Excavation Contractors in Arizona
Find excavation contractors serving Arizona properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 12 excavation contractors across 1 Arizona metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Arizona Excavation Contractors by City
- Phoenix excavation contractors: 12 verified
Arizona Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | 12 | 3 | 1 |
Counts come from the listings on each city page. The Contractors column is the number of excavation companies listed; each confirms excavation on its own website. The other columns count companies whose sites also confirm that service, so one company can appear in more than one column.
How Much Do Excavation Contractors Charge in Arizona?
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 Arizona-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Arizona Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | The excavator must notify the one-call notification center at least two business days before beginning excavation (A.R.S. 40-360.22 as amended by SB 1137, Laws 2026, Ch. 147). Large projects need notice at least 15 business days or 21 calendar days before the proposed start. Facility operators must respond within two working days. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | ADEQ issues construction stormwater coverage under the AZPDES Construction General Permit (2025 CGP, AZG2025-001, effective August 29, 2025). Coverage is required for construction that disturbs 1 acre or more, or less than 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will disturb 1 acre or more, and that discharges to Arizona surface waters or an MS4. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | Under A.A.C. R18-2-602, ‘construction burning’ of wood or vegetative material from land clearing and site preparation is allowed only with an open burning permit from the ADEQ Director or a delegated authority, issued for up to one year. This state rule applies only in counties without independent authority to permit fires; Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties run their own open burning rules. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Phoenix: In Phoenix, Maricopa County requires a Rule 310 dust control permit before you disturb 0.10 acre (4,356 sq ft) or more, which covers most land clearing.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Arizona
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, read site preparation, excavation cost and land grading.
Sources
- Arizona: 811 requirement (Approved June 19, 2026; filed June 22, 2026)
- Arizona: Construction stormwater permit (Revised Oct. 29, 2025)
- Arizona: Open burning rules (Amended effective 7/3/2024)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Excavation Cost? (written February 5, 2026)
Reviewed October 16, 2026. Prices are attributed national estimates. Confirm permit requirements for your parcel with the city or county.