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Excavation Contractors in Little Rock, Arkansas

Find excavation contractors serving Little Rock, Arkansas, 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 Little Rock

23 excavation contractors serving Little Rock 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 Little Rock

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 Little Rock?

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

Little Rock Permits and Local Rules

In Little Rock, removing more than seven trees in 12 months, or most tree clearing outside small residential lots, requires a City grading permit under the Land Alteration Regulations.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Grading permit (Land Alteration Regulations)Clearing, filling, cutting, harvesting and similar activities require a grading permit, and removing more than seven trees in any 12-month period requires a grading permit unless Chapter 15 says otherwise. A permit is also required for cuts or fills over 10 vertical feet on hills, for 1,000 cubic yards or more of cut or fill, and for tree clearing except in AF and Mining zones and on certain small residential lots (Sec. 29-186).Source
Small residential lot exemptionProperties of 2 acres or less zoned R1, R2, R3, R4 or R7A, and residentially zoned property of 5 acres or less fronting a residential street, do not need a grading permit; their grading and erosion control fall under the building permit. Exempt owners must still protect neighboring properties and fix any off-site damage (Sec. 29-187).Source
Floodplain development permitAll land alteration in the designated floodplain requires a grading permit without exception (Sec. 29-186(c)). Development in the regulatory floodplain also needs a Special Flood Hazard Area development permit before a grading or building permit is issued; no buildings are allowed in the floodway, and structures must be at least 25 feet from the floodway line.Source
Trees in right-of-way or on City propertyRemoving any tree in the public right-of-way or on City-owned property requires a permit, and removed trees must be replaced within six months (Sec. 15-51).Source
Open burning permitA Fire Department permit is required before any open burning. Only clean fuel is allowed (no garbage, plastics, tires, treated lumber and similar materials), and applications should be filed at least three days before the burn date (Sec. 12-8).Source
Call 811 before diggingEach person responsible for an excavation or demolition must notify the One Call Center at least 2 full working days, and not more than 10 full working days, before starting (A.C.A. 14-271-112(b), per PHMSA’s summary). Arkansas 811 says member utilities are notified to locate within two full working days, work must start within 10 working days of the call-in date, and the ticket must be renewed if work is not finished within 20 working days.Source
Construction stormwater permitThe Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality covers construction stormwater under general permit ARR150000. Small sites (1 to less than 5 acres) get automatic coverage: post the Notice of Coverage, SWPPP and inspection form on site before construction, with nothing sent to DEQ. Large sites (5 acres or more) must submit an NOI and fee through SEEK; the annual fee is $200.Source
Burning cleared brushRule 18.602 bans open burning of refuse and waste material, but Rule 18.603(D) exempts controlled fires used only for on-site land clearing, and 18.603(B) exempts agricultural clearing of previously uncultivated land. These exempt burns must stop when the Director declares air pollution conditions. Local fire officials may also require their own permits.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 Little Rock

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 Little Rock land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Little Rock?

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 Arkansas Directories

Sources

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