Excavation Contractors in Birmingham, Alabama
Find excavation contractors serving Birmingham, Alabama, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. Compare local excavation companies, check which services each one offers, and contact them directly about your project.
Excavation Contractors Serving Birmingham
7 excavation contractors serving Birmingham confirm on their own websites that they offer excavation (checked October 2026). Each listing links to the page where the company describes the service, so you can check it yourself.
Big Dig Demolition and Excavating
Chelsea, AL
- Excavation
- Land clearing
- Forestry mulching
- Stump grinding
Service confirmed on excavation page at bigdigdemos.com
FARE Outdoor Construction
Birmingham, AL
- Excavation
- Land clearing
- Stump grinding
Service confirmed on excavation page at fare-outdoor.com
Asphalt Contractor Birmingham AL
Birmingham, AL
- Excavation
- Land clearing
- Stump grinding
Service confirmed on excavation page at asphaltcontractorbirmingham.com
Dirtworks & Bobcat Services Inc
Birmingham, AL
- Excavation
- Land clearing
Service confirmed on excavation page at dirtworksandbobcatservice.com
Elliott Land Management, LLC
Birmingham, AL
- Excavation
Service confirmed on excavation page at elliottlm.com
T.E. Stevens Construction
Irondale, AL
- Excavation
Service confirmed on excavation page at testevens.com
Keeton General Contractors, Inc.
Birmingham, AL
- Excavation
Service confirmed on excavation page at keetongc.com
Excavation Services in Birmingham
| Service | What to ask the contractor |
|---|---|
| Site preparation | Which stages are included: clearing, grubbing, excavation, grading, compaction |
| Foundation and basement excavation | Engineered depths, soil conditions, spoil haul-off |
| Land grading | Drainage direction, imported fill, compaction testing |
| Trenching | Utility locates, trench safety, backfill |
| Pond excavation | Depth, spoil placement, spillway |
How Much Do Excavation Contractors Charge in Birmingham?
Excavation typically costs $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard for ordinary soil, or $100 to $300 per hour for an excavator with an operator, according to HomeGuide’s 2026 guide. Its average total project is $1,100 to $5,600, with trenching at $5 to $12 per linear foot and pond digging at $300 to $3,200. These are national figures; no published source gives a reliable Birmingham-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Birmingham Permits and Local Rules
In Birmingham, any non-exempt land-disturbing activity, including clearing, grading and filling, needs a soil erosion and sediment control permit from the city engineer before work starts.
| Rule | What it means for your project | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Soil erosion and sediment control permit | No person may begin any land-disturbing activity not exempted by the chapter without first getting a soil erosion and sediment control permit from the city engineer; land-disturbing activity includes clearing, dredging, grading, excavating, transporting and filling of land. A separate permit is required for each site. | Source |
| Permit exemptions | Exempt activities include agriculture, silviculture, minor landscaping and home gardens on individual residential lots (not by a developer or builder), and minor grading for driveways, yards and sidewalks; exempt persons must still control sedimentation and runoff. Bonds for non-residential and multi-family sites are doubled for work in floodplains and landslide areas (Sec. 4-7-14). | Source |
| Post-construction stormwater (1 acre+) | The post-construction stormwater ordinance applies to new development or redevelopment that disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre if part of a larger common plan of one acre or more, or as the director determines. | Source |
| Floodplain development permit | The Floodplain Zone Overlay requires a completed Floodplain Development Permit Application before any development activities, including filling, grading, excavation and storage of equipment or materials. Dumping brush, debris or other materials that can obstruct flood flows in the floodway is prohibited. | Source |
| Call 811 before digging | The Alabama Public Service Commission tells homeowners and contractors to contact 811 at least two days before digging; the City of Alexander City’s official page states everyone, including homeowners, must contact Alabama 811 at least two full working days before excavating (Code of Alabama Sec. 37-15-4 governs notice). | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Stormwater Management Branch issues coverage under General NPDES Permit ALR100000 for construction disturbing one acre or more, including smaller sites that are part of a common plan of development or sale of one acre or more. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | ADEM Rule 335-3-3-.01(2) allows open burning of vegetation or untreated wood from land clearing if it is on the property where generated, at least 500 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling (other than one on the property), started only between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. with no fuel added between 3 p.m. and 8 a.m., with wind away from built-up areas, attended at all times, and not during an air stagnation advisory or declared drought emergency. This permission is revoked May through October in listed counties including Jefferson, Shelby, Mobile and Baldwin. Separately, the Alabama Forestry Commission requires a burn permit for prescribed burns of 1/4 acre or more. | Source |
Confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county before work starts. See land clearing permits for a full checklist.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Birmingham
Send every bidder the same plans and dimensions. Ask whether the price is per cubic yard, per hour or a fixed total; whether spoil haul-off, imported fill, rock and compaction testing are included; who handles permits and utility locates; and what the finished grade will look like.
For background before you call, read site preparation, excavation cost and land grading. If the site still has trees and brush, start with Birmingham land clearing contractors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do excavation contractors charge in Birmingham?
Excavation typically costs $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard for ordinary soil, or $100 to $300 per hour for an excavator with an operator, according to HomeGuide’s 2026 guide. Its average total project is $1,100 to $5,600, with trenching at $5 to $12 per linear foot and pond digging at $300 to $3,200. Get quotes from local contractors for your exact scope.
What’s the difference between excavation and land grading?
Excavation digs out or moves earth to reach required depths. Land grading shapes the surface to set slope and drainage. Many sitework contractors do both, but quotes often price them separately.
How are excavation contractors priced?
By the cubic yard, by the machine-hour or as a fixed total. HomeGuide lists $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard for soil and $100 to $300 per hour for an excavator with an operator. Ask which unit a quote uses before comparing bids.
More Alabama Directories
- All Alabama excavation contractors
- Huntsville excavation contractors
- Birmingham land clearing contractors
- All excavation contractors
Sources
- Soil erosion and sediment control permit (Ord. No. 99-131, 1999-07-15)
- Permit exemptions (Ord. No. 99-131, 1999-07-15)
- Post-construction stormwater (1 acre+) (Ord. No. 19-31, 2019-03-29)
- Floodplain development permit (2021-01-26 (per file name))
- Alabama: 811 requirement (2025-08-07)
- Alabama: Construction stormwater permit (no date (permit heading dated April 1, 2021))
- Alabama: Open burning rules (effective 2008-01-22 (last amendment))
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Excavation Cost? (written February 5, 2026)
Listings checked October 2026 against each company’s website. Prices are attributed national estimates, not Birmingham quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.