Land clearing in the GTA means different things to different homeowners. For some it’s removing a few overgrown shrubs. For others it’s clearing a half-acre lot of mature trees, stumps, and brush before a major build. Either way, the cost range is wide and the factors that drive it are easy to understand once someone explains them clearly. This is that guide.
Land Clearing Cost in Toronto and the GTA: 2026
Land clearing prices in the GTA depend heavily on what’s being removed. Typical ranges:
- Light brush and scrub clearing (per 1,000 sq ft): $200–$500
- Moderate clearing with small trees under 6 inches diameter: $500–$1,200 per 1,000 sq ft
- Heavy clearing with mature trees: $1,500–$4,000+ per 1,000 sq ft
- Full lot clearing (residential, 5,000–15,000 sq ft): $3,000–$20,000
- Stump grinding (per stump): $100–$400 depending on diameter
Disposal — hauling away the cut material and wood debris — is typically the largest cost component for heavy clearing jobs. A full truckload of brush and logs runs $300–$600 to haul and dump in the GTA.
What Drives Land Clearing Cost
Tree Size and Density
A 6-inch diameter tree takes a few minutes to fell and chip. A 24-inch diameter tree with a 3-foot root ball is a different job entirely. Tree removal in the GTA is priced partly by diameter at breast height (DBH). Large trees over 18 inches DBH can cost $800–$2,500 each to remove safely.
Stump Removal
Felling a tree does not remove the stump. If you’re clearing for construction or landscaping, stumps must be ground or fully excavated. Full stump excavation (digging out the root ball) costs more than grinding but leaves no underground obstruction. Ask which method your contractor is quoting.
Debris Disposal
Some contractors chip everything on-site and leave the chips (cost-effective but you’re left with material to deal with). Others haul everything away — more expensive but leaves a clean site. For construction projects, you almost always want everything hauled away.
Access
Clearing work in an open field is faster and cheaper than clearing a lot surrounded by other structures, fences, and utilities. Limited access forces hand-cutting and hand-carrying material, which adds labour cost significantly.
Permits and Protected Trees
This is where GTA land clearing gets complicated. Many municipalities have tree protection bylaws that restrict or prohibit removal of certain trees:
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📞 Call 416-317-3090 Request a Quote →- City of Toronto: Trees over 30 cm diameter on private property require a permit. Protected species cannot be removed without arborist report.
- Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham: York Region municipalities have similar bylaws with varying diameter thresholds (typically 20–30 cm).
- Brampton and Mississauga: Peel Region has significant canopy protection requirements, especially near ravines and conservation areas.
Tree permit applications can take 4–8 weeks and may require an arborist report ($500–$1,500). Budget for this before assuming you can clear on your schedule.
Land Clearing vs. Site Preparation: What’s the Difference?
Land clearing is the first step — removing surface vegetation, trees, and brush. Site preparation is the next step — grading, compaction, and getting the ground ready for construction. Most projects require both, and bundling them with the same contractor typically saves 10–20% versus two separate mobilizations.
GTA Municipalities We Serve
OCM Excavation handles land clearing and excavation work across the GTA. We serve Toronto, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, Brampton, and Mississauga. We know local tree bylaws and work with the permit timeline, not against it.
Call 416-317-3090 or request a free quote.