Excavation Contractors in Rhode Island
Find excavation contractors serving Rhode Island properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 37 excavation contractors across 1 Rhode Island metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Rhode Island Excavation Contractors by City
- Providence excavation contractors: 37 verified
Rhode Island Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 37 | 15 | 5 |
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 Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Rhode Island Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-1.2-5: any person, public agency or utility excavating within 100 feet of a utility facility must notify Dig Safe at least 72 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) but not more than 30 days before starting; excavation must begin within 30 days of the notice. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | RIDEM’s Office of Water Resources issues the RIPDES Construction General Permit. Coverage is needed for disturbance over one acre, or for smaller projects that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale disturbing one acre or more in total. The reissued permit runs until September 26, 2026, with reissuance planned for a five-year term to September 2031. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | RIDEM Air Pollution Control Regulation Part 4 (Open Fires) allows burning of combustible material only by written exemption from the RIDEM Director after showing no practical alternative (such as chipping, cutting for forest products or landfilling), with local fire official and municipal approval, during good ventilation and without nuisance. Homeowners burning on their own property with no commercial activity fall under local ordinances instead. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Providence: In Providence, no tree 32 inches or more in diameter, on public or private land, may be removed without the City Forester’s permission.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Rhode Island
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
- Rhode Island: 811 requirement (no date (last amended P.L. 2017, ch. 83 and ch. 91))
- Rhode Island: Construction stormwater permit (2025-09-25)
- Rhode Island: Open burning rules (no date (file posted 2025-08))
- 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.