Excavation Contractors in New Orleans, Louisiana
Find excavation contractors serving New Orleans, Louisiana, 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 New Orleans
6 excavation contractors serving New Orleans 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.
Cajun Land Services
French Settlement, LA
- Excavation
- Land clearing
- Forestry mulching
Service confirmed on excavation page at cajunlandservices.com
Big Easy Demolition: New Orleans Concrete & Demolition Company
New Orleans, LA
- Excavation
- Land clearing
- Stump grinding
Service confirmed on excavation page at bigeasydemolition.com
Suddy's Excavating
New Orleans, LA
- Excavation
- Land clearing
Service confirmed on excavation page at suddys.com
TurnKey Demolition: New Orleans Concrete & Demolition Company
New Orleans, LA
- Excavation
- Land clearing
Service confirmed on excavation page at turnkeydemoteam.com
Ovella Enterprises Demolition
Metairie, LA
- Excavation
Service confirmed on excavation page at ovellaenterprises.com
Osborne Contractors LLC
New Orleans, LA
- Excavation
Service confirmed on excavation page at osbornecontractors.com
Excavation Services in New Orleans
| Service | What to ask the contractor |
|---|---|
| Site preparation | Which stages are included: clearing, grubbing, excavation, grading, compaction |
| Foundation and basement excavation | Engineered depths, soil conditions, spoil haul-off |
| Land grading | Drainage direction, imported fill, compaction testing |
| Trenching | Utility locates, trench safety, backfill |
| Pond excavation | Depth, spoil placement, spillway |
How Much Do Excavation Contractors Charge in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
New Orleans Permits and Local Rules
New Orleans’ zoning ordinance prohibits clear-cutting of forests unless the owner has a forest management plan with a replanting plan, prepared by a licensed forester and approved by the State Department of Agriculture.
| Rule | What it means for your project | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clear-cutting ban and tree preservation | CZO Section 23.10 prohibits clear-cutting of forests unless the property owner has a forest management plan with a replanting plan prepared by a licensed forester and approved by the State Department of Agriculture. Landscape plan approval requires preserving public right-of-way or street trees over 6 inches DBH, and removed trees must be replaced, with removal allowed only for listed reasons approved by the City Planning Commission’s Executive Director. | Source |
| Permit for work on City trees | A Tree Maintenance permit is required to do any work on any City tree; a Louisiana licensed arborist submits the work description, license copy and insurance certificate to forestry@nola.gov. The permit is free. | Source |
| Stormwater management plan and erosion control | Development or redevelopment (other than one- and two-family homes and residential buildings with fewer than six units) with 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface or a site of 1 acre or more needs a stormwater management plan under the Stormwater Code in the Building Code. Contractors must provide erosion and sediment control where ground is disturbed, plus catch basin protection. | Source |
| Floodplain development permit | City Code Sec. 78-78 makes it unlawful to proceed with any new development without a permit from the Director of Safety and Permits; under the flood damage prevention article, development includes filling, grading, excavation and storage of equipment or materials. | Source |
| Call 811 before digging | Before any excavation or demolition, the excavator or demolisher must give telephonic or electronic notice to the regional notification center (Louisiana 811) at least 48 hours but not more than 120 hours in advance, excluding weekends and listed holidays (La. R.S. 40:1749.13(B)(1)). | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) issues LPDES general permits for construction stormwater: LAR200000 covers small construction disturbing 1 acre or more but less than 5 acres (issued 08/25/23, expires 08/24/28), and LAR100000 covers construction of 5 acres or more (issued 10/01/24, expires 09/30/29). Covered sites typically submit a Notice of Intent. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | LDEQ summarizes LAC 33:III.1109.D (exception 6) as allowing outdoor burning of trees, brush, grass and other vegetable matter for land clearing and right-of-way maintenance only if winds blow away from a town or city, the fire is at least 1,000 feet from any dwelling not on the property, material has minimal dirt, no heavy oils, rubber or other smoky non-plant material is burned, burning is between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and no traffic hazard is created. | 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 New Orleans
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 New Orleans land clearing contractors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do excavation contractors charge in New Orleans?
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 Louisiana Directories
- All Louisiana excavation contractors
- Baton Rouge excavation contractors
- New Orleans land clearing contractors
- All excavation contractors
Sources
- Clear-cutting ban and tree preservation (Article 23 adopted by Ord. 27,683 MCS, March 6, 2018)
- Permit for work on City trees (Last updated 2024-03-15)
- Stormwater management plan and erosion control (Last updated 2025-05-20)
- Floodplain development permit (Ord. No. 26906, eff. 2016-06-01)
- Louisiana: 811 requirement (no date)
- Louisiana: Construction stormwater permit (no date (permit dates 2023/2024))
- Louisiana: Open burning rules (2019 (per document title))
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Excavation Cost? (written February 5, 2026)
Listings checked October 2026 against each company’s website. Prices are attributed national estimates, not New Orleans quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.