LandClearingGuide
Search Find a Contractor

Excavation Contractors in Jacksonville, Florida

Find excavation contractors serving Jacksonville, Florida, 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 Jacksonville

20 excavation contractors serving Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville

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 Jacksonville?

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

Jacksonville Permits and Local Rules

In Jacksonville you need a city permit before removing a protected tree, which on most lots means a tree of 6 inches DBH or more within 20 feet of a street, 8 inches or more within 10 feet of another property line, or 11.5 inches or more elsewhere on the lot.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Protected tree removal permitNo one may cut down, remove, damage or destroy a protected tree, or harm its roots through heavy machinery, grade changes or paving, without first obtaining a permit. Nuisance and invasive species such as Chinese tallow, camphor and chinaberry are exempt, and the requirements may be waived during declared emergencies.Source
What counts as a protected treeA private protected tree is any tree with a DBH of 6 inches or more within 20 feet of a street right-of-way, 8 inches or more within 10 feet of any other property line, or 11.5 inches or more elsewhere on the lot. Trees on City or other public land and easements are public protected trees.Source
Single-family lot and pine/palm exemptionsTrees on an occupied single-family or mobile home lot that cannot be further subdivided are exempt, as are most palms and pines (other than cabbage palm and longleaf pine) more than 20 feet from a street and 10 feet from other property lines. Where an exemption is claimed, the code still says the applicant must obtain a permit (for a fee) and show evidence of the exemption to the Building Inspection Division.Source
Floodplain development permitAnyone planning development wholly or partly in a flood hazard area must apply to the Floodplain Administrator (and Building Official if applicable) and get the required permits first. ‘Development’ includes filling, grading, excavation and any other land-disturbing activity.Source
Call 811 before diggingNotify Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before you want to dig. Business days do not include Saturdays, Sundays, or state and national holidays.Source
Construction stormwater permitThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers coverage under its NPDES Construction Generic Permit (CGP). Coverage is needed when a project disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre if it is part of a larger common plan of development or sale, and discharges stormwater to surface waters of the state or to an MS4. Sites of 5+ acres are ‘large’ and 1 to under 5 acres are ‘small’; a coverage term is five years. DEP says it is proposing updates to the CGP.Source
Burning cleared brushOpen burning of land-clearing debris (residential or non-residential) requires authorization from the Florida Forest Service (FFS) before burning. The debris must come from the same property, burning is limited to daytime and must end one hour before sunset, and the fire must be at least 1,000 feet from occupied buildings not owned by the landowner and at least 100 feet from paved public roads, wildlands, brush or combustible structures, with extinguishing equipment ready. Debris that cannot meet these conditions must be burned in an air curtain incinerator under DEP rules. Residential yard trash from homes of no more than two family units does not need FFS authorization but has its own setbacks (pile no more than 8 feet across; 150 ft from others’ occupied buildings, 50 ft from paved roads, 25 ft from wildlands/brush).Source
State residential tree lawUnder Section 163.045, Florida Statutes, a city or county can’t require a permit, fee or mitigation to remove a tree on a single-family residential lot if the owner has signed documentation from an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to people or property. Mangroves are excluded.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 Jacksonville

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 Jacksonville land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Jacksonville?

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 Florida Directories

Sources

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