Land Clearing for New Construction
If you are building in the Charlotte area, chances are your lot has trees on it. Most undeveloped parcels in Mecklenburg, Union, and Iredell counties are at least partially wooded, and that means clearing is one of the first line items on your schedule.
We connect builders with tree service companies that handle full-scale land clearing for residential subdivisions, single-lot custom homes, and commercial developments. These crews bring the right equipment — tracked skid steers, grapple trucks, chippers, and stump grinders — so the job gets done on your timeline, not theirs.
Typical land clearing for a half-acre residential lot in Charlotte runs $3,000 to $8,000 depending on tree density, terrain, and access. Larger subdivision phases with 10+ acres are quoted per acre, usually between $2,500 and $6,000 per acre. Every site is different, so get a walk-through estimate before locking in numbers.
Site Preparation and Grading Support
Clearing the trees is only part of the job. Builders also need stumps ground below grade, root systems removed from foundation footprints, and brush hauled off-site so grading crews can get to work. A good tree service company handles all of that — not just felling timber and leaving you with a mess.
The companies we work with coordinate directly with your grading contractor. They will clear to the lines you set, grind stumps to the depth your foundation plan requires (typically 12 to 18 inches below grade), and leave the site ready for earthwork. Some also handle erosion control setup if your silt fence and inlet protection need to go in before the trees come down.
Tree Preservation During Construction
Charlotte's tree ordinance is no joke. The City of Charlotte requires tree save areas on most development projects, and Mecklenburg County has its own set of rules for properties in the ETJ. If you knock down a protected tree without the right permits, you are looking at fines, replanting requirements, and possible stop-work orders.
Here is what you need to know: trees over 8 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) on commercial and multi-family sites are regulated. Single-family residential lots inside city limits have fewer restrictions, but subdivision-level clearing still triggers the ordinance. The rules changed in recent years, so do not rely on what worked on your last project.
Tree preservation during construction means more than just leaving certain trees standing. You need tree protection fencing at the drip line, no material storage or grading within the critical root zone, and a plan that your arborist and the city reviewer can both sign off on. The tree service companies we list can set up protection fencing, monitor tree health during the build, and provide the documentation Charlotte requires.
Charlotte Tree Ordinance Compliance
The city's Urban Forestry division reviews tree permits for all commercial and multi-family projects. Here is the process in plain terms:
- Submit a tree survey showing every tree over 8 inches DBH on the site
- Identify which trees you want to remove and which you will save
- Provide a tree preservation plan showing protection fencing locations
- Pay mitigation fees or plant replacement trees for any regulated trees removed
- Get your tree permit before any clearing starts
An ISA Certified Arborist can prepare the tree survey and preservation plan. Most tree service companies that work with builders either have an arborist on staff or partner with one. This is one of those things worth doing right the first time — a failed inspection can delay your project by weeks.
Selective Clearing vs. Full Clearing
Not every project calls for taking down every tree on the lot. In neighborhoods like Ballantyne, Myers Park, and parts of South Charlotte, buyers expect mature trees in the yard. Clearing everything and starting from scratch can actually hurt your resale value.
Selective clearing means your tree crew removes only what needs to go — trees in the building footprint, driveway path, and utility runs — while preserving healthy specimens that add value to the finished lot. This takes more skill than running a bulldozer across the whole parcel. The crew needs to work around the keeper trees without damaging root systems, bark, or canopy.
Full clearing makes sense for larger commercial projects, dense infill lots where every tree is in the way, or sites with mostly junk species (Bradford pears, for example, are everywhere in Charlotte and worth nothing). Talk to your tree service company about the right approach for your specific site.
Working with Builders on Timeline and Phasing
Tree work has to fit your construction schedule. If you are building a 50-lot subdivision, you probably do not need all 50 lots cleared on day one. Phased clearing keeps costs manageable and helps with erosion control — the city does not want 25 acres of bare dirt sitting exposed through a Charlotte thunderstorm season.
The tree service companies we connect you with understand construction timelines. They can mobilize quickly when you need them, phase the work across your build schedule, and stay out of the way when other trades are on-site. Most offer priority scheduling for repeat builder clients.
Tree Protection Plans for Permits
Charlotte and the surrounding jurisdictions want to see a tree protection plan before they issue your building permit. This plan needs to show:
- Location and species of every tree being saved
- Tree protection fencing placement (typically at the drip line or critical root zone)
- Construction access routes that avoid root zones
- Material staging areas away from protected trees
- Monitoring and maintenance schedule during construction
An arborist prepares this plan, and the tree service crew installs the protection fencing. We can connect you with companies that handle both — one call, one crew, no coordination headaches.
Common Charlotte Development Areas
Construction is booming across the Charlotte metro. Here are the areas where builders are most active right now and what you can expect from a tree clearing standpoint:
South Charlotte
Ballantyne, Weddington, Marvin, and Waxhaw continue to see new residential construction. Lots here tend to have mature hardwoods — oaks, hickories, and the occasional tulip poplar. Tree preservation is a bigger deal in these neighborhoods because buyers are paying a premium for wooded lots. Expect selective clearing rather than full clearing on most projects.
Lake Norman Corridor
Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, and Mooresville are still growing fast. The terrain around Lake Norman is hillier than South Charlotte, which adds complexity to clearing operations. Steep slopes mean more erosion risk, and the lake's watershed protection rules add another layer of regulation. Tree removal near the lake itself often requires extra permits.
Union County
Indian Trail, Waxhaw, and the areas along Highway 74 are seeing heavy residential development. Union County has its own tree regulations separate from Mecklenburg County, and they are generally less strict. That said, major subdivision projects still need proper permits and erosion control. Lots in Union County tend to have more pine than hardwood, which means faster and cheaper clearing.