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Excavation Contractors in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Find excavation contractors serving Albuquerque, New Mexico, 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 Albuquerque

19 excavation contractors serving Albuquerque 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 Albuquerque

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 Albuquerque?

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

Albuquerque Permits and Local Rules

In Albuquerque, any job that will disturb three-quarters of an acre or more of soil, including clearing and grubbing, needs a Fugitive Dust permit from the City’s Air Quality Program.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Fugitive Dust construction permit (20.11.20 NMAC)A Fugitive Dust permit is required for all jobs that will disturb three-quarters of an acre or more of soil. Covered activities include clearing and grubbing, grading, excavation, topsoil removal and ground breaking.Source
Erosion and sediment control approvalOwners of sites disturbing 1 acre or more (or part of a larger common plan) must comply with EPA’s Construction General Permit under City Ordinance 14-5-6-6. The City’s Stormwater Quality Section must approve the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and EPA Notice of Intent before the City issues grading or building permits, and some special sites need a City ESC Permit.Source
Grading and drainage reviewThe Hydrology Section reviews grading and drainage plans. A permit is required for new development or redevelopment involving more than 500 cubic yards of earthwork, a 1,000 sq ft building, or 10,000 sq ft of paving (Chapter 14, Article 5, Section 2-12).Source
Floodplain Development PermitA Floodplain Development Permit is required for earthmoving, grading, paving and new construction in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and for new buildings or additions within the Prudent Line of unlined arroyos. The City states that any development in the floodplain without a permit is illegal.Source
Open burningThe Fire Department says an operational permit is required for open fires on public or private ground. Residents may burn piled vegetation up to 3 ft x 3 ft on allowed burn days without a permit; larger piles require contacting the Fire Marshal’s Office and Environmental Health about permits.Source
Call 811 before diggingA minimum of two full working days’ notice is required before excavation. The excavator (anyone digging, from one person with a shovel to heavy equipment) is responsible for calling 811 or using the New Mexico 811 website.Source
Construction stormwater permitEPA, not the state, issues construction stormwater permits in New Mexico under its Construction General Permit. Coverage (an NOI) is needed for sites disturbing 1 acre or more, or less than 1 acre if part of a common plan of development or sale that will disturb 1 acre or more.Source
Burning cleared brush20.2.60 NMAC allows open burning of vegetative material (including trees, brush, stumps and limbs) within daily limits: up to 10 acres of non-piled material or 1,000 cubic feet of pile volume per day. The burner must notify the local fire department or dispatch first, notify all households within a quarter mile for burns over 1 acre or 100 cubic feet per day, keep the fire attended, and burn only in daylight hours. Burning is prohibited in nonattainment areas, and larger burns fall under 20.2.65 NMAC smoke management.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 Albuquerque

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 Albuquerque land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Albuquerque?

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 New Mexico Directories

Sources

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