LandClearingGuide

Excavation Contractors in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Find excavation contractors serving Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma City

37 excavation contractors serving Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City

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 Oklahoma City?

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

Oklahoma City Permits and Local Rules

In Oklahoma City, clearing, grading, filling or other land disturbing activity requires a land disturbing permit from the City unless it falls under a listed exemption.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Land disturbing permit (Chapter 48, Article II)No one may conduct land disturbing activity (defined to include clearing, grading, excavating, stockpiling and filling) without a site-specific permit from the City, in addition to any building permit. Exemptions include home gardens and landscaping, single-family homes built separately on lots under 1 acre outside a subdivision with a building permit, and agricultural and forestry practices.Source
Floodplain activity permitA floodplain activity permit is required for all man-made activities in the FEMA floodplain and within 200 feet of its outer boundary. Work in Zone A or AE may require a flood study showing no rise in the 100-year flood elevation (Sec. 16-16).Source
Night earthmoving limit near homesMechanized earth removal or excavation within 1,000 feet of any residential dwelling is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., with exceptions for public-safety and emergency work (Sec. 48-10).Source
Burn permitNo one may burn on any property within Oklahoma City limits without meeting the requirements for and obtaining a permit under the City’s adopted fire code. No fee is charged for burn permits on residential areas of 1 acre or more (Sec. 20-53).Source
Trees on public propertyRemoving, cutting or trimming any tree, plant or shrub on public property requires a permit from the enforcement officer (Sec. 53-3).Source
Call 811 before diggingThe excavator must give notice through the notification center (OKIE811) no less than 48 hours before excavating, not counting the day of notification, Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays (63 O.S. 142.6). Notice expires 14 calendar days from the start date. Demolition requires at least 7 business days’ notice.Source
Construction stormwater permitOklahoma DEQ covers construction stormwater under the OKR10 general permit (2022 OKR10). Owners or operators need coverage when construction disturbs 1 acre or more, or less than 1 acre if part of a larger common plan of development or sale greater than 1 acre.Source
Burning cleared brushOAC 252:100-13-7 allows open burning for land clearing when it is at least 500 feet from any occupied residence not on the same property, and only where not prohibited by local law or ordinance. Under 252:100-13-9 the burn must not create a nuisance or a visibility hazard on roads, may start only between three hours after sunrise and three hours before sunset, and is not allowed on days with an Ozone or PM Alert.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 Oklahoma City

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 Oklahoma City land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Oklahoma City?

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 Oklahoma Directories

Sources

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