Small property clearing
Land & Lot Clearing Services
Clearing of trees, brush and overgrowth on properties up to about one acre, for homesites, yard expansions, access and commercial site preparation.
Sometimes the job is bigger than one tree. A back corner of the property has turned into a thicket. A wooded lot needs to be opened up for a new home. A strip along the fence line has grown into a wall of saplings, vines and brush. e Tree Service provides land and lot clearing for residential and commercial properties up to approximately one acre, sized for the kinds of projects property owners in the Triangle take on most often.
What We Clear
Our clearing work covers trees of various sizes, brush and undergrowth, vines and overgrowth, and small saplings that have filled in unused ground. We handle clearing for overgrown lots, home sites being prepared for construction, yard expansion projects that push the usable lawn back into the woods, access improvements such as opening a path for a driveway, gate or equipment, and commercial property preparation on smaller parcels.
Our Scope: Small Properties, Done Right
We focus on clearing properties up to about one acre. That covers most residential lots, many homesites and a range of small commercial parcels. We do not offer large-scale forestry or timber clearing. Keeping our clearing work to this size lets us work carefully around property lines, neighboring homes, trees you want to keep and existing structures.
Because every site is different, we evaluate the scope of each clearing job individually. Density of vegetation, tree size, slope, soil conditions, access and what the land will be used for afterward all affect how the job is done and what it costs.
Planning a Clearing Project
Define what stays. Many clearing projects are selective. Keeping healthy, well-placed trees can add shade and value to a new home or yard. We will walk the site with you and mark what should stay and what should go.
Check the rules. Some towns regulate clearing on development sites, near streams and in required buffers, and many HOAs have their own requirements. Check with your town, county and HOA before clearing begins.
Plan site access. Equipment needs a way in and debris needs a way out. We look at gates, driveways, soft ground, septic areas and utilities as part of the estimate.
Stumps and Debris
What happens to stumps depends on what comes next. For a lawn, garden or play area, stumps are usually ground below grade with our stump grinding service. For areas that will stay natural, some stumps may simply be cut low. Debris such as brush, logs and chips is removed from the site or handled as agreed during the estimate.
Clearing and Grading
Clearing is often the first step of a larger project. Once the vegetation is gone, the ground may be uneven, rutted or scattered with holes where stumps were ground. Our small property grading service provides rough grading and minor leveling to prepare the cleared area for the next phase, whether that is seed and straw, a pad for a shed or a builder's arrival.
Residential and Commercial Clearing
Homeowners usually call us to reclaim overgrown parts of their yards, make room for an addition, pool, garage or garden, or open up a wooded lot before building. Commercial clients use clearing to prepare small parcels, open up visibility, clear overgrown lot edges and create access. Learn more on our residential and commercial pages.
Lot Clearing in the Communities We Serve
We provide land and lot clearing in Pittsboro, Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs, as well as Angier, Clayton, Knightdale, Morrisville, Wake Forest, Willow Spring, Youngsville and Zebulon. Clearing is especially common on the larger, more wooded parcels found toward the edges of the Triangle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
Often not on a typical residential lot, but rules vary by town and by situation. Some municipalities regulate tree removal in required buffers, on development sites or on certain types of property, and many HOAs have their own approval process. Check with your town and HOA before work begins; we are happy to talk through what we see on site.
How large a property can you clear?
We focus on smaller properties, typically up to about one acre. That covers most homesites, yard expansions, access paths and small commercial parcels. Larger forestry-scale clearing is outside what we offer.
Do you remove stumps when clearing a lot?
Stumps can be ground as part of a clearing job when the next phase of the project calls for it. We will talk through what you are preparing the land for and price the job accordingly.
What kind of grading do you do?
We handle rough grading and minor leveling, usually after clearing, to prepare ground for the next step of a project. We do not provide engineered grading plans or drainage design, and we evaluate each job individually to confirm it fits our scope.
Can you clear the underbrush but keep the good trees?
Yes. Selective clearing is one of the most common requests. We walk the area with you, mark the trees you want to keep and remove the brush, vines and unwanted trees around them.
Do I need a permit to clear land?
Sometimes. In North Carolina, land-disturbing activity of more than one acre generally requires an approved erosion and sediment control plan, and towns and counties may have their own rules for smaller areas, buffers and development sites. Check with your local planning or zoning office before clearing.
Request a Free Estimate
Tell us what is going on with your trees and we will follow up to schedule a look. If a tree is already down or threatening your home, call (919) 290-3020 any time, day or night.