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Excavation Contractors in Portland, Oregon

Find excavation contractors serving Portland, Oregon, 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 Portland

40 excavation contractors serving Portland 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 Portland

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 Portland?

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

Portland Permits and Local Rules

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.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Tree removal permit (private property)With no development, a Portland Urban Forestry permit is needed to remove a tree 12 inches DBH or larger, any Heritage Tree, or trees in listed overlay zones (c, e, g, h, i, n, p, q, r, s, v) or certain plan districts. If the site has active or upcoming development, a Portland Permitting & Development (BDS) permit is required instead; all street trees need a permit.Source
Erosion and sediment control plan (Title 10)For ground-disturbing work that requires a permit, an erosion, sediment and pollutant control plan is required when the disturbance area is 500 square feet or more, or when the site is a ‘special site’ under the Erosion and Sediment Control Manual. Planting with hand tools is exempt.Source
Environmental overlay zones (e-zones)In e-zones, removing or clearing native vegetation, removing trees, and grading or filling are regulated and must meet development standards or go through review unless exempt. Exemptions such as lawn and garden maintenance or nuisance plant removal do not apply if trees are removed.Source
Flood hazard area development (Title 24.50)A development or building permit is required before any construction or development, including fill, in a flood hazard area. Fill below base flood elevation must be offset by compensatory excavation at ratios from 1:1 up to 2:1 depending on the zone, and floodway encroachments are barred unless an engineer shows no rise in base flood elevation.Source
Call 811 before diggingHomeowners 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 permitOregon 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 brushDEQ 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

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 Portland

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 Portland land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Portland?

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 Oregon Directories

Sources

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