Excavation Contractors in Oregon
Find excavation contractors serving Oregon properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 40 excavation contractors across 1 Oregon metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Oregon Excavation Contractors by City
- Portland excavation contractors: 40 verified
Oregon Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also forestry mulching | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 40 | 26 | 2 | 11 |
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 Oregon?
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 Oregon-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Oregon Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | Homeowners and contractors are told to call 811 (or 800-332-2344) or submit an online locate request before digging, then wait two business days before digging; weekends and holidays extend the wait and requests made after 5 p.m. count as the next business day. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | Oregon DEQ issues the 1200-C Construction Stormwater General Permit, which regulates discharges from construction activities to surface waters of the state. The renewed permit is effective December 15, 2025 through December 14, 2030. Local DEQ agents exist (see DEQ stormwater contacts). The disturbance threshold was not stated on the page opened. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | DEQ lists demolition burning, defined as burning from ‘the clearing of any site for land improvement or cleanup,’ and construction burning as regulated burn types, and notes local city or county ordinances may require permits beyond the state standard. DEQ says restrictions vary by location, Oregon Department of Forestry districts may ban burning or require permits, and cities, counties and fire districts have their own restrictions; check DEQ’s ‘Can I Burn?’ map before burning. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Portland: In Portland, removing a private tree 12 inches DBH or larger, any Heritage Tree, or any tree in an environmental or other listed overlay zone needs a city permit, and any permitted ground disturbance of 500 square feet or more needs an erosion and sediment control plan.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Oregon
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
- Oregon: 811 requirement (no date)
- Oregon: Construction stormwater permit (permit effective 2025-12-15)
- Oregon: Open burning rules (no date)
- 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.