Excavation Contractors in Minnesota
Find excavation contractors serving Minnesota properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 22 excavation contractors across 1 Minnesota metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Minnesota Excavation Contractors by City
- Minneapolis excavation contractors: 22 verified
Minnesota Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also forestry mulching | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 22 | 13 | 4 | 4 |
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 Minnesota?
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 Minnesota-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Minnesota Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 216D, anyone excavating must notify Gopher State One Call at least 48 hours in advance, not counting the day of the call, weekends or holidays. If you hire a contractor, the contractor is responsible for the notice. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | The MPCA issues construction stormwater permit coverage to owners and operators of construction that disturbs one acre or more of soil, including smaller sites that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale over one acre. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | A burning permit is required for all open burning other than small recreational fires. Under a DNR burn permit (issued by the DNR or a delegated fire warden or, in some southern counties, the sheriff), vegetative debris such as brush, logs and stumps can be burned. Garbage, treated or painted lumber, plastics, tires and commercial demolition debris cannot. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Minneapolis: Minneapolis requires an erosion and sediment control permit for any land disturbance over 500 square feet or 5 cubic yards, before work begins.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Minnesota
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
- Minnesota: 811 requirement (no date)
- Minnesota: Construction stormwater permit (2023 general permit MNR100001 issued Aug. 1, 2023)
- Minnesota: Open burning rules (January 2024)
- 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.