Bentonville, Bella Vista and Rogers keep building out into wooded Ozark ridges, and almost every one of those lots starts the same way: thick oak, hickory and cedar on rocky ground that has to be cleared before a foundation crew can start. That's the work we do every week for builders and families across Benton County.
What Lot Clearing Looks Like in Northwest Arkansas
Most lots we clear around Bentonville and Bella Vista fall into one of three jobs:
- Build-ready lot clearing. Trees pulled out by the roots, stumps gone, and the pad lightly graded so the builder starts on clean dirt. This is what most home builders need.
- Selective clearing for a homesite. We open up the house footprint, driveway and yard while keeping the big oaks and hickories that give the lot its value. Mark the trees you want saved and we work around them.
- Forestry mulching. Brush, briars, cedar and small trees ground into mulch where they stand. Good for opening up the back of a lot, a view, walking trails or a fence line.
We run a Bobcat T86 with a forestry mulcher and a tree puller. The mulcher handles brush and small trees in one pass. The tree puller takes trees out roots and all, which is why our build-ready lots don't leave stumps behind for the builder to deal with.
Why Ozark Ground Changes the Job
Northwest Arkansas sits on the Ozark Plateau. Lots here are rarely flat, and the soil is full of chert rock just under the surface. That matters in three ways:
- Slope slows the machine. Bella Vista lots especially can be steep. A steep, rocky lot takes noticeably longer than a flat one with the same trees on it.
- Rock is hard on equipment. We plan the work around it, but it's part of why we walk every lot before we quote.
- Erosion is real. Mulch left on the ground protects the soil on a slope. Bare, scraped ground on a hillside can wash before the builder ever gets there.
What Lot Clearing Costs in Bentonville and Bella Vista
We price by the project after a free site walk, not by the hour. As a starting point:
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small job, up to about 1 acre | From $2,500 (one machine day) |
| 2–5 acres, medium brush | $4,500–$12,000 |
| Heavy timber or steep, rocky lots | $12,000+ |
| Builder lots, 0.5–1 acre, completely cleared | $5,000–$7,000 per lot |
Want a ballpark for your exact lot? Try our instant price calculator. Bentonville and Rogers are about 45 miles from our Stilwell base and Bella Vista about 50, all inside our 60-mile area, so there's no transport fee.
Before you clear inside city limits: check with the city planning office and your subdivision or POA about any tree or building rules for your lot. It's a five-minute call that can save a headache.
Working With Builders and Developers
If you build homes in Benton County, we can be your clearing sub. We provide a certificate of insurance and W-9 on request, quote a flat price per lot, and schedule repeat lots so your crews aren't waiting on us. Cody runs every job himself, so the person who walks your lot is the person on the machine. See our builder lot clearing page for how it works.
Get a Free Bentonville / Bella Vista Lot Estimate
Free site visit, one flat price in writing. Usually a same-day reply.
Schedule a Free Site Visit Try the Price CalculatorOr call or text 918-708-1014
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to clear a lot in Bentonville, AR?
Most single lots run from $2,500 for a small, lightly wooded lot up to $12,000 or more for steep, heavily wooded ground. We give one flat written price after a free site walk.
Do you remove stumps when clearing a building lot?
Yes. Our tree puller takes trees out roots and all, so build-ready lots are left without stumps, and we lightly grade the disturbed area.
Can you keep some trees on my Bella Vista lot?
Yes. Selective clearing is common on Bella Vista lots. Mark the trees you want saved, or walk the lot with Cody, and we clear around them.
Do you charge travel to Bentonville or Bella Vista?
No. Bentonville is about 45 miles and Bella Vista about 50 miles from our Stilwell base, inside our 60-mile no-transport-fee area.
Do you work with home builders?
Yes. We provide a COI and W-9, per-lot pricing and repeat-lot scheduling for builders and developers across Benton County.
About Cody MorrisCody owns and runs Grit and Iron LLC out of Stilwell, OK. He served 8 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a Cherokee Nation citizen, and took 2nd place nationally in Heavy Equipment at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference. He walks every property and runs every job himself.