The cost to clear an acre of land in Florida depends on how many machine days the lot needs, and our one published price is $1,385 a day for a Bobcat T740 with a 60" grapple and an operator. Land clearing is the removal of trees, brush, palmetto, stumps and overgrowth from a lot — the ground work every raw Palm Beach County property needs before it can be built on, farmed, fenced, or simply kept usable. Once you know what land clearing is, the next question is always what it costs: this guide has the honest per-acre ranges, the factors that move the price, the local permit rules people forget, and how to keep the bill down. Written by the crew that runs the Bobcat.
The cost to clear an acre of land in Florida is not one number, and neither is land clearing cost in general. It depends on the site — how dense the vegetation is, how the machine gets in, whether stumps are grubbed and whether debris is hauled or mulched. Our one published price is $1,385 a day for a Bobcat T740 with a 60" grapple and an operator. Call (561) 779-3213 for a free estimate.
The cost to clear an acre of land in Florida, and the land clearing cost per acre in Florida, comes down to how many machine days the acre needs. Because our rate is $1,385 per day with an operator, the arithmetic is simple: one day is $1,385, two days $2,770, three days $4,155. How many days an acre takes is the part that varies, and it is set by five things.
Vegetation density. Grass, weeds and scattered brush go quickly; dense saw palmetto and mature trees do not. Stumps. Cutting to ground level is one scope; grubbing roots so the ground is build-ready is more machine time. Access. Tight gates and soft ground slow the machine and the trucks. Debris. Mulching in place avoids haul-off; hauling does not. Permits. Tree removal or work near wetlands may need approval first; see the permits section below.
This is how to think about the number, not a quote, and we do not publish a per-acre price. Call (561) 779-3213 for a free walk of the acre and a figure in writing.
Land clearing is removing trees, brush, palmetto and stumps so a lot can be built on, fenced or used. The cost to clear an acre of land in Florida, and the land clearing cost per acre in Florida, is not one number: it is set by vegetation type and density, access for the machine, whether stumps are cut or grubbed, whether debris is hauled off or mulched in place, and any permits the lot needs. Our equipment rate is $1,385 per day with an operator (Bobcat T740, 60" grapple). We do not quote a per-acre figure from a table: call (561) 779-3213 for a quote after a free walk of your lot.
In practice, land clearing covers everything from cutting back grass and weeds to grubbing mature oaks and their root balls out of the ground — it's the first physical step on almost any raw Palm Beach County property, and it is a different job from grading, which shapes the dirt underneath once the vegetation is already gone. What it costs comes down to three things: how many acres you're clearing, how dense the vegetation is (grass and weeds versus mature trees and stumps), and whether the debris is hauled off or mulched in place. Our own concrete anchor for that math is the Bobcat T740 with a 60" grapple at $1,385/day with an operator — the rate every range in this guide builds from.
Across Florida, clearing an acre of raw land generally runs anywhere from about $1,500 to $15,000 per acre. That is an enormous spread, and it is a fair one — a mostly-grass lot with a few scattered pines is a completely different job from a dense acre choked with mature oaks and deep saw palmetto. In practice, a light residential lot in the western communities often lands toward the lower end, while heavily wooded or wet ground with big stumps and haul-off climbs toward the top.
These are general industry ranges, not a quote. The only way to know your number is to have someone walk the lot. At Bell Land Services our Bobcat T740 with a 60" grapple runs $1,385 per day with an operator, and quotes are always free — for smaller lots, a day or two of machine time is often all it takes. Call (561) 779-3213 and we'll give you a straight answer.
Two lots the same size can quote thousands apart. Here's what a good estimator is really looking at when they walk your property:
This is the part most homeowners underestimate. In Palm Beach County, clearing vegetation — especially removing trees or working near water — often requires review or a permit before a machine ever touches the ground. Rules differ between unincorporated county land and each municipality (Loxahatchee, The Acreage, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Jupiter, and West Palm Beach can each treat this differently).
A few things worth knowing before you start:
This is general guidance, not legal or permitting advice — always confirm the current requirements with Palm Beach County or your city before clearing. We're happy to point you in the right direction as part of your quote.
Want the whole permitting picture in one place? Our Palm Beach County land clearing permits & regulations guide covers which desk handles what (ERM vs. Zoning), the acreage thresholds, invasive-exotic rules, wetlands and ITID easements, gopher tortoises and nesting season, 811, debris burning, the agricultural exemption, and a nine-step pre-clearing checklist with the phone numbers to call.
South Florida runs on two seasons, not four, and they matter more to a land clearing job than almost anything else in the bid. Rainy season runs roughly June through October — heavy afternoon thunderstorms most days and a high water table across the county. Dry season runs roughly November through May, when rainfall drops off and the ground has real time to firm back up.
That split matters most in the low-lying western communities — Loxahatchee, The Acreage, and similar areas — where ground sits wet to begin with. During rainy season, saturated ground can force a switch from standard wheeled equipment to tracked machines, which move slower across a lot and add cost even before a single tree comes down. Wet ground also slows haul-off: a loaded truck that would cross a firm yard in dry season can rut and get stuck in the same spot after a summer soak, and a rutted yard is its own repair bill.
Dry season, by contrast, is when firmer ground lets a crew move faster — easier haul-off access, fewer weather-delay days, and equipment that isn't fighting the ground on top of the vegetation. That's also exactly why it's the busiest booking window in the county: everyone wants their lot cleared before the rains come back, so calendars fill up fast. If you know you'll need clearing done, get on the schedule early rather than waiting for the week you need it.
