns to soup after a hard rain, and a stuck tractor delays everyone. After a hurricane or extended wet stretch, we let the ground dry for a couple days before scheduling.

Common questions and concerns

“Will you burn anything?” Almost never. Burning needs a permit, the right weather window, and a babysitter to make sure it stays contained. Mulching in place is faster and there’s nothing to haul. We can burn if you want, but most people prefer the mulched finish once they see how it looks.

“What about snakes?” Real talk: yes, there are snakes in overgrown Florida brush. We work with the cab closed during heavy clearing, and the noise drives most wildlife out before we get close. We’ll let you know if we spot anything notable so you can call FWC if needed. The good news: when we’re done, the visibility and lack of cover discourages snakes from coming back.

“Can you save certain trees?” Yes. Mark trees with flagging tape (orange = save is a common convention) before we start. Walk the property with the operator the morning of, point out anything important, and we’ll work around it. If you have a few oaks or pines you want to keep, we can leave a buffer zone around them so the mulcher doesn’t damage the bark or root flare.

“Do I need a permit?” Depends on the county and what you’re clearing:

Clearing your own residential lot under an acre: usually no permit
Clearing for commercial development: yes
Clearing near wetlands or water bodies: yes, possibly state-level through SJRWMD
Removing trees over a certain size in some jurisdictions: yes (Volusia and Seminole have tree protection ordinances for certain heritage species)

We can point you in the right direction. We don’t pull permits ourselves; that’s between you, your builder, and the county.

“What about Brazilian pepper and other invasives?” Florida has aggressive invasive species (Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, melaleuca, cogon grass, air potato vine) that the state actively wants removed. Mulching them in place chops them up before they can re-seed. If your property has heavy invasive cover, removal is sometimes required by county code and can occasionally qualify for cost-share programs through your local extension office.

Why a tractor (versus excavator versus crew with chainsaws)

Tractor with mulcher. Fastest for brush, palmettos, and small-to-medium trees. Leaves a finished surface. What we use for 90% of jobs.
Excavator. Better for stumps and big trees. Slower for brush. We bring one in when needed for stump removal or large tree work.
Crew with chainsaws. Only makes sense for selective work: saving certain trees, working in tight spaces, or near structures where a tractor can’t fit.

For most overgrown Florida land, the tractor is the right tool. It’s why our business is named what it is.

Service area

We clear land across:

Volusia County: DeLand, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Deltona, Port Orange, Edgewater, Ormond Beach
Seminole County: Sanford, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, Geneva
Brevard County: Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville, Cocoa, Merritt Island, Mims
Flagler County: Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler Beach

Get a quote for clearing overgrown land

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Common questions

How much does it cost to clear an acre of land in Florida?: Land clearing in Florida runs $3,500 to $6,500 per acre for typical wooded or palmetto-heavy land. Smaller lots under an acre often run a flat $1,500 to $3,500 because setup time is similar regardless of size.
Do you burn the brush or haul it off?: Almost always we mulch in place. It's faster, cleaner, and there's nothing to haul. We can burn or haul if you prefer; haul-off adds 30 to 50% to the cost.
Will you save certain trees?: Yes. Mark trees with flagging tape (orange = save is the common convention) before we start, and walk the property with the operator the morning of the job. We work around them carefully.
What about snakes and wildlife?: Real talk: yes, there are snakes in overgrown Florida brush. We work with the cab closed during heavy clearing, and the noise drives most wildlife out before we get close. We'll let you know if we spot anything notable.
Do I need a permit for land clearing?: Depends on the county and what you're clearing. Residential lots under an acre usually don't need one. Clearing for commercial development, work near jurisdictional wetlands, or removing certain protected trees does require permits. We can point you in the right direction; we don't pull permits ourselves.
How fast can you start?: Usually within 1 to 2 weeks of accepting the quote, weather permitting. Urgent jobs (code enforcement letters, closing dates) we'll prioritize when we can.