How tree and stump removal actually differs from clearing a lot, when a permit is needed, how the Bobcat T740 and grapple handle the job, and what drives the cost. Written by the crew that runs the machine.
Removing one or two trees, or pulling a stump out of a yard, is a different job from clearing a lot — smaller footprint, more precision, and usually more attention to what is around the tree (a fence, a driveway, a septic line, a neighbor's property line) than what is on it. At Bell Land Services we run the same machine either way: a Bobcat T740 compact track loader with a 60" grapple attachment, $385 per day with an operator. The grapple is what pulls a stump and drags a felled tree clear — it does the job without a separate stump grinder on site.
Every quote starts with a free walk of the property. We'll tell you honestly whether it's a half-day job or something bigger, and whether the tree in question needs a look at the permit picture before anything comes down. Call (561) 779-3213.
"Land clearing" usually means an acre or a lot — brush, saplings, and everything on it coming out to make way for a building pad or a pasture. Tree and stump removal is narrower: a single hazard tree, a dead oak, or a stump left behind from an old removal, on a lot that is otherwise fine as it stands. The machine is the same Bobcat T740 and grapple either way, but the job is scoped differently — working around what you want to keep, not clearing everything in the footprint.
If you're looking at clearing a whole lot rather than one or two problem trees, our land clearing cost guide covers per-acre pricing and the factors that move that number.
Often, yes — and it depends on what the tree is. Palm Beach County protects native and specimen trees, so removing native pines, oaks, and cabbage palms can trigger a land-clearing or vegetation-removal permit through the county's Planning, Zoning & Building department. Work near a canal, slough, or wetland can also involve the South Florida Water Management District.
Invasive exotics are a different story. Removing species like Brazilian pepper, Melaleuca, Australian pine, and air potato is generally encouraged rather than restricted — these are the trees and vines that take over a lot in the first place.
This is general guidance, not permitting advice, and rules can differ between unincorporated county land and each municipality. Our land clearing permits & regulations guide covers which desk handles what, wetlands, gopher tortoises and nesting season, 811, and a full pre-clearing checklist. We're happy to walk your specific tree through it as part of your quote.
Our Bobcat T740 is a compact track loader fitted with a 60" grapple attachment — the tool that does the actual pulling and dragging. Once a tree is down, the grapple closes around the trunk and drags it clear of the work area; on the stump, it grips and works the root ball loose, walking it out of the ground rather than grinding it down. That makes it the right tool for a stump you want pulled out whole, not for turning a stump into mulch in place.
The T740's tracks spread the machine's weight better than a wheeled skid-steer, which matters on the soft, low-lying ground common across western Palm Beach County. The rate is $385 per day with an operator, and most single-tree or single-stump jobs are a matter of hours rather than a full day.
A tree doesn't have to be dead to be a problem. Storm damage leaves trees leaning, split, or with a cracked trunk that can come down on its own with the next round of wind — and that's the kind of job that can't wait for a convenient week. Bell Land Services also handles demolition, site prep, and storm cleanup, so a hazard tree removal often folds into the same visit as clearing the rest of the storm debris on a property.
If a tree came down in a storm and is blocking a driveway or leaning on a structure, call first and describe what you're looking at — we'll tell you whether it's a same-week job.
Often, yes, for native and specimen trees — Palm Beach County protects them, and removing native pines, oaks, and cabbage palms can trigger a land-clearing or vegetation-removal permit through the county's Planning, Zoning & Building department. Invasive exotics like Brazilian pepper and Melaleuca are generally fine to remove without that review. Always confirm with the county or your municipality first; we're happy to walk it with you.
Yes. If the tree is already down or was previously cut, the Bobcat T740's grapple can pull the stump and root ball on its own — that's a common call, especially when an old stump is in the way of a driveway, a fence line, or a build pad.
That's part of the quote conversation. We can haul the trunk, limbs, and root ball off the property, or leave the cut material on site if you'd rather deal with it yourself or have a use for it. Tell us your preference and we'll price it accordingly.
There's no fixed per-tree or per-stump price — it depends on the tree's size and species, the stump's size, how easy the tree is to access, and where the debris needs to go. Our Bobcat T740 with grapple and operator runs $385 per day, and most single-tree or single-stump jobs are a matter of hours. Call (561) 779-3213 for a free on-site quote.
Land clearing is scoped to a whole lot — everything in the footprint comes out for a building pad or pasture. Tree and stump removal is narrower: one or two problem trees on a lot that's otherwise fine, worked around whatever you want to keep. Same Bobcat T740 and grapple, different scope.
Yes — Bell Land Services also handles demolition, site prep, and storm cleanup, so a leaning, split, or storm-damaged tree can often be handled in the same visit as any other storm debris on the property. If it's blocking a driveway or leaning on a structure, call and describe it and we'll tell you whether it's a same-week job.
Generally, no — removing prohibited invasive exotics such as Brazilian pepper, Melaleuca, Australian pine, and air potato is encouraged rather than restricted in Palm Beach County. That said, location can still matter if the plants are inside a wetland or protected area, so it's worth a quick check if you're unsure.
A Bobcat T740 compact track loader with a 60" grapple attachment. The grapple closes around a felled tree to drag it clear, and grips a stump's root ball to pull it out of the ground whole, with an experienced operator at $385 per day.
Most single-tree or single-stump jobs take a matter of hours rather than a full day. Larger trees, big root systems, or tight access add time. We'll give you a realistic estimate with your free on-site quote.
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