Land clearing
Clearing brush and trees from part or all of a lot, usually for building, farming or a new driveway.
What it is
Land clearing ranges from mulching brush and small trees to removing mature woodland. Common methods are forestry mulching (a machine grinds everything in place, leaving mulch on the ground) and cutting and hauling away. Stump removal (grubbing) is often priced separately.
Before clearing, check your municipality's tree and woodland bylaws, conservation authority rules, and bird nesting season rules. Clearing a woodland without a permit can bring large fines.
Signs you might need it
- Preparing a building site, driveway or laneway
- Reclaiming an overgrown field or fence line
- Creating a fire break or trail on rural land
- Removing invasive brush like buckthorn
Good to know
Removing a few trees in a yard is tree removal. Land clearing is priced by the area, for lots and acreage.
Typical cost in Ontario
Before HST. Light brush is about $2,500–$5,000 an acre; mixed trees and brush $5,000–$9,000; heavily wooded land with mature trees $8,000–$15,000 or more. Small jobs are often billed by the hour for equipment.
What pushes the price up or down
- How dense the vegetation is
- Lot size: bigger areas cost less per acre
- Terrain: rock, slopes and wet ground
- Method: mulching in place versus hauling away
- Stump removal and grading
- Permits and bylaw requirements
Ways to spend less
- Choose forestry mulching and leave the mulch on site
- Clear only what you need, like the building area and driveway
- Check bylaws and conservation authority rules before work starts to avoid fines and delays
Based on Ontario sources, which overlap well; rocky or heavily wooded land can far exceed the range. Prices are typical ranges gathered from published Ontario price guides and company price pages in September 2026, before 13% HST. They’re a guide, not a quote: your price depends on your tree and your property. Get two or three written quotes, and check whether your city charges a permit fee.
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