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Excavation Contractors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Find excavation contractors serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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 Philadelphia

29 excavation contractors serving Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia

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 Philadelphia?

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

Philadelphia Permits and Local Rules

In Philadelphia, clearing (including cutting trees and grubbing roots) on a lot over 5,000 sq ft needs a zoning permit for site clearing, and 5,000 sq ft or more of earth disturbance also requires Philadelphia Water Department stormwater/E&S review before you apply.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Zoning permit for site clearing or earth disturbanceL&I requires a zoning permit for site clearing on lots over 5,000 sq ft, where clearing includes cutting or removing trees, grubbing roots and removing or filling foundations (single-family, two-family and urban agriculture lots are excluded). A Landscaping/Tree Preservation plan may be required.Source
Steep Slope Protection Area and Wissahickon Watershed OverlayEarth disturbance over 1,400 sq ft on slopes over 15% in the Steep Slope Protection Area, or over 500 sq ft in the Wissahickon Watershed Overlay, needs a zoning permit, and City Planning Commission approval is required before applying. Floodplain properties may need flood protection forms or a review meeting.Source
PWD erosion and sediment control and stormwater reviewEarth disturbance (which includes clearing and grubbing) of 5,000 sq ft or more requires an ERSA application with an E&S plan to the Philadelphia Water Department; 15,000 sq ft or more also triggers post-construction stormwater management requirements, and 1 acre or more also needs a PA DEP NPDES permit. Below 5,000 sq ft, E&S controls must still be installed as needed.Source
Call 811 before diggingHomeowners and contractors must call 811 (PA One Call) at least three business days before starting any digging or excavation. The PA One Call Law, Section 180(2.1), sets the window at not less than three nor more than ten business days before excavation or demolition.Source
Construction stormwater permitUnder DEP’s Chapter 102 program, construction activities with earth disturbance of one acre or more need NPDES permit coverage (PAG-01, PAG-02 general permits or an individual permit). Other activities disturbing 5 acres or more that are not listed elsewhere need an E&S permit.Source
Burning cleared brush25 Pa. Code § 129.14: open burning is prohibited in air basins, except that clearing and grubbing wastes may be burned there only in air curtain destructors approved in writing by DEP beforehand. Outside air basins, clearing and grubbing wastes may be burned if the fire causes no visible emissions beyond the property line, malodors, nuisance, or damage; DEP may order it stopped.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 Philadelphia

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 Philadelphia land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Philadelphia?

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 Pennsylvania Directories

Sources

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