Land and lot clearing in Port St. Lucie, FL
Need a lot cleared in Port St. Lucie, FL? Get a free quote from an independent local tree service for brush, trees and debris. Ask for proof of insurance.
Port St. Lucie has thousands of vacant lots, and many owners have not touched theirs in years. Brush, vines and small trees take over, and a neighbor or the city may begin to complain. Clearing a lot turns it into something you can sell, build on or keep tidy.
Why people clear a lot
- To prepare for a new home, a pool, a fence or a shed
- To meet a code notice about overgrowth
- To make a lot easier to sell or survey
- To reduce brush that can burn or hide pests
- To open up a property that has grown over after storm damage
Types of clearing
Brush and mowing. Taking down tall grass, vines and shrubs, often with a large mower or a skid steer. This is the lightest and least costly option.
Selective clearing. Removing some trees and brush while keeping the best trees. This is a good fit if you want shade or privacy to stay.
Full clearing. Taking off everything, including trees, stumps and roots, down to bare ground. This is used before building, and it often includes grading and hauling away material.
What to know before you start
- Know your property lines. A survey or plat will show where your lot ends. Cutting trees on a neighbor's land or in an easement can cause problems.
- Protected areas. Wetlands, flood areas and some natural areas have rules about what can be cleared. Gopher tortoises are protected in Florida, and burrows must be handled under state rules, so ask the crew what they do if they find a burrow.
- Burning. Burning debris can require permission and may be restricted. Most crews chip or haul instead.
- Where the debris goes. Ask whether hauling and disposal are part of the quote.
Permits and rules
Whether you need a permit depends on the tree, the lot and the jurisdiction. The City of Port St. Lucie regulates protected trees through Planning and Zoning, though it has treated platted single family lots as exempt, so call the city to confirm. Outside the city, county or town rules apply. Florida Statute 163.045 limits what a local government can require when a certified arborist or licensed landscape architect documents that a tree is dangerous. Your HOA may still need to approve the work. The full explanation is on the tree removal page.
Clearing a whole lot is different from taking down a single tree, and in some places it needs its own approval, sometimes tied to a building permit or a site plan. Ask the city or county what applies to your lot before you start, and ask the company whether they handle that step.
What it costs
Price depends on the size of the lot, how dense the growth is, how many large trees there are and whether stumps are ground or pulled. Light brush work on a standard lot can be a modest job. Heavy clearing with big trees is often priced in the thousands, and larger parcels may be priced by the acre. Equipment access, hauling and grading change the number, so a visit to the lot is the only way to get a real quote.
For one or two trees, see tree removal, and for what to do with stumps, see stump grinding.
Related services
We refer homeowners in Port St. Lucie, Tradition, St. Lucie West, Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach, Palm City, and nearby neighborhoods.