Clearing is the bigger version of tree work: a wooded lot opened up for a house or a garden, a fence line choked with saplings and vines, a back acre of beetle-killed pines, or years of brush piled at the edge of the yard.
Published prices
| Clearing | Angi, September 2026 (national) |
|---|---|
| Typical job | $1,396 to $6,174 (average $3,778) |
| Lightly wooded, per acre | $500 to $2,000 |
| Densely wooded, per acre | $3,600 to $5,600 |
| Brush only, per acre | $20 to $200 |
| Wood chipping | $50 to $125 per hour (debris guide) |
| Dump disposal | $75 to $250 per trip (debris guide) |
Angi's clearing average is based on 2,416 verified projects, and its full range runs from $400 to $15,000.
Where the debris goes
Huntsville's curbside service specifically won't take tree limbs or trimmings that result from land clearing, or debris from a contractor's work. That leaves chipping it on site or hauling it to disposal, both priced in the table above, and either way it belongs in the quote.
OSHA's tree care guidance warns that chippers can throw material and that no one should reach into the in-feed chute to clear a jam while the machine is running.
Dead pines on the back of the lot
The Alabama Forestry Commission counted almost 5,000 southern pine beetle spots statewide in 2024, averaging 191 dead pines per spot. For forested ground, Alabama Extension advises removing infested trees quickly and contacting a local forester or Extension office. Its urban guide covers yard pines separately.
Before the machines come in
- Ask the city or county about clearing rules. We didn't find a published clearing permit rule for Huntsville or Madison County, so ask before work starts.
- Request Alabama 811 locates. Pulling stumps or grading means digging, and Alabama 811 asks for at least 2 working days' notice before excavation.
- Agree on the debris plan. Chip, haul or stack: get it in writing.
Sources for this page
- Angi, land clearing cost guide, 2026 data (by Ginny Bartolone; revised Sept. 28, 2026)
- Angi, tree debris removal cost guide, 2026 data (by Scott Dylan Westerlund; revised Aug. 3, 2026)
- City of Huntsville: Curbside Collection
- OSHA: Solutions for Tree Care Hazards (OSHA 3940, 2018)
- Alabama Forestry Commission: Southern Pine Beetles Reach Epidemic Level in Alabama’s Forests (2024)
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System: Bark Beetles Threatening Alabama’s Forests (FOR-2200, Annakay Newell, April 2026)
- Alabama 811: Contact 811 Before You Dig
Checked October 27, 2026. Ordinances, collection rules and prices get revised; confirm with the source before you count on a figure.