Stumps ground below grade on Salem lots, from lakefront yards to wooded backyards beside wetlands.
We grind stumps in Salem for homeowners, builders, landowners and commercial properties. Our professional stump grinders, debris safety screens and mini excavator handle everything from one backyard stump to a row left behind after a lot is cleared. We grind 4 to 8 inches below grade, then rake the chips out, leave them piled, or haul them away with our trucks and trailers.
To get started, call (603) 438-6492 or use Get a Quote with a few photos and the number of stumps. We are family owned, fully insured and have 12 years of experience. Loam and seed are an optional add-on if you want the spot ready for grass. See how the work goes on our stump grinding page.
Salem has a lake, a river, brooks and mapped wetlands inside its 25.9 square miles, and the town's wetland rules differ by wetland type. Where a stump sits in relation to water decides the plan.
Salem's Conservation Commission lists Captains Pond, Canobie Lake, World's End Pond, Arlington Pond, Millville Pond, Shadow Lake and the Spicket River as waters covered by the state shoreland act. A stump inside that 250-foot zone is not treated like one in the middle of a lawn, so we ask how far it sits from the water before scheduling.
The town's Wetlands Conservation Ordinance calls for a 100-foot undisturbed buffer around prime wetlands and a 20-foot natural buffer out to the edge of lawns, and the Planning Board approves wetland buffer impacts. The Commission also notes that wetlands are not always obvious, so a damp back corner with old stumps is worth confirming on a map before grinding.
New Hampshire counts tree and root removal as excavation, and Dig Safe says a ticket is required when working within 100 feet of underground utility facilities. Dig Safe does not mark private lines such as irrigation, sewer laterals or propane lines, so tell us where yours run before the grinder goes below grade.
Salem's highest point is Gordons Hill at 366 feet on the western border, so most yards are not steep. Where a yard does pitch toward a brook or the lake, we set the grinder across the slope and put screens up to keep chips out of the water and off neighboring property.
Most stump grinding in a Salem yard needs no permit, but three rules can apply depending on where the stump sits.
Dig Safe. Under RSA 374:48, excavation includes tree and root removal, and Dig Safe requires at least 72 hours of notice, excluding weekends and holidays, with a ticket when you work within 100 feet of underground utility facilities (RSA 374:48 (opens in a new tab); Dig Safe Excavator Manual (opens in a new tab)).
Shoreland. Under RSA 483-B:9 (opens in a new tab), stumps and root systems within 50 feet of the reference line of protected water stay in the ground unless NHDES approves removal or the stump is replaced with pervious surface, new trees or other woody plants. Salem's brochure says a permit may be required to remove trees or brush within 250 feet of the water's edge (Salem Conservation Commission brochure (opens in a new tab)).
Town wetland buffers. Salem's Wetlands Conservation Ordinance sets buffers around wetlands, and the Planning Board approves buffer impacts. The Town has been reviewing that ordinance, so confirm the current rules with the Planning Department before grinding near a wet area (Town of Salem Conservation Commission update (opens in a new tab)).
This is general guidance, not legal advice. We help you spot when a permit question exists so you can confirm it with the town or NHDES before work starts.
Sources: NH RSA 374:48, definitions (excavation includes tree and root removal); Dig Safe System: Excavator Manual (Nov 2025), notice rules for NH and MA; NH RSA 483-B:9, shoreland minimum standards; Town of Salem Conservation Commission: Wetlands and Shorelands Brochure (rev. March 2024); Town of Salem: Conservation Commission update (wetland ordinance review)
We don't publish set prices, because every stump is quoted after we see it. For planning, HomeAdvisor (opens in a new tab) lists stump grinding at about $2 to $5 per inch of diameter, with a national average near $250 and minimum fees that many contractors set around $100 to $150. These are national reference ranges, not our prices, and a stump near the lake or a wetland buffer can take more setup than one in an open yard.
For a quick planning number, try our stump grinding cost calculator, then call (603) 438-6492 or request a quote for an exact price.
Try the stump grinding cost calculator
Cost references: HomeAdvisor: How Much Does Stump Grinding Cost
A few places locals know, and what they mean for outdoor work nearby.
A 375-acre lake on the Salem and Windham line whose shores are mostly lined with houses. It is one of the waters Salem's Conservation Commission lists under the state shoreland act, so tree and brush removal within 250 feet of the water's edge may need a permit.
Get directions to Canobie Lake (opens Google Maps in a new tab)Town-owned conservation land managed by the Salem Conservation Commission, with a lettered trail network that includes a planned bridge over a wetland on Trail F. It shows how quickly dry woods turn to wet ground in this part of the state.
Get directions to Salem Town Forest (opens Google Maps in a new tab)A privately owned archaeological site and attraction of roughly 30 acres, called Mystery Hill until 1982. A 1907 town history described the site as rough boulders and soft pines.
Get directions to America's Stonehenge (opens Google Maps in a new tab)The river that drains Salem along with its tributary Policy Brook, part of the Merrimack River watershed. Salem's Conservation Commission lists it among the waters covered by the state Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act.
Get directions to Spicket River (opens Google Maps in a new tab)Photos from our crew's jobs across New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
It depends on the distance to the water. Within 50 feet of protected water, state law keeps stumps and roots in the ground unless NHDES approves removal or the stump is replaced with new woody plants. Send us photos and your distance estimate, and we will talk through the options before booking.
Start with a survey or site plan, then ask the Salem Planning Department. Salem's ordinance includes a 100-foot undisturbed buffer around prime wetlands and a 20-foot natural buffer, and wetlands are not always obvious from the surface. We flag any stump that looks close to wet ground.
Usually yes if underground utilities are within 100 feet. New Hampshire treats tree and root removal as excavation, and notice must be given at least 72 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays. Tell us about private lines such as irrigation or sewer laterals, because Dig Safe may not mark them.
We grind 4 to 8 inches below grade. The chips can be raked out, left piled for your own use, or hauled away with our trucks and trailers. Loam and seed are not part of the grinding job and are available as an optional add-on.
Yes. We run 24/7 emergency storm response and can grind the stump once the tree is cut and cleared. See our storm damage cleanup page or call (603) 438-6492.
See every town we cover on our service areas page.
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