Excavation Contractors in Colorado
Find excavation contractors serving Colorado properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 51 excavation contractors across 1 Colorado metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Colorado Excavation Contractors by City
- Denver excavation contractors: 51 verified
Colorado Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also forestry mulching | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 51 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
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 Colorado?
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 Colorado-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Colorado Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | Regardless of project size, you are legally required to contact Colorado 811 at least three business days before you dig, and wait three full business days after submitting the request. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | CDPHE’s Water Quality Control Division issues the COR400000 general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities, applied for through the CEOS portal. The page references an R-Factor waiver for sites between 1 and 5 acres not part of a larger common plan. Under Water Quality Control Commission Regulation 61 (5 CCR 1002-61, Sec. 61.3(2)), a stormwater discharge permit is required for construction activity, including clearing, grading and excavation, that disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale that will disturb one acre or more. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | Small pile/slash open burns (under 50 piles a year, piles no larger than 8x8x8 feet, out by sunset) need a permit from a local delegated agency in 16 counties including Denver, or from CDPHE’s Air Pollution Control Division elsewhere. Burning is prohibited November 1-March 31 in the seven-county Denver/Boulder metro area, and no permits are issued during a county fire ban. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Denver: In Denver, construction that disturbs 1 acre or more needs a city Construction Activities Stormwater Discharge Permit (CASDP), and removing any tree in the public right-of-way needs a permit from the city forester.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Colorado
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
- Colorado: 811 requirement (no date)
- Colorado: Construction stormwater permit (no date)
- Colorado: Open burning rules (no date)
- 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.