Do You Need a Permit to Clear Land in Richmond, KY?
Cutting and grading land on your own property generally doesn’t require a permit; burning the debris pile you generate almost always does. The two get confused because they happen on the same job.
Clearing itself: a property-line and utility question, not usually a permit one
Removing trees and brush from your own residential or ag land in Madison County typically doesn’t require a county permit the way building a structure does. What it does require is knowing your property line — a survey or plat before clearing a wooded boundary avoids a dispute with a neighbor over trees that turned out to be on their side — and calling 811 to have underground utilities located before any grading or stump removal that disturbs the ground.
HOA-governed properties are the exception: some Richmond-area subdivisions restrict tree removal in common areas or on lots bordering greenspace. Check your HOA covenant before clearing a lot line if one applies to you.
Burning the debris is the part that actually needs a permit
Kentucky regulates open burning near woodland through the Kentucky Division of Forestry, and local fire departments can add their own rules on top of the state ones. Burning a debris pile without checking current restrictions first is how a land-clearing job turns into a citation or a runaway fire. We haul debris off-site by default specifically to avoid this problem — it’s one less permit for the property owner to chase down.
Typical cost range
Land and lot clearing in the Richmond area typically runs from a few hundred dollars for a small brushy lot line to several thousand for a heavily wooded build site, priced by acreage and density rather than a flat rate. See our land & lot clearing page for the full range and what drives it.
Common questions
Do I need to call 811 before land clearing?
Yes, if the work involves grading, grubbing stumps, or anything that disturbs the ground below the surface. It’s a free call and it’s the standard way to avoid hitting a buried line.
Can I burn the brush pile myself instead of paying to haul it?
Only if you’ve checked current state and local burning restrictions first — they change seasonally and by county. We haul debris off-site as our default specifically to skip that step.
Does clearing a wooded lot line need my neighbor’s sign-off?
Not legally, as long as you’re clearing your own side of a confirmed property line. A quick survey check before cutting near a boundary avoids a dispute over trees that turn out to straddle the line.
Related: land & lot clearing · brush clearing & debris hauling. Back to Richmond Tree Pros.
Richmond Tree Pros · Serving Richmond & Madison County, KY · Call or text (859) 310-1209
Last updated: September 12, 2026