LandClearingGuide
Search Find a Contractor

Excavation Contractors in Chicago, Illinois

Find excavation contractors serving Chicago, Illinois, 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 Chicago

23 excavation contractors serving Chicago 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 Chicago

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 Chicago?

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

Chicago Permits and Local Rules

Disturbing 15,000 square feet or more of land in Chicago makes the project a Regulated Development under the city’s Stormwater Ordinance, which needs stormwater review before building or sewer permits are issued.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Stormwater Ordinance - Regulated DevelopmentConstruction, excavation or grading that disturbs 15,000 square feet or more of land, creates 7,500 square feet or more of at-grade impervious surface, or discharges stormwater to waters or a separate sewer is a Regulated Development under Chapter 11-18 of the Municipal Code. The ordinance includes erosion and sediment control provisions.Source
Stormwater review before permitsThe Department of Water Management says Regulated Developments must get stormwater review and approval before a building permit or sewer permit is issued.Source
Forestry permit for tree work in the public wayThe Bureau of Forestry issues permits for any work involving trees in the public way; contractors must carry liability insurance naming the City. Forestry asks for at least 10 working days’ notice for removal requests.Source
Landscape OrdinanceNew principal buildings, large additions and new parking areas of five or more spaces must include parkway plantings and landscaping reviewed by the Department of Zoning. Homes of three units or fewer are exempt.Source
Call 811 before diggingUnder the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act, anyone excavating or demolishing must notify utility owners through JULIE not less than 2 days and no more than 10 days before starting work.Source
Construction stormwater permitIllinois EPA issues the General NPDES Permit for Construction Site Activities (ILR10). It covers construction that disturbs 1 acre or more, including smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development. A Notice of Intent is filed electronically through EPA’s CDX system. The permit was renewed September 22, 2023.Source
Burning cleared brushState rules allow open burning of landscape waste (trees, branches, stumps, brush) only on the property where it was generated, when the air will disperse the smoke, and with no visibility hazard to roads, railroads or airfields. It is banned in municipalities over 2,500 people, in municipalities next to them, in all municipalities wholly within 40 air miles of Meigs Field in Chicago, and in rural areas within 1,000 feet of a municipality where it is banned. Local rules can be stricter.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 Chicago

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 Chicago land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Chicago?

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 Illinois Directories

Sources

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