If burning debris on site is part of the plan rather than hauling it off, know that Florida's agricultural and open-burning rules carry their own permit and weather restrictions, and drought-index-driven burn bans are common during the drier months — confirm the current rules with Palm Beach County or the Florida Forest Service before you plan around a burn rather than a haul-off.
Our own rate doesn't change with the season — the Bobcat T740 with 60" grapple and operator is still $1,385 per day whether we're on tracks in July or moving fast in February. What changes is how many days the job takes and how far ahead you need to book. If you're planning a spring or summer build, the practical move is to schedule the clearing for the preceding dry season, so weather-driven delays aren't stacking on top of your permit and inspection timeline.
As a general range, clearing an acre in Florida runs roughly $1,500 to $15,000, depending mostly on vegetation density and stump removal. Light grass and brush sit near the low end; dense trees with stumps and haul-off sit near the top. The only accurate number comes from a free on-site quote — call (561) 779-3213.
Our Bobcat T740 with a 60" grapple is $1,385 per day, and that rate includes an experienced operator. Many residential lots take just a day or two. Every quote is free, so you'll know the cost before we start.
Vegetation type is usually the reason. Mature oaks, dense saw palmetto with deep roots, big stumps, wet ground, and tight access all add machine hours and disposal cost. A grassy lot next door with easy access is simply a smaller job.
Not always — it depends on the job. Cutting trees to ground level is one scope; pulling stumps and roots so the ground is build-ready (grubbing) is more involved and can add roughly $500 to $3,000 per acre. Tell us your end goal and we'll quote the right scope.
Often, yes — especially for tree removal or work near wetlands. Requirements vary between unincorporated county land and each city. Permits are usually modest, but clearing protected trees or wetlands without approval can bring heavy fines. Always confirm with the county or your municipality first; we can help point you in the right direction.
Clear only the area you actually need, mulch brush on site when the lot and rules allow (avoiding haul-off fees), bundle clearing with any grading you'll need anyway, and schedule during the drier winter and spring months when the ground is firmer.
Land clearing removes the vegetation you can see — brush, saplings, and trees. Grubbing goes further, pulling out stumps, roots, and buried material so the ground is level and ready to build. Grading is a separate step after either one — reshaping the dirt itself so a driveway, pad, or pasture actually drains. Grubbing and grading both cost more than clearing alone but are often necessary before construction.
A light residential lot can often be cleared in a day or two with a Bobcat T740 and grapple. Heavily wooded acreage, large stumps, or extensive haul-off take longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline with your free quote.
We provide land clearing in Loxahatchee, The Acreage, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Jupiter, and greater West Palm Beach, plus the rest of Palm Beach County.
Yes, but it can take longer. South Florida's rainy season runs roughly June through October, and saturated ground in low-lying areas like Loxahatchee and The Acreage can require tracked equipment instead of wheeled machines, plus slower haul-off. The work still gets done — it just moves at a different pace than dry season.
It can. Wet, saturated ground sometimes requires tracked machines in place of standard wheeled equipment and slows down haul-off trucks that would otherwise rut a soft yard, both of which add time and cost compared to the same job on firm dry-season ground.
Ideally during the preceding dry season, roughly November through May, so weather-driven delays don't stack on top of your permit and inspection timeline. Dry season is also the busiest booking window in the county, so lining up your clearing early matters.
If burning debris on site is part of your plan, Florida agricultural and open-burning rules carry their own permit and weather restrictions, and drought-index-driven burn bans are common in dry season. Confirm current rules with Palm Beach County or the Florida Forest Service before planning around a burn rather than haul-off.
As early as you can. Dry season (roughly November–May) is when demand is highest across Palm Beach County because everyone wants firmer ground and fewer weather delays, so calendars fill up. Call ahead rather than waiting for the week you need the work done.
Land clearing is removing trees, brush, palmetto, stumps and overgrowth from a lot so it can be built on, fenced, farmed or kept usable. It is a different job from grading, which shapes the dirt once the vegetation is gone.
There is no single figure. The cost depends on vegetation type and density, access, stump grubbing, haul-off versus mulching in place, and permits. Our equipment rate is $1,385 per day with an operator, and we give a quote after a free walk of the lot. Call (561) 779-3213.
Per-acre cost varies with the same drivers: how dense the growth is, how easy the access, whether stumps are grubbed, whether debris is hauled off, and what permits apply. Rather than quote a per-acre number, we price the job after a free site walk. Our machine is $1,385 per day with an operator.
It depends on the site: vegetation type and density, access, stumps, and whether debris is hauled off or mulched in place. The one price we publish is our day rate, $1,385 per day for a Bobcat T740 with a 60-inch grapple and an operator. Call (561) 779-3213 for a free estimate.
There is no single per-acre number, and we do not quote one from a table. A light acre can be a day or two of machine time; a dense wooded acre takes more. At $1,385 per day with an operator, the total follows the days your acre needs. It depends on the site, so call for a quote.
It depends on the acre. A light, mostly open acre can be a day or two of machine time; a dense wooded acre with stumps takes more. At $1,385 per day with an operator, the cost follows the days. We estimate the days after a free walk of the lot.
Multiply the number of machine days by $1,385: two days is $2,770, three days is $4,155. The days depend on vegetation density, stumps, access and debris handling. Treat that as a way to reason about the cost, not a quote; call (561) 779-3213 for a quote after a free walk.
Ready to clear a lot? See land clearing in Palm Beach County with Bell Land Services.