How Much Does It Cost to Clear Land in Minneapolis? [2026 Data]

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Cost Insights
  • Land clearing in Minneapolis costs 32% less than the national average.

  • Minneapolis’s rich loam soil makes it easier to clear land.

  • Some areas of the city contain tallgrass prairies, making land easier to clear, while others have deciduous forests, which can increase costs.

  • You can increase your ROI by as much as 217% by landscaping your cleared land.

Minneapolis land clearing costs $2,584 on average, but prices can go from as little as $657 to as much as $4,833. The city’s varying landscape of prairies and forests can make prices vary, but other major impacts include the size of the land, removal method, and labor.

Land Clearing Cost Factors 

The biggest land clearing cost factors in Minneapolis, Minnesota, include land size, removal type, land condition, dumpster size, and whether or not there are additional structures on the property to remove.

Land Size

Most projects are priced per half-acre or per acre and take into account the level of vegetation and trees to be cleared.

Average Cost to Clear a Half-Acre of Land

The cost per half-acre is $170 to $1,900. This is only for your basic clearing of trees, brush, and other debris. To get your lot ready for building, there are additional expenses for services, including topsoil stripping, landscape grading (leveling your yard in Minneapolis), digging, hauling yard waste, and otherwise prepping the land.

Land Clearing Cost per Acre

The cost per acre to clear land is $350 to $3,800. The price accounts for the range of vegetation that will need to be removed, as well as the intended use for the lot.

AcreageCost to Clear Land
1$350–$3,800
2$700–$7,600
3$1,100–$11,400
4$1,400–$15,200
5$1,800–$19,000

Type of Removal

For undeveloped land, a good portion of your total will go toward removing stumps, trees, brush, and overgrowth. The total for this portion of the job could fall anywhere between $140 and $3,800, depending on what you need your pros to remove.

Removal TypeAverage Cost
Tree removal$350–$1,400 per acre
Brush removal$14–$140 per acre
Stump removal$70–$100 per stump
Large rock removal$450–$800 per acre
Small rock removal$80–$100
Waste removal$90–$250
Angi Tip

Tree removal poses significant risks, especially when cutting down large trees. To ensure your safety, hire a professional tree removal service and maintain a safe distance from the fall zone during the operation.

Kaitlyn Pacheco
Content Editor, Angi

Land Condition

One of the most crucial factors to consider when estimating land clearing costs is the condition of your land. Light brush will cost the least to clear, while densely forested plots and those with large boulders scattered throughout will cost significantly more. The slope of your land also plays a role since a steep plot could prevent your professionals from using heavy machinery that speeds up the job.

AcreageCost to Clear Lightly Forested LotsCost to Clear Densely Forested Lots
1/2$175–$675$1,200–$1,900
1$350–$1,400$2,500–$3,800
2$675–$2,700$4,900–$7,600
3$1,000–$4,100$7,300–$11,400
4$1,400–$5,400$9,800–$15,200
5$1,700–$6,800$12,200–$19,000

Dumpster Rental

5 common dumpster sizes illustrated and compared, with a 30-yard dumpster measuring 6 feet tall with a capacity from 7,000 to 10,000 lbs

Many land clearing companies in Minneapolis offer dumpsters as part of their service, but for those that don’t, you can rent your own dumpster. Dumpster rental costs vary by size, with prices ranging from $150 to $525

Dumpster SizeMaximum Weight (tons)Cost
10 yards2–3$150–$400
20 yards2–3$200–$475
40 yards5–6$250–$525

Existing Home or Structure

Is there a shed, pool house, or even larger old structure in the way? Demolition costs can change the whole ball game, adding between $3 and $127 per square foot for the job. You may also need to check for underground electrical and gas lines before proceeding. 

Land Clearing Pro Costs

Hiring a land clearing pro in Minneapolis costs between $35 and $80 per hour. More experienced pros may charge more, but their expertise, insurance, licensing, and certification standards are higher, ensuring a better land clearing project.

Permits

Permit and inspection fees in Minneapolis depend on what you’re clearing. For example, inspections for single-family residential demolitions greater than 500 square feet cost $129. An erosion control plan permit for properties between 501 and 3,000 square feet costs $129, and each additional 1,000 square feet adds $41.40. 

Taxes

Minnesota has a state sales tax of 6.875%, while Minneapolis has local sales taxes of 2.15% for a total of 9.025%. For your average land clearing project in Minneapolis of nearly $2,600, you’ll spend around $230 in taxes. 

Tipping

Most contractors don't expect to receive a tip since they charge a fair hourly rate for their services. However, you can choose to tip anywhere from 5% to 15% if you think your pros went above and beyond to clear your land.

Additional Pros to Consider Hiring

Depending on the scope of your land clearing project, you may need to hire additional pros to clear your land in Minneapolis. Here are the most common pros and services you may need to add to your project. 

Does Clearing Land Increase Home Value?

Clearing land is a great way to increase your home's value. Just clearing the land alone takes away the cost of prospective buyers having to do it themselves, which makes your home more sellable. To maximize your home’s value, consider adding landscaping features, which can have a return on investment (ROI) of up to 217%. Installing a walkway, planting trees, keeping several mature trees, and building a deck or patio are a few ways you can amp up your home’s value.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

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