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Excavation Contractors in Tyler, Texas

Find excavation contractors serving Tyler, 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 Tyler

38 excavation contractors serving Tyler 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 Tyler

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 Tyler?

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

Tyler Permits and Local Rules

Tyler requires a clearing and grading permit before predevelopment clearing or placing fill on undeveloped land, and its code aims to prohibit indiscriminate clearing.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Clearing and grading permitA clearing and grading permit is required before agricultural timbering, predevelopment clearing or placing fill on an undeveloped site, and living, healthy trees 6 inches or larger may not be removed without a permit.Source
Buffer stripsThe permit application needs an inventory of trees 6 inches or larger in buffer areas; a 40-foot undisturbed strip must remain along 75% of street frontage and a 25-foot strip along 75% of side and rear lines.Source
Where tree preservation appliesTree preservation applies to clearing without a building permit in multifamily, commercial, office and manufacturing districts; there is no tree preservation requirement in the Agricultural Zone.Source
Call 811 before diggingHomeowners, excavators and contractors are required by law to call 811 at least two days before digging. The call is free.Source
Construction stormwater permitDisturbing 1 acre or more, including clearing, grading and excavating, needs TCEQ construction stormwater coverage. Smaller sites can too if part of a larger common plan of development.Source
Burning cleared brushTCEQ allows burning brush from on-site land clearing under certain conditions, but never during a county burn ban or red flag warning, and never materials such as plastic, tires or treated lumber. County burn bans are mapped daily by the Texas A&M Forest Service (https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/BurnBans/).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 Tyler

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 Tyler land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Tyler?

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.

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Sources

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