Land Clearing in Southeast Massachusetts — What It Costs and What to Expect

By Fall River Excavation & Concrete | A Division of New England Star Construction

Whether you're preparing a lot for new construction, reclaiming an overgrown property, or clearing space for a driveway or outdoor living area, land clearing is one of those jobs that looks simple from the road and reveals its true complexity the moment equipment hits the ground. Overgrown brush, established trees, stumps, root systems, and variable soil conditions all affect how long clearing takes and what it costs.

This guide covers what land clearing actually involves for properties in Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, and across Southeast Massachusetts — with honest cost guidance and what to watch out for before you hire.

What Land Clearing Includes

Land clearing is not a single task — it's a collection of related work that varies significantly based on what's on the property and what condition you need it in when the crew leaves. A complete land clearing project typically includes some combination of:

Tree removal — cutting down trees of any size, from small ornamentals to large hardwoods. Larger trees require more specialized equipment and more time. Trees near structures, utilities, or property lines require extra care and sometimes an arborist.

Stump grinding — removing the stump after a tree is cut. Stumps can be ground to below grade so the area can be graded and used, or pulled entirely if the root system would interfere with construction. Stump grinding is typically priced per stump based on diameter.

Brush clearing — removing shrubs, vines, small trees, and dense vegetation. Brush clearing can be done mechanically with a forestry mulcher — which grinds vegetation in place and leaves mulched material on the ground — or by hand and machine with material hauled away.

Root removal — for construction areas, major root systems need to be removed to prevent decomposition voids under foundations, driveways, or concrete slabs. Root removal adds time and cost but is essential for any hardscape or structure built over the cleared area.

Debris haul-away — cleared material needs to go somewhere. Brush and wood can sometimes be chipped on site, but most clearing projects generate material that needs to be hauled to a licensed facility. Haul-away costs are a significant portion of total clearing cost.

Rough grading — after clearing, the ground is rarely ready for its next use. Rough grading levels and shapes the cleared area for proper drainage and prepares it for the next phase of work.

Land Clearing Costs in Fall River and Southeast MA

Land clearing pricing in Bristol County and Plymouth County is typically quoted one of two ways — by the acre or by the hour depending on project size and complexity.

• Lightly wooded or brushy lots: $1,500–$3,000 per acre
• Moderately wooded lots: $3,000–$5,000 per acre
• Heavily wooded lots with large trees: $5,000–$8,000+ per acre
• Stump grinding: $75–$300 per stump depending on diameter
• Forestry mulching (brush only): $150–$300 per hour

For smaller residential clearing projects — clearing a section of yard for a patio, removing a tree line for a driveway extension, or reclaiming an overgrown corner of a property — hourly rates typically apply:

• Equipment and operator: $75–$150 per hour
• Dump truck haul-away: $150–$400 per load

Most residential lot clearing projects in the Fall River area run $2,000–$8,000 for a quarter to half acre lot depending on tree density, stump count, and haul-away requirements.

Southeast Massachusetts-Specific Considerations

Wetlands and Conservation Commission

Southeast Massachusetts has significant wetland areas, particularly in Plymouth County and along Bristol County's river corridors. If your property has any wetland areas — even intermittent streams or vernal pools — clearing within 100 feet of a wetland requires a Notice of Intent filed with your local Conservation Commission under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act.

Clearing in wetland buffer zones without proper permitting carries significant fines and can result in mandatory restoration at the property owner's expense. Fall River Excavation & Concrete reviews wetland conditions during every site assessment and advises on permitting requirements before any clearing begins.

Utility Lines

Before any clearing begins, Massachusetts law requires Dig Safe (811) marking of underground utilities. For overhead utilities, National Grid and Eversource have buffer requirements around power lines that affect how trees can be removed. We handle Dig Safe notification on every project.

Disposal Regulations

Bristol County and Plymouth County municipalities have specific regulations around wood waste and brush disposal. Not all material can simply be burned or dumped — licensed disposal facilities are required for most commercial clearing projects. We handle compliant disposal on all projects.

When to Clear Before Concrete or Excavation Work

One of the most common sequencing questions we get from Fall River homeowners is whether to clear first or excavate first. The answer depends on the project:

For new driveways or concrete flatwork: Clear and grub the area first, then excavate and grade for the concrete base. Doing it in this order gives the excavator a clean working area and ensures all root systems are removed before the base is prepared.

For new construction foundations: Full clearing of the building footprint and staging areas before foundation excavation. Leaving trees in place during excavation creates access problems and root system complications.

For drainage work: Clear the trench path first for efficient excavation equipment access.

Fall River Excavation & Concrete handles the full sequence — clearing, excavation, grading, drainage, and concrete — which eliminates the coordination headaches of hiring separate contractors for each phase.

Get a Free Land Clearing Estimate

Fall River Excavation & Concrete provides free on-site land clearing estimates for residential and commercial properties throughout Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Swansea, New Bedford, and all of Southeast Massachusetts.

Call Andre at (401) 579-3535 — he'll walk your property, assess what's involved, and deliver a written estimate within 24 hours.

Fall River Excavation & Concrete is a licensed and insured contractor serving Southeast Massachusetts — a division of New England Star Construction.

Ready to start your project? Call Andre at (401) 579-3535

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