Lot and land clearing in Knoxville: what to know before you hire

A plain-English guide for property owners in Knoxville and the rest of Knox County planning to clear brush, undergrowth or small trees from a lot. It covers which Tennessee license may apply, Knox County's burning rules, and the questions worth asking. Every rule below links to a public source.

What a clearing job usually covers

Lot or land clearing means removing unwanted vegetation and debris from a piece of land: brush, undergrowth, vines, small trees and fallen wood, and sometimes stumps. This guide covers land and brush clearing only, not building pads, driveways or other construction.

Before you get estimates, it helps to decide:

which trees or areas you want kept, and where your property lines are,
whether stumps should be ground, removed or left, and
what should happen to the cut material (hauled away, chipped and left as mulch, or ground on site).

Which Tennessee license may apply

$3,000 to $24,999, residential, in Knox County. A Tennessee Home Improvement license is required for residential projects in this range in counties that adopted the law. Knox County is one of them. The Board's definition includes improvements to any land or residential building, including landscaping. [TN Board]
$25,000 or more. A Tennessee contractor's license is required before contracting, bidding, offering or negotiating a price on projects of $25,000 or more. [TN Board]
How to check. Look up the company's license on the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance public license search. [TN Commerce & Insurance]
Insurance. The Board lists general liability and workers' compensation insurance among the requirements for a Home Improvement license. [TN Board] Ask for proof.

If you're not sure whether your job falls under one of these, ask the company which license it holds and why, then check it yourself.

Debris and burning in Knox County

Knox County prohibits open burning of stumps, construction debris and many wood materials, including pallets, wood chips and treated wood. [Knox County Air Quality]
Open burning at construction sites is prohibited (with a narrow exception for small warming fires), and open burning of yard waste is prohibited inside Knoxville city limits. [Knox County Air Quality]
Violations can bring fines of up to $25,000 per day per violation. [Knox County Air Quality]

So ask every company exactly how the cleared material will be handled, and don't assume it can be burned on site.

Larger jobs: stormwater permit

In Tennessee, construction activity involving clearing, grading or excavation that disturbs one acre or more (or less, if it is part of a larger planned development) needs coverage under TDEC's construction stormwater general permit. [TDEC] If your job is that size, ask who will handle the permit.

Before any digging: Tennessee 811

Removing stumps or roots can mean digging. Tennessee law requires the person responsible for an excavation to contact Tennessee 811 at least three, but not more than ten, working days before digging, so underground utility lines can be marked. There is no charge for the request. [TN Public Utility Commission] Ask the company who will request the locate ticket.

Questions to ask before you hire

Which Tennessee license do you hold for this job (Home Improvement or contractor), and what is the number? (Then check it on the state license search.)
Can you show proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance?
Will you walk the property with me and put the scope in writing, including which trees stay and where the property lines are?
How will you handle the cut material and stumps, given Knox County's burning rules?
Will the job disturb an acre or more? If so, who handles the stormwater permit?
Who will request the Tennessee 811 locate ticket before any digging?
What equipment will you use, and how will you protect the trees and areas I'm keeping?
Is the written estimate itemized? What would change the final amount?

FAQ

Can the brush just be burned on my property?

Often not. Knox County prohibits burning stumps and construction debris, bans open burning at construction sites, and bans yard-waste burning inside Knoxville city limits. Some limited burning needs a county permit. Check the Knox County open burning page before planning on it. [Knox County Air Quality]

Does a small clearing job need a company with a state license?

It depends on the job's value and type. In Knox County, residential projects from $3,000 to $24,999 need a Home Improvement license, and projects of $25,000 or more need a contractor's license. [TN Board] [TN Board] Ask the company which applies and check its license on the state search.

Do I need to call 811 myself?

Tennessee law puts the duty on each person responsible for the excavation. Agree in writing who will request the locate ticket. [TN Public Utility Commission]

Does this site clear land?

No. This is an independent information and referral site. It does not clear land, hold any contractor or home improvement license, or do any of the work described here. See About this site.

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