Request land clearing near Summerfield
No cost, no obligation. One independent local provider will follow up.
Summerfield is an unincorporated community in southern Marion County, near US 301 and County Road 475A. It has had a post office since 1885. The settlement was renamed Summerfield in 1888 after Colonel Adam G. Summer, a cattleman who imported Brahman calves into the area in 1860. Lake Weir, a freshwater lake in southern Marion County, is nearby.
Acreage jobs, not just lots
Requests from the Summerfield area tend to involve more land than a subdivision lot:
- Taking back a pasture edge that's been overrun by oaks, vines, and palmetto.
- Clearing a fence line before a new fence goes in.
- Opening a barn or arena site on existing acreage.
- Clearing a homesite on a few wooded acres while keeping the rest natural.
These jobs usually mix methods. Forestry mulching for the understory and edges, an excavator or skid steer for stumps where something will be built, and haul-off or on-site disposal for the big wood. Our pasture and fence-line clearing page goes into the methods in more detail.
County rules, and maybe community rules
Summerfield is unincorporated, so Marion County's regulations apply rather than a city code. We couldn't verify the county's current land development code, so we don't summarize it here. Ask the county's permitting office about your specific parcel, especially if the clearing is tied to building a home or barn. Part of The Villages extends into Marion County, and properties in deed-restricted or age-restricted communities may also have community rules on tree removal. Check those documents before you request work.
Lakefront and low ground
Around Lake Weir and in the low spots between pastures, wet ground changes the job. Heavy equipment can rut soft soil, and clearing close to the water may need review by your water management district before you assume it can be done. If any part of your property is near the lake, a wetland, or a pond, tell the provider so they can look at it before quoting.
Disposal on acreage
Bigger properties sometimes have room to burn, but it's regulated. The Florida Forest Service requires an authorization to burn land clearing debris, and its residential setbacks are 300 feet from other occupied buildings, 100 feet from roads, and 50 feet from wildlands or brush. Ordinary yard-waste piles under 8 feet across follow a lighter set of rules, but debris from clearing for construction or development doesn't qualify. Marion County can also impose burn bans in dry periods. If you want the debris burned, say so, and ask the provider how they handle the authorization.
Wildlife
Gopher tortoises use sandy, open ground, including pasture edges and old fields. FWC requires a permit before clearing or development within 25 feet of a potentially occupied burrow and recommends applying at least 90 days ahead. On acreage, it's easier to route around burrows than on a small lot. Point them out so the provider can plan.
Rough numbers
HomeGuide lists average land clearing costs of $1,900 to $15,000 for 2 acres and $4,500 to $35,000 for 5 acres. For mulching only, it gives $2,000 to $4,000 to clear 5 acres of underbrush and saplings. Angi's Florida average for a land clearing project is $3,890. The low ends assume light growth. Mature hardwoods and full stump removal push the price toward the top. See the cost guide for the full breakdown.
What to include
- Total acres and roughly how much of it needs work.
- Whether it's pasture edge, woods, or a future building site.
- Fences, gates, and livestock that equipment has to work around.
- Any wet areas, lakefront, or burrows.
Other south-county communities are on our service area page, including Marion Oaks and Silver Springs Shores.
Sources, checked October 23, 2026: Wikipedia, Summerfield, Florida and Lake Weir (history, location); Florida Forest Service burn guidance; FWC gopher tortoise permitting guidance; HomeGuide land clearing and forestry mulching cost guides; Angi land clearing cost guide.