There is no honest price for land clearing until someone has looked at the land. The price is based on what is growing there and how big it is, the rock, slope and access, whether the clearing is selective or full, where the cleared brush goes, and any permits, surveys or timing rules the site carries. That is why we look first and give a free estimate.
Why we do not quote by the acre
Two tracts the same size can be completely different jobs. One is young cedar on flat pasture behind a wide gate. The other is old cedar on a rocky slope across a creek. A single number for both would be wrong for at least one of them, so Highlander Construction does not publish prices.
Price lists you find online are averages built from other places and other ground. They cannot see your brush, your rock or your gate. An estimate based on the actual land can.
What the price is based on
| Factor | What we look at | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Brush and tree size | Young cedar, old cedar, mixed brush, mesquite | Bigger and thicker growth means more machine time and more debris |
| Rock and slope | Rocky ground, ledges, steep sides | Slows every pass of the machine |
| Access | Gates, creek crossings, soft ground | Decides what equipment can get in and how easily |
| Selective or full | Trees to keep, cover strips, open areas | Working around keepers takes more care than clearing everything |
| Where the brush goes | Burn on site, stack, or haul off | Hauling adds trucks and dump fees; burning depends on the rules |
| Paperwork and timing | Permits, tree surveys, oak wilt months, nesting season | Can add steps or push the work into certain months |
Brush and tree size
A pasture of young cedar is a different job from a stand of old cedar with thick trunks, or a cedar brake on a slope. Bigger trees mean more machine time and more debris.
Rock, slope and access
Steep, rocky ground slows everything down. So does a single narrow gate, a creek with no crossing, or soft ground after rain.
Selective or full clearing
Working around oaks and cover strips takes more care than clearing everything, but keeps the trees that make the land worth having. Full clearing goes quicker where something is being built.
Where the brush goes
Burning cleared brush on site, when the rules allow it, avoids hauling. During a burn ban the piles wait, or the brush is hauled off, which adds trucks and dump fees. See the burn rules.
Rules and paperwork
Inside Helotes, the tree removal application carries a city fee and asks for a tree survey (City of Helotes). San Antonio's tree ordinance needs permits or affidavits before clearing in the city and ETJ (City of San Antonio). Over a regulated Edwards zone, soil disturbance can need a TCEQ plan and erosion controls (TCEQ RG-11). Surveys, permits and controls are part of the job.
Timing
Avoiding oak wounds from February through June (Texas A&M Forest Service) and holding shredding until after July 15 for fawns and nesting birds (TPWD) can push work into particular months.
Ways to keep the job efficient
- Clear selectively. Only what is in the way comes out, and the trees that add value stay.
- Combine jobs. Clearing, the road, the pad and the tank done in one run means one move-in and dirt reused between jobs.
- Plan around the burn rules. Burning on site when it is legal saves hauling.
- Ask about cost-share. Brush Management (practice 314) is an NRCS conservation practice, and EQIP may help on agricultural land. See the EQIP guide.
- Mark your keepers before anyone looks, so every estimate covers the same job.
What to have ready for an estimate
- Where the land is and roughly how much of it needs clearing
- What is on it: young cedar, old cedar, mixed brush, oaks to keep
- What it is for: pasture, a homesite, a road, a tank, a fence line
- How you get in, and anything that limits access
- Photos, if you have them
Call (830) 328-3684 or send the form. Estimates are free.
Common questions
How much does it cost to clear an acre of land in Texas?
It depends on the land, so we do not quote a number by the acre. The price is based on the brush and tree size, rock and slope, access, selective or full clearing, and where the debris goes. Estimates are free.
Is it cheaper to burn the brush or haul it?
Burning on site, when the rules allow it, avoids hauling and dump fees. During a burn ban, the choice is to wait or haul.
Does Highlander Construction publish prices?
No. Every piece of land is different, so we give free estimates after looking at the ground.
Can I get help paying for brush clearing?
On agricultural land, NRCS's EQIP program may offer cost-share for Brush Management (practice 314). It starts with an NRCS planner's visit.
Talk to us about your land
Every piece of land is different. Call (830) 328-3684 or send the form for a free estimate. See our land clearing service.
Sources
- City of Helotes, Tree Removal Permit Application / Affidavit
- City of San Antonio, Tree Preservation Ordinance FAQ
- TCEQ, Rules Protecting the Edwards Aquifer (RG-11)
- Texas A&M Forest Service, Oak wilt disease threatens Texas oaks in spring
- Texas Parks and Wildlife, Edwards Plateau guidelines, Appendix E: Vegetation Management Recommendations
