Book it
- Kubota U27-4R1 Mini ExcavatorTight-tail-swing mini excavatorFrom $335/dayBook the Kubota U27-4R1 Mini Excavator
- 7x14 Dump TrailerHaul dirt, gravel and debrisFrom $155/dayBook the 7x14 Dump Trailer
Free pickup in Pierce County; exact location sent after booking. Delivery is $200 each way; your job-site address is checked at checkout.
Clearing jobs that fit
Our listing names stump and rock removal among the jobs the Kubota U27-4 is good for, and says it fits through tight side yards and works close to foundations and fences. Pair it with the 7x14 dump trailer to haul it all away. Jobs that fit:
- Brush and blackberry thickets: Overgrown brush, blackberry canes and their roots.
- Small stumps: Stumps left from trees that are already down.
- Rocks: Rocks turned up while clearing, moved aside or hauled out.
- Overgrown lots: A lot gone back to brush, cleared in sections.
- Fence-line clearing: A strip along a fence or property line, opened up for a new fence or access.
Big trees are a different job. Pierce County’s Fill and Grade page says removing trees with a chain saw is considered logging, so check with the county before you cut.
Plan the job first
Request a utility locate
- Pulling a stump or rock is digging. WA 811 says to contact 811 at least two, but no more than ten, business days before you start. The day of the notice, weekends and holidays do not count.
- Mark the boundary of your dig area in white paint first (“whitelining”). For a clearing job, mark each stump or section you plan to dig.
- Utilities do not mark private lines, such as power to an outbuilding, invisible fences, pool heating or septic systems. WA 811 suggests a private utility locator for those.
Check clearing permits and critical areas
- Pierce County’s Fill and Grade page counts removing trees and other vegetation, including stumps, as clearing. It says a permit is required for clearing more than one square foot, or grading more than one cubic yard, in critical areas, and for grading more than 50 cubic yards elsewhere. For larger clears outside critical areas, check with Pierce County Planning & Public Works.
- The county’s site development FAQ says clearing in a wetland, a critical area or their buffers, or within 25 feet of a ditch, creek, stream, river or drainage course, typically needs a permit.
- Not sure what is on your land? The county’s critical areas FAQ points to its About My Property website and notes that not all critical areas are mapped.
- Inside city limits? Towns like Puyallup, Bonney Lake and Sumner have their own permit rules. Check with your city. Area pages: Puyallup · Bonney Lake · Sumner · Auburn · Enumclaw.
Don’t plan on burning it
- Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says all land-clearing fires are prohibited across King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
- Burning yard waste is not allowed at any time in urbanized areas. Where it is allowed, contact your local fire district about permits, and check the burn ban status page first.
Summaries for planning only; follow the official text on each linked page, including Puget Sound Clean Air Agency: Outdoor Burning.
Working with the Kubota U27-4
The Kubota U27-4 is a tight-tail-swing mini excavator on rubber tracks with a backfill blade. Kubota lists its overall width as 4 ft 11 in and says the tight tail swing means less chance of damage to the machine or its surroundings in confined spaces (Kubota U27-4 brochure, PDF).
- Measure your narrowest gate or path to the work area, including posts and hinges, before you book.
- Clear in sections and load the trailer as you go.
Size, reach and booking details: mini excavator rental guide.
Haul it away
The 7x14 dump trailer hauls yard waste, stumps and the dirt and rock the mini excavator digs out. It is not for hazardous waste; please return it emptied and swept.
- The Pierce County Transfer Stations page says all county transfer stations and drop boxes take residential yard waste. Loads with blackberries, ivy or other noxious weeds cost extra. Check hours and what each station accepts before you haul.
- Secure every load so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes. Cover dirt, sand or gravel on paved roads unless you keep six inches of freeboard in the bed (RCW 46.61.655).
- Keeping some on site? Puget Sound Clean Air Agency lists composting, log and brush piling and mulching at home as alternatives to burning (yard waste burning review).
Towing checks: dump trailer rental guide.
Day, weekend or week?
Mini excavator: At the day rate, 3 days is $1,005 and 4 days is $1,340, vs $1,050 for a week. The weekend rate is $490 (Friday 9 AM pickup to Monday 3 PM return).
7x14 dump trailer: At the day rate, 3 days is $465 and 4 days is $620, vs $575 for a week. The weekend rate is $200 (Friday 9 AM pickup to Monday 3 PM return).
Prices are before WA sales tax and the 1.25% heavy equipment rental tax where it applies. Your exact total shows at checkout.
Questions
Can a mini excavator pull stumps?
Yes, for small stumps. Our listing names stump and rock removal among the jobs the Kubota U27-4 is good for. The 7x14 dump trailer hauls the stumps, brush and rock away.
Do I need a permit to clear brush in Pierce County?
It depends on where and how much. Pierce County's Fill and Grade page counts removing trees and other vegetation, including stumps, as clearing, and says a permit is required for clearing more than one square foot in critical areas. For larger clears elsewhere, check with Pierce County Planning & Public Works. Inside city limits, check your city's rules.
Can I burn the brush I clear?
Usually not. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says all land-clearing fires are prohibited across King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, and burning yard waste is not allowed at any time in urbanized areas. Where it is allowed, contact your local fire district about permits and check for burn bans.
Where can I take brush and stumps?
Pierce County says all of its transfer stations and drop boxes take residential yard waste, and loads with blackberries, ivy or other noxious weeds cost extra. Check the Pierce County Transfer Stations page for hours and what each station accepts before you haul.
How much does it cost?
The mini excavator is $335 a day, $490 a weekend or $1,050 a week. The 7x14 dump trailer is $155 a day or $575 a week. Prices are before WA sales tax and the 1.25% heavy equipment rental tax where it applies. Your exact total shows at checkout.
More guides: all rental guides. Digging a drain line too? See the yard drainage guide.