Baxter’s takes on land clearing and storm cleanup of downed trees and debris across Pierce County, from the prairie country around Roy and Spanaway to Graham, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Buckley and Tacoma. Each town page covers local ground, access and permit notes.
Land clearing jobs from $1,500. Call or text 360-899-8468Text us for a free estimate. The written quote depends on area size, growth, stumps, access, wet ground and whether material is mulched or hauled.
Planning a bigger project or not sure where to start? Book a land & site consultation.
Pierce County towns we serve
- Roy: land clearing and storm debris cleanup on SR 507 acreage
- Spanaway: lot clearing and storm cleanup along Pacific Avenue
- Graham: wooded-lot clearing and storm cleanup along Meridian (SR 161)
- Puyallup: clearing and storm debris cleanup from the valley to South Hill
- Bonney Lake: brush clearing and storm cleanup off SR 410
- Buckley: clearing and storm cleanup along the White River
- Tacoma: small-lot clearing and storm debris cleanup
Main routes: SR 7 (Pacific Avenue / Mountain Highway), SR 507 and SR 702 in the south county, Meridian (SR 161) through Graham and South Hill, and SR 410 and SR 162 out toward Bonney Lake and Buckley.
Land clearing
We open lots and acreage for homesites, shops, pasture and driveways:
- Forestry-mulch brush, Scotch broom, blackberries and small trees, working around the trees you want kept
- Pull stumps and roots with the excavator, or grind when you want less soil disturbance
- Haul material when you want a clean finish for seed, gravel or a building pad
- Grade after clearing so the driveway or pad is ready for the next step
See land clearing and land & site consultation. The equipment we bring to the job is matched to the site. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency prohibits land-clearing fires across Pierce County, so brush and debris are mulched or hauled, not burned.
Storm cleanup of downed trees and debris
After wind or wet snow, we clear downed trees, limbs and brush piles off driveways, yards and building sites, then continue into full lot clearing if that is the plan. For larger tree takedowns, see tree removal; for emergency storm tree calls, see our tree service site’s emergency tree service page.
Standing water or soft ground after storms often pairs with clearing. See drainage when the site needs that next.
Outside city limits: Pierce County rules
In unincorporated Pierce County, clearing and grading fall under the county’s site development permit (PCC 17A.10.070). The county’s Fill and Grade page says a permit is needed for clearing more than 7,000 sq ft (more than 1 sq ft in a critical area) and for grading more than 50 cubic yards (more than 1 cubic yard in a critical area). Critical areas such as wetlands, streams and steep slopes are regulated under Title 18E. Pierce County also treats Oregon white oak as protected priority habitat (PCC 18E.40), so oaks on a lot change the plan. We mark them at the site visit.
Cutting a neighbor’s trees by mistake can mean triple damages under RCW 64.12.030, so we look for property lines before we start.
How it works
- Call or text 360-899-8468Text us, or send photos and the address.
- Walk the ground. We mark the trees you want kept and look for wet spots, slopes, oaks, septic areas and anything that might trigger a county or city permit. Estimates usually within a couple of days.
- Written quote that spells out the clearing area and what happens to the material.
- Clear. The equipment we bring to the job is matched to the site: forestry mulcher, skid steer with a grapple, excavator for stumps. Before stump pulling or grading we call 811 (RCW 19.122.030); private lines such as a side sewer or a water line to a shop aren’t marked by 811, so we locate those too.
Why Baxter’s
- 20+ years of experience in excavation and land work.
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured, WA contractor registration #BAXTEET811JA.
- We call back quickly, and estimates usually come within a couple of days. Call or text 360-899-8468Text us with the address and a few photos.
- One crew from clearing to grading: clearing, stump work, grading, driveways and drainage.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pierce County towns do you cover?
Roy, Spanaway, Graham, Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Buckley and Tacoma have their own pages, and we take work in the surrounding unincorporated areas too. Call or text 360-899-8468Text us.
Who issues clearing and grading permits outside city limits?
Pierce County Planning & Public Works. Its site development permit covers clearing and grading, and the Fill and Grade page lists the thresholds above. Inside a city, that city’s permit office takes over.
Can I burn the brush from clearing my land in Pierce County?
Not land-clearing debris. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency prohibits all land-clearing fires across Pierce County, so material gets mulched or hauled.
How much does land clearing cost?
Land clearing jobs from $1,500. The written quote depends on the size of the area, how thick the growth is, stumps, access, wet ground and whether material is mulched or hauled.
Get a free quote
Tell us the address and what you need. Photos help. Office hours: Monday–Friday 7 AM–6 PM and Saturday 8 AM–2 PM, closed Sunday.
Related: Land clearing · Drainage · Tree removal · Land & site consultation · Storm tree removal in Pierce County (our tree site)
Baxter’s Excavation & Tree Removal LLC · Land clearing and storm cleanup in Pierce County, WA · Licensed, Bonded & Insured · WA reg #BAXTEET811JA · Call or text 360-899-8468Text us
