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Excavation Contractors in Dallas, Texas

Find excavation contractors serving Dallas, Texas, 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 Dallas

30 excavation contractors serving Dallas 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 Dallas

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 Dallas?

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

Dallas Permits and Local Rules

In Dallas, tree protection is usually the deciding permit issue for clearing: a grading or excavation permit alone doesn’t authorize removing protected trees.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Dallas tree removal applicationThe city says most trees in Dallas are protected. A building permit for construction covers tree removal for that work, but demolition, excavation, grading and retaining-wall permits do not. Those need a separate tree removal application with a tree survey or forest stand delineation.City of Dallas Landscape and Tree Manual, Appendix E
Tree replacementThe diameter inches of a removed protected tree generally have to be replaced, and an approved removal is valid for up to six months.City of Dallas Landscape and Tree Manual, Appendix E
Small residential lot exceptionLots under two acres with single-family or duplex use in residential districts are excepted, but vacant lots are not.City of Dallas Landscape and Tree Manual, Appendix E
Stormwater (statewide)Disturbing 1 acre or more, or part of a larger common plan of development, needs TCEQ construction stormwater coverage.TCEQ
Burning debris (statewide)Allowed only under TCEQ conditions, never during a Dallas County burn ban or red flag warning.TCEQ GI-415; Texas A&M Forest Service burn ban map
Call 811 (statewide)Call at least two days before digging. The call is free.Railroad Commission of Texas

These are the rules most likely to affect a clearing or sitework job. Confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county before work starts, and see land clearing permits for a full checklist.

How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Dallas

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 Dallas land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Dallas?

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.

Do I need a permit for excavation in Dallas?

Often, yes. The City of Dallas says most trees are protected, and excavation or grading permits don’t authorize tree removal; that needs a separate tree removal application with a tree survey. Lots under two acres with single-family or duplex use are excepted, but vacant lots are not. Jobs disturbing 1 acre or more also need TCEQ stormwater coverage.

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.

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Sources

Reviewed October 15, 2026. Prices are attributed national estimates, not Dallas quotes. Permit summaries are a starting point; confirm requirements for your parcel with the city or county.