Excavation Contractors in Kentucky
Find excavation contractors serving Kentucky properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 14 excavation contractors across 1 Kentucky metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Kentucky Excavation Contractors by City
- Louisville excavation contractors: 14 verified
Kentucky Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also forestry mulching | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 14 | 8 | 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 Kentucky?
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 Kentucky-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Kentucky Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | Under KRS 367.4911, each excavator or person responsible for excavation or demolition must notify the operators’ notification center (811) not less than two full working days and not more than ten full working days before starting work, unless a later start date is agreed. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | Construction activities disturbing one acre or more, or part of a common plan that cumulatively disturbs one acre or more, need coverage under KPDES general permit KYR100000. Operators submit an electronic NOI at least seven days before construction, and coverage is effective only after written notice from the Division of Water. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | 401 KAR 63:005 allows fires for disposal of natural growth for land clearing, without tires or heavy oil and only on days that do not pose a forest fire threat. Land clearing burns for residential, commercial or industrial development are limited to two contiguous acres at a time, are not allowed May through September in listed counties, must follow KRS 149.400 fire hazard season rules, and do not override stricter local ordinances. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Louisville: In Louisville Metro any land disturbance over 2,000 square feet requires a Site Disturbance Permit from MSD, and burning cleared brush or branches is illegal.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Kentucky
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
- Kentucky: 811 requirement (effective 2022-01-01)
- Kentucky: Construction stormwater permit (fact sheet dated 2025-01-02)
- Kentucky: Open burning rules (certified effective 2025-08-28)
- 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.