Lot and land clearing in Stuart runs about $500–$2,500 for an overgrown side yard and $2,000–$5,000 per acre for a lightly wooded lot. We cut and haul the brush and unwanted trees, grind the stumps, and work around the trees you want to keep, leaving the ground ready for a fence, pool, addition or new build.
Jobs we take on
- Back fences and side yards that have disappeared under Brazilian pepper, grapevine and volunteer trees.
- Residential building lots in Palm City, Hobe Sound and western Martin County that need clearing before the slab goes in.
- Fence lines and access paths cut through overgrowth so a fence crew or surveyor can work.
- Pool and addition footprints cleared with the root zones of nearby keeper trees protected.
Selective clearing, not scraping
Bulldozing a lot to bare sand is fast, but it throws away trees that take fifty years to grow back and leaves the soil to blow and wash away. On most residential jobs we clear selectively: invasives and dead trees out, healthy natives in. We walk the lot with you first and tie flagging tape on every tree that stays, then fell, chip and grind around them.
Invasive species we clear most
Brazilian pepper, Australian pine (casuarina) and melaleuca are all listed invasives in Florida. Australian pines are a particular problem near the coast and the Indian River Lagoon: they grow tall on shallow roots and go over easily in a storm. Clearing them while they're small costs far less than taking down a mature one later.
Clearing prices
| Job | Estimated price | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Overgrown side yard or pepper thicket | $500–$2,500 | Size, and how much has to be hauled |
| Lightly wooded lot, per acre | $2,000–$5,000 | Tree count and stump grinding |
| Heavily wooded lot, per acre | $4,000–$9,000 | Pines and oaks to fell, root raking, disposal |
| Selective clearing around keeper trees | Quoted on site | How many trees are flagged to stay |
Clearing is always priced on site. Treat these as rough estimates. Tree count, stumps and disposal change the number more than acreage does.
For one or two trees rather than a whole lot, tree removal and stump grinding are the better fit. Full pricing is on the price guide.
Clearing questions
Do I need a permit to clear a lot in Martin County?
Clearing a lot usually does, especially before construction, and protected trees and native habitat can come with conditions. The builder or owner normally pulls it. We work to the approved plan and leave the flagged trees standing.
Can you clear around trees I want to keep?
Yes, and we recommend it. Mature live oaks and sabal palms add a lot to a finished lot. We flag them with you first, keep machines off their root zones, and clear by hand close to the trunk.
What happens to all the material?
Brush is chipped or mulched on site, and logs are hauled out. On larger lots, the mulch can be spread back over the ground to hold the sand down until construction starts.
Do you remove Brazilian pepper?
Yes. It's one of Florida's worst invasive plants and it takes over vacant lots and back fences quickly. We cut it, grind the stumps and can treat the cut stumps so it doesn't come straight back.
Last reviewed October 8, 2026.