Land clearing in Mobile, AL for lots, acreage and overgrown ground
We handle land clearing in Mobile, AL for homeowners, builders and landowners who need brush, vines and trees removed so the ground can be used again. That might be a wooded lot for a new house, a fence line swallowed by privet, or a few acres of pines and underbrush you want opened up.
Land in Mobile County and on the Eastern Shore grows back fast. Heavy summer rain, long warm seasons and sandy and clay soils mean a cleared field can turn into thicket within a few years. A good clearing job starts with a plan: what stays, what goes, where the debris ends up, and what rules apply before the first tree comes down.
Three ways to clear land
There are three main approaches, and the right one depends on what you plan to do with the land. Many jobs use a mix of all three.
Full lot clearing for new construction
Lot clearing removes the trees, brush and stumps from the building pad, driveway and work area so a builder can grade and pour. This is the most thorough option and the most expensive per acre, because stumps usually have to be ground or pulled and the debris has to go somewhere. If you’re clearing land for new construction, talk to your builder first about the exact footprint so you don’t pay to clear more than you need.
Selective clearing
Selective clearing keeps the trees worth saving and removes the rest. On a typical Mobile lot, that could mean keeping a healthy live oak or a stand of longleaf pine while taking out sweetgum saplings, dead pines and the vines between them. Our crew walks the property with you and flags every keeper before any equipment moves in. For individual large trees near the house, tree removal in Mobile covers the careful sectional work.
Forestry mulching and underbrush removal
Forestry mulching grinds brush, vines and small trees into mulch where they stand, using a single tracked machine. It’s the fastest way to open up overgrown woods, clear fence lines, or knock back underbrush without scraping the topsoil. The mulch layer holds soil in place during heavy rain and slows regrowth. It works best on growth up to roughly 6 to 8 inches across; larger trees are cut and handled separately.
Land clearing cost per acre in Mobile County
Most land clearing in the Mobile area costs $1,200 to $5,000 per acre in 2026. Light brush sits at the low end. Heavy pine and hardwood timber, stump removal and haul-off push a job to the high end or beyond.
| Type of clearing | Typical 2026 range (Mobile area) | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Brush and underbrush clearing | $700 – $2,000 per acre | Density of brush, vines, access |
| Forestry mulching or mixed growth (most jobs) | $1,200 – $5,000 per acre | Tree size, terrain, wet ground |
| Heavily wooded land | $3,000 – $6,000 per acre | Number of large trees, stumps, haul-off |
| Residential lot (0.25–1 acre) | Per-acre rates, with a minimum charge | Building footprint, stumps, minimum charge |
| Stump grinding on cleared land | $100 – $450 per stump | Diameter; each extra small stump $50 – $125 |
These are typical estimates based on published national cost data adjusted for the Gulf Coast. Small jobs usually carry a minimum charge because the equipment still has to be trucked in. Your written estimate will list exactly what’s included.
Permits, erosion control and wetlands
Before you clear, check three things: the size of the disturbance, whether any part of the land is wet, and your local city rules. Coastal Mobile County has a lot of low, wet ground, so this step matters more here than in most places.
Stormwater permits for one acre or more
In Alabama, construction activity that disturbs one acre or more of land generally needs coverage under ADEM’s Construction General Permit. That includes clearing and grading. Covered sites must use erosion and sediment controls, such as silt fence, under a plan prepared by a qualified professional. Your builder or engineer usually handles this, but it has to be in place before clearing starts.
Wetlands along the coast
Much of south Mobile County and the Eastern Shore sits near creeks, bayous and marsh. Mechanized clearing in wetlands can require a federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Mobile District handles this area. Wet ground isn’t always obvious; pine flatwoods can hold water for months. If any part of your land stays soggy, has standing water after rain or grows cattails or rushes, contact the Corps before you clear. It is better to pause a job than risk a costly violation.
City and county rules
Tree and grading rules differ between the City of Mobile, Saraland, Semmes, Daphne, Fairhope and unincorporated areas. Some cities regulate trees on commercial sites or in the right-of-way. Check with your city or the county before work begins, and see our guide to tree removal permits in Mobile for the questions to ask.
Can you burn land-clearing debris?
Only in the cooler months, and usually only with a permit. ADEM bans open burning of wood, brush and land-clearing debris in Mobile and Baldwin counties from May 1 through October 31 every year to reduce ground-level ozone.
From November through April, the Alabama Forestry Commission requires a free burn permit for any burn over a quarter acre or within 25 feet of woods or grass. Whoever burns must stay with the fire and have the tools and people to control it. Many subdivisions and cities also restrict burning near homes. Because of these limits, we usually mulch or haul debris instead.
What happens to the trees, brush and stumps
You decide where the material goes, and it’s a big part of the price. Here are the usual options:
- Mulched in place: the cheapest choice for brush and small trees. The mulch protects bare soil.
- Hauled away: best for building pads and yards where you want a clean surface.
- Logs left for you: some owners keep oak or pine logs for firewood or projects.
- Timber sold separately: on larger tracts with mature pines, a forester can tell you whether the timber has value before clearing starts. Our pine tree removal guide covers more on local pines.
Stumps in the building pad and driveway usually need to go. Grinding is faster and less disruptive than digging them out; see stump grinding in Mobile for details, or compare the two in our stump grinding vs removal guide. City and county crews won’t collect contractor-cleared material, so haul-away is part of the plan; our debris guide lists the curbside debris limits for small homeowner piles.
How long does land clearing take?
A typical quarter-acre to one-acre home lot usually takes one to three days. A forestry mulcher can often clear one to three acres of light brush per day, while heavy timber may take a full day or more per acre. Rain can slow things down, because heavy equipment on soaked clay ruts the ground and tracks mud onto roads.
The process is simple:
- Walk-through: we look at the land with you, flag trees to keep and note wet spots.
- Written estimate: clear scope, price, debris plan and timeline.
- Permit check: confirm that you or your builder have what’s needed.
- Clearing: cutting, mulching and stump work, with safety-first practices.
- Final walk: we review the site with you before leaving.
Our land clearing crews work across Mobile County and the Eastern Shore, including larger lots in Semmes and Theodore. Request a free written estimate and tell us what you want the land to become.
