One of the biggest factors in any project is budget. So, it’s important to know how much it will cost to clear land before you start deciding exactly what kind of land clearing services you need.
In this article, we’ll show you a bit more information about how to determine the cost to clear land in Jacksonville Florida, and the surrounding Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia region.
There will be many factors that will influence the end cost to clear your land. For example, heavily forested land will involve a lot more labor time and equipment than just clearing a small field with only a few trees.
It will also depend on the type of land that you’re clearing. Land that is designated for commercial use will be higher than the cost to clear land that belongs to an individual homeowner.
This is because commercial property usually involves large-scale projects with large budgets as well as more particular requirements. Homeowners and landowners on the other hand tend to have smaller budgets and smaller projects.
Even if you are trying to spend as little as possible, be prepared to pay your land clearing company an average price of several thousand dollars for high-quality, professional work.
What is Land Clearing and Why Do I Need it?
To figure out the kind of land clearing service you need, you must first understand what land clearing is and why you even need it to begin with.
Land clearing is a term generally used to refer to any professional service that involves removing trees, land grading, and debris removal to prepare land for any kind of use.
Land clearing is the first step for preparing land for any construction site. A clearing company like Legacy Land Management LLC comes in to remove forestry, level the ground and completes any excavation work necessary before construction begins.
Until this step is completed, the other contractors can’t come in to pour the foundation or complete other steps to put up a new structure. This type of land clearing job is often referred to as site preparation.
Removing trees is also a big part of land clearing. Another reason that you want to hire a professional company is that proper training and equipment allows them to safely remove trees and other foliage without causing severe damage to the surrounding plant life and soil.
Erosion and topsoil stripping can be a big problem for any land clearing project. If the heavy machinery is operated incorrectly or the wrong techniques are used, then the ground will be ripped up too much. This will wash away important nutrients and topsoil.
A professional clearing company is properly trained in erosion control. They will be able to lessen and, hopefully, prevent this problem from occurring on your upcoming land clearing project.
What Factors Affect the Cost to Clear Land?
So, how much does it cost? Aside from property size and location, final price will vary based on several other important factors. The following will help determine the land clearing costs for your next project.
Trees, Shrubs, and Plants on Site
Trees are a major factor to determine land clearing cost. Heavily forested area will be much more expensive than lightly wooded lots. Also, removal of tall trees is more costly than small trees.
It’s important to understand that clearing land involves much more than just taking a chainsaw or bulldozer to the area. To clear land of trees, shrubs, and other plants, your land clearing company will have to use professional skill.
Professional forestry mulching techniques are used for healthy tree and brush removal . This technique works to carefully remove the plant life in the area in a way that causes the least amount of damage to the soil.
Large stump removal may also be necessary to level out the land. The root system of the stump will need to be grinded and hauled away. The stumps of larger trees will obviously be much more cumbersome than small tree stumps.
Depending on the size and species, your tree clearing cost will typically range between $1,200 – $7,000 per acre. Your cost will also include the level of time and effort necessary to clear underbrush and other plant growth from the land.
Utilities and Other Structures
If there are underground utilities near your land clearing project, then your clearing company will need to note the utility locations and be careful not to damage them. Large rock removal is also a consideration that plays into final cost.
Existing structures on the property will also increase the cost of land clearing. You will need to also have these structures demolished and hauled off the site. If you don’t want to remove the structures, then your clearing company will have to work around them. This can still increase the overall price.
The Average Cost for Land Clearing
The average cost to clear land is usually around $1,200 for a small project. This will vary depending on the amount of land that needs to be cleared, how many trees are on it, and whether the land needs to also be graded.
Some homeowners and companies may only have to pay around $2,500, while others will need to plan on paying as much $8,000 to $10,000.
Here are several other factors you’ll need to consider when clearing land:
● The square footage of the property
● Whether or not you’re dealing with heavily forested land
● Local zoning laws and regulations
● Pre-existing structures
● Necessary tree removal
● Overall condition of the land
Average Per Unit Cost to Clear Land
The cost of clearing land by acre or half-acre will depend on the amount of tree removal and dirt work needed. how much land,
- Per Half an acre: If your land doesn’t require removal of many trees, then you can expect to pay around $1,250 per half-acre. Heavily forested land can cost between $1,900 and $3,350 per half-acre.
- Per Acre: The average cost per acre for lot clearing is around $2,500. If the land only requires light clearing work, then it will be on the lower scale around $2,500 per acre. If it is a heavily wooded lot and needs a lot of dirt work, then it can cost upward of $7,000 per acre.
Get A Specific Cost Estimate from Your Local Land Clearing Company
All of this information should make budgeting your upcoming land clearing project a bit easier. However, if you want to skip all the calculations, then you can simply contact your local land clearing team for a project specific cost estimate. They will also know if a land clearing permit is required in your region.
When you call, make sure to be specific about what your upcoming project entails. Consider the following before you call.
- Are you wanting full site preparation?
- Does this need to include clearing property lines and tree clearing costs?
Provide as much information as possible to ensure that get a correct, detailed estimate. To protect yourself, it’s also important to ensure that your company of choice carries the appropriate liability insurance.
If you’re located in the Jacksonville Florida region, Legacy Land Management LLC is ready to help with your project. Our team will be happy to provide a free custom quote.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a homeowner who wants to expand their lawn or if you’re a large company making plans for a new construction project. No project is too large or too small.
We have the right equipment and manpower to complete the job quickly and efficiently at a competitive price. We also carry the appropriate liability insurance.
So, contact our team today for your free per acre land clearing cost estimate.