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Excavation Contractors in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Find excavation contractors serving Tulsa, 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 Tulsa

29 excavation contractors serving Tulsa 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 Tulsa

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 Tulsa?

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

Tulsa Permits and Local Rules

In Tulsa, any excavating, grading, filling or berming needs a Watershed Development Permit (an Earth Change permit at minimum), and Tulsa’s regulatory floodplain is mapped on full future development of the watershed.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Watershed Development Permit / Earth Change permitUnless exempt, a Watershed Development Permit is required before any development, excavating, grading, regrading, paving, landfilling, berming or diking in the City, and an Earth Change permit (EC) is required before any earth change (Title 11-A, Sec. 302). Exemptions include bona fide agricultural operations and routine grounds maintenance, landscaping and home gardening.Source
Floodway and regulatory floodplain permitsA Floodway permit (FW) is required for any development or earth change in the floodway, and a Flood Plain permit (FP) for any in the regulatory floodplain. Tulsa defines the regulatory floodplain using full development of the watershed where the drainage area is 40 acres or more (Title 11-A, Secs. 301-302).Source
Construction erosion and sediment controlOwners or operators of construction sites of 1 acre or more must file an NOI with Oklahoma DEQ and keep the NOI, permit number and SWP3 on site. Controls must be inspected every 14 days and within 24 hours after 0.5 inch or more of rain.Source
Open burning permitKindling or maintaining an open fire on public or private ground inside Tulsa city limits without an operational permit from the fire code official is a misdemeanor (Title 14, 105.6.32). Recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces on private property are exempt.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 Tulsa

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 Tulsa land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Tulsa?

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 Tulsa quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.