Excavation Contractors in Connecticut
Find excavation contractors serving Connecticut properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 59 excavation contractors across 1 Connecticut metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Connecticut Excavation Contractors by City
- Hartford excavation contractors: 59 verified
Connecticut Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also forestry mulching | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 59 | 33 | 5 | 12 |
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 Connecticut?
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 Connecticut-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Connecticut Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | All excavators using power-operated equipment must notify the central clearinghouse (Call Before You Dig / 811) at least two full days before excavating, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, but not more than 30 days before. Emergency excavation is exempt from the waiting period. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | CT DEEP issues the Construction Stormwater General Permit (issued Jan 1, 2026). For private projects disturbing 1 to under 5 acres, local approval by a planning and zoning, wetlands or conservation commission with a local erosion and sediment control plan satisfies the state permit and no DEEP application is needed. Private projects of 5 acres or more need both municipal approval and a DEEP application with a Stormwater Pollution Control Plan prepared by a qualified professional. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | Open burning is limited to brush (shrubs, vegetation or prunings no more than 3 inches in diameter) on residential property of one to four dwelling units, with a signed permit from the local Open Burning Official, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. under set weather conditions. Open burning is not allowed to clear land before construction or to dispose of construction debris, and burning on non-residential property is prohibited. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Hartford: In Hartford, removing any private-property tree of 13 inches DBH or more, or a grove of 10 or more trees on a quarter acre or less, requires a permit from the City Forester.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Connecticut
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
- Connecticut: 811 requirement (updated March 2026)
- Connecticut: Construction stormwater permit (updated 2026-05-15)
- Connecticut: Open burning rules (updated 2021-12-10)
- 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.