Excavation Contractors in Washington
Find excavation contractors serving Washington properties, for site preparation, land grading, trenching, foundation and basement digs, pond excavation and other earthwork. We list 35 excavation contractors across 1 Washington metro, each confirmed on the company’s own website (checked October 2026). Choose a city to compare them.
Browse Washington Excavation Contractors by City
- Seattle excavation contractors: 35 verified
Washington Excavation Contractors at a Glance
| City | Contractors | Also land clearing | Also forestry mulching | Also stump grinding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 35 | 22 | 5 | 10 |
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 Washington?
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 Washington-specific average. For the full breakdown, see excavation cost.
Washington Rules That Affect Your Project
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Call 811 before digging | Under RCW 19.122.030, an excavator must notify the one-number locator service at least two full business days and no more than 10 full business days before the scheduled start date, unless exempted under RCW 19.122.031. Starting January 1, 