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Excavation Contractors in Phoenix, Arizona

Find excavation contractors serving Phoenix, Arizona, 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 Phoenix

12 excavation contractors serving Phoenix 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.

Excavation Services in Phoenix

ServiceWhat to ask the contractor
Site preparationWhich stages are included: clearing, grubbing, excavation, grading, compaction
Foundation and basement excavationEngineered depths, soil conditions, spoil haul-off
Land gradingDrainage direction, imported fill, compaction testing
TrenchingUtility locates, trench safety, backfill
Pond excavationDepth, spoil placement, spillway

How Much Do Excavation Contractors Charge in Phoenix?

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 Phoenix-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.

Phoenix Permits and Local Rules

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.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Maricopa County dust control permit (Rule 310)A dust control permit is required for activities that will disturb a surface area of 0.10 acre (4,356 square feet) or more, which includes earthmoving and land clearing. Rule 310 also requires dust control for any dust-generating activity regardless of size.Source
Dust control training by site sizeRule 310 Basic training is required for site superintendents/foremen on sites over 1 acre and under 5 acres disturbed, and a dust control coordinator with Comprehensive training must be on site for sites of 5 acres or more. Water truck drivers need Basic training regardless of acreage.Source
Grading and drainage plan reviewThe City of Phoenix requires review of grading and drainage plans for all construction projects, residential and non-residential. These are reviewed as civil plans.Source
Hillside development reviewProperties with a slope of 10% or greater require hillside review, which looks at building height, lot coverage and the area of disturbance outside the roof. Hillside plans go through civil review and may need variances or a Hillside Grading Waiver before a permit is issued (City Code 32-32; Zoning Ordinance 710 and 507 Tab A).Source
Floodplain clearanceThe City’s Floodplain Management Office sets development requirements for projects in Special Flood Hazard Areas and uses a Floodplain Clearance Form for residential, commercial and other projects.Source
Call 811 before diggingThe 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 permitADEQ 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 brushUnder 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

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 Phoenix

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 Phoenix land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Phoenix?

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 Arizona Directories

Sources

Listings checked October 2026 against each company’s website. Prices are attributed national estimates, not Phoenix quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.