Lot & Land Clearing
From overgrown lots to construction-ready sites — clearing, brush removal, and selective thinning across Santa Clara County.
Free estimates · Serving Santa Clara County
Clearing for Construction & ADU Projects
The Bay Area ADU boom has turned thousands of backyards into construction sites — and most of them start with trees in the way. We clear building footprints for accessory dwelling units, home additions, new construction, pools, and driveways: removing trees, grinding stumps, and hauling every bit of debris so your contractor starts with a clean slate. Because we work around construction schedules regularly, we coordinate timing with your builder and flag anything that could complicate the project, like protected trees that need permits or root zones of neighboring trees worth preserving. If you're planning an ADU or addition, book the clearing early — it's one less thing holding up your permit timeline.
Site Preparation
Trees, brush, and stumps removed from building footprints — the lot left clean and ready for grading and construction crews.
Brush Clearing
Overgrown blackberry, poison oak, and scrub cleared from hillsides and neglected parcels, reducing fire fuel and opening the land up.
Overgrown Lot Reclamation
Inherited a jungle? We reclaim neglected lots — vacant parcels, estate cleanups, and foreclosures — and return them to usable land.
Selective Clearing That Preserves Specimen Trees
Clearing doesn't have to mean clear-cutting. On many lots, a handful of mature oaks, redwoods, or specimen ornamentals are worth more standing than the cost of removing them — in property value, shade, and character. Our selective clearing process starts by identifying the trees worth keeping (an arborist consultation helps here), establishing protection zones around their root systems, and then clearing everything else: hazard trees, scrub, deadwood, and invasives. The result is a clean, usable lot that still has its best trees — and a landscape plan your neighbors will thank you for.
Fire defensible space: for hillside properties in Los Gatos, Saratoga, and the county's wildland-urban interface, we thin vegetation and remove ladder fuels to create defensible space around structures — work that also satisfies many fire district clearance notices. Check with your local fire district for the specific requirements in your area.
Permits, Timelines & What It Costs
Lot clearing often involves permits — especially when grading is planned or protected trees stand on the lot. Most cities in Santa Clara County require permits for street trees or protected trees, and grading permits come from the city or county planning department. Start that conversation early; permit timelines are the most common cause of clearing delays. As for schedule, a typical residential lot takes one to three days depending on tree density, size, and access, while larger or heavily overgrown parcels can take a week or more. Cost depends on lot size, tree density and size, slope and access, debris volume, and whether stumps are ground — every lot is different, so get a free on-site estimate for an exact price and timeline.
What Happens to the Debris
Everything leaves with us unless you want it. Brush and limbs are chipped on site (chips can be spread as mulch or hauled), trunk wood is cut and hauled away, and stumps are ground on request via our stump grinding service. The lot is left clean, level where we worked, and ready for its next phase.
Where We Clear Lots
Our clearing crews work throughout Santa Clara County, including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, and Palo Alto, plus Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy. See the full service area.
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
What affects the cost of lot clearing?
Lot size, tree density and size, slope and access, how much brush and debris there is, and whether stumps are ground or left. Every lot is different — get a free on-site estimate for an exact price.
Do I need permits for lot clearing?
Often, yes — especially if grading is involved or protected trees are on the lot. Most cities in Santa Clara County require permits for street trees or protected trees, and grading permits come from the city or county. Check with your planning department early, before scheduling work.
How long does lot clearing take?
A typical residential lot takes one to three days depending on density, tree size, and access. Larger parcels or heavily overgrown lots can take a week or more. We give you a realistic timeline with your free estimate.
What happens to the debris?
Brush and limbs are chipped on site, trunk wood is cut and hauled away, and stumps can be ground on request. The lot is left clean and ready for its next phase — construction, landscaping, or sale.
Can you clear around trees I want to keep?
Yes — selective clearing is one of our specialties. We identify the specimen trees worth preserving, protect their root zones during the work, and clear everything else. An arborist consultation can help decide which trees to keep.
Get a Free Tree Service Estimate
Call now or request a quote online — proudly serving all of Santa Clara County.