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Excavation Contractors in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Find excavation contractors serving Grand Rapids, Michigan, 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 Grand Rapids

35 excavation contractors serving Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids

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 Grand Rapids?

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

Grand Rapids Permits and Local Rules

Grand Rapids requires a soil erosion (SESC) permit before any earth change over 2,500 square feet, or any earth change within 500 feet of a wetland, stream, lake or floodplain.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
SESC permit for earth changesThe city is the municipal enforcing agency for Part 91. A landowner must get an SESC permit before an earth change over 2,500 square feet, a parking area over 1,000 square feet, any earth change within 500 feet of a wetland, creek, stream, lake, water body or floodplain, or certain plats and site-plan developments. The permit is handled as part of the city’s Land Use and Development Permit.Source
Floodplain standardsThe city regulates development in the floodplain under the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and maps for Kent County dated February 23, 2023. The FEMA maps take precedence over any other floodplain information.Source
Permit for work on public treesNo one may perform tree work on or otherwise disturb any public tree without first getting a permit under the city’s tree chapter.Source
Private landmark treesA private tree of unique value because of size, age, history or ecology can be designated a Private Landmark Tree, but only with the property owner’s approval. The Urban Forestry Committee reviews nominations.Source
Call 811 before diggingAn excavator must notify MISS DIG 811 at least 3 business days before excavating or blasting. Notice can be given by calling 811 or through the MISS DIG website.Source
Construction stormwater permitEGLE’s Water Resources Division requires NPDES stormwater coverage for construction that disturbs one acre or more and has a point-source discharge to waters of the state. Coverage comes through Permit-by-Rule and depends on first getting a Part 91 soil erosion (SESC) permit. Sites of 1 to 5 acres are covered automatically once the SESC permit is issued; sites of 5 acres or more must also file a Notice of Coverage with EGLE. Separately, a local Part 91 SESC permit is typically needed for any earth change over 1 acre or within 500 feet of a lake or stream.Source
Burning cleared brushEGLE says open burning of trees, logs, brush and stumps must be done more than 1,400 feet from the boundary of an incorporated city or village. A burn permit is required when the ground is not snow-covered (from DNR offices in the north, local fire departments or municipalities in the south), and local laws may ban open burning. Demolition and remodeling waste should go to a construction and demolition landfill.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 Grand Rapids

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 Grand Rapids land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Grand Rapids?

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.

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Sources

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