Land Clearing Checklist for Huntsville, AL

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Before you call a pro

• Know the acreage or rough size
  Pace it off, check the county parcel record or a survey. Pros quote from size and what is growing on it.
• List what is on the lot
  Mature trees, small trees, brush, privet or kudzu, stumps, old fence, trash. Photos from the road and from the middle help.
• Mark what must stay
  Trees, fences, pins and survey stakes. Flag them before anyone starts a machine.
• Write down your goal
  Build, fence, farm, view, fire break or just tidy. The goal sets how clean the ground has to be.
• Find your parcel's jurisdiction
  City of Huntsville, City of Madison, another city, or unincorporated Madison County. The permit office depends on it.

Permits and rules

• Inside Huntsville: ask Engineering about a Grading Permit
  The city issues Grading Permits for land disturbance unless exempt under its Storm Water Management Manual, and requires erosion and sediment controls during construction. See the city Engineering page and the Stormwater Management Manual. The page does not list the exemptions, so ask before you cut.
• Inside Madison: check the Land Disturbance Permit
  The City of Madison says a Land Disturbance Permit is required when disturbing 10,000 or more square feet, submitted with an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. See Madison Engineering.
• Unincorporated county: ask Madison County
  Madison County Public Works handles subdivision rules in unincorporated areas (county page). Ask them what applies to your parcel.
• One acre or more: ask about ADEM stormwater coverage
  ADEM's construction stormwater general permit (ALR100000) covers land disturbance of one acre or greater, and sites under one acre that are part of a common plan of development or sale. ADEM's November 2025 reissue document is here and its construction stormwater FAQ is another place to start. Confirm which version is in force and who files with ADEM and your pro.
• Ask about trees and floodplain
  Huntsville Landscape Management / Urban Forestry administers the city tree ordinance (department page); ask whether it applies to your lot. Check the city flood map if the lot is near a creek.
• Ask your pro about licensing and insurance
  Pros are responsible for their own licensing, permits and insurance. Ask to see them.

Utilities and underground lines

• Call 811 before any digging, grubbing or stump grinding
  Alabama 811 asks for notice 2 full working days before you dig, not counting the day you call, at 811 or 800-292-8525 (Alabama 811).
• Look up for overhead lines
  Note power and phone lines near trees that will be cut and tell the pro.
• Note septic, wells, drains and fences
  Mark anything buried or fragile that you know about.

Site access and neighbors

• Plan machine access
  Gate width, soft ground, a place to park a trailer or truck.
• Confirm the property line
  Find survey pins before clearing near a boundary. Get a survey if unsure.
• Tell neighbors
  A short heads-up about noise, dates and any shared fence line.
• Check for creeks, ditches and slopes
  These affect erosion control and how the work is done.

Debris plan

• Decide: haul, mulch on site, or burn
  Ask each pro how they handle it and make sure the quote says so.
• Do not count on the city to pick it up
  The City of Huntsville says it does not collect tree limbs or trimmings from land clearing, dirt, rocks or concrete, or debris from a contractor's work (curbside rules).
• Burning: check before you plan on it
  The Alabama Forestry Commission requires a permit for a prescribed burn, but none under 1/4 acre; tires, construction material and household garbage must not be burned, and city or county laws may also restrict burning (AFC burn permits, 800-392-5679). The City of Huntsville page says open burning in the city is not allowed unless permitted, through Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fire Prevention, 256-427-5150 (city notice, dated 2017, confirm it is current).
• Ask about stump handling
  Grind, pull or cut low, and where the material ends up.

After clearing

• Keep erosion controls in place
  Ask what stays on site, and who maintains it if the permit requires it.
• Plan seeding or cover
  Ask the pro or your Alabama Extension office what cover fits your goal and season.
• Plan for regrowth
  Privet and kudzu return from roots and stumps. Alabama Extension covers control methods in its fall brush control guide.
• Get the scope in writing
  Acreage, what is removed, debris handling, stumps, cleanup and the schedule.

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