Forestry mulching
Grind brush and small woody growth into a chip layer that stays on the ground, useful when you want vegetation reduced without a full haul-away.
View forestry mulching →
Permits
Confirm the rule, then pick mulch or a pile
Inside Chattanooga city limits, land disturbance of about 1,000 square feet — roughly a 25-by-40-foot patch — or work near state waters can require a land-disturbing permit. Unincorporated Hamilton County and several nearby cities generally use a one-acre trigger, or less when the work is part of a larger development. Fees and review times change. Call the city land-disturbing team at (423) 643-5892 or Hamilton County water quality at (423) 209-7851 and confirm the parcel before work starts.
Open burning of land-clearing brush is banned across Hamilton County from May 1 through September 30, and North Georgia counties sit in a seasonal burn window too. A push-pile in June cannot legally be burned until fall. Forestry mulching turns that brush into chips the same day, with no fire and no waiting. This page is a field summary, not a permit.
What we offer
Which job the rule usually attaches to
These are the land services described across our site. Each card links to more detail on the main services page.
Brush clearing & underbrush removal
Open thick understory along fence lines, lot edges, and access paths so you can walk the property safely and see what remains.
Related: land clearing →Land clearing
Remove woody growth to open a parcel for building, pasture, or a cleaner yard line — scoped to the footprint you need cleared.
View land clearing →Site preparation & groundwork
Clearing and ground prep aimed at leaving lots closer to build-ready — from brush removal through rough grade when that is part of the job.
View site preparation →
Site considerations
Tennessee line versus Georgia water
Catoosa, Walker, and Dade counties generally look at one acre of disturbance, or smaller areas close to state waters. Georgia keeps a 25-foot buffer on state waters and a wider buffer on trout streams. Crossing the state line does not carry the Hamilton County rule with you.
Even in the legal burn season, Chattanooga and Hamilton County piles have size, hour, and distance limits, and many need an Air Pollution Control Bureau permit. The bureau is at (423) 643-5970. A Tennessee Division of Forestry burn permit can also apply near woods.
We still expect you, or your builder, to pull the permit. We will not tell you a lot is exempt from the truck.
What you can count on
We do not publish city-specific project galleries or reviews on this page yet. These are the same practical values we share company-wide.
Dependable equipment
Modern machines sized for residential lots and commercial clearings — maintained so work stays on schedule.
Practical support
Clear answers on scope, timing, and what to expect on site — so you are not left guessing mid-project.
Project-ready service
From brush clearing to finished rough grade, we focus on leaving lots ready for whatever comes next.
FAQs
Permit questions
Straightforward answers about land clearing and how to reach us from our Serving Chattanooga.
FAQ - 01
Do I need a permit to mulch a backyard?
Maybe. City lots can trip a land-disturbing rule at about 1,000 square feet. Ask the agency for that address. We do not guess an exemption.
FAQ - 02
Can I burn the pile this summer?
Not in Hamilton County from May 1 through September 30. Mulching avoids the pile.
FAQ - 03
What about Ringgold or Dalton?
Georgia counties use their own acre and stream-buffer rules. Confirm with the local stormwater office. Catoosa stormwater is at (706) 965-3787.
FAQ - 04
Will you pull the permit?
The property owner or builder usually holds it. We can schedule around a permit that is already in motion.
Get started
Know the rule, then ask for the machine
Call ASAP Forestry or send a quote request. We discuss land clearing, brush clearing, and equipment needs for properties in Chattanooga and the wider tri-state area.
Related work: forestry mulching, land clearing, site preparation. Price factors: cost guide. Areas: Chattanooga, Ringgold, Hixson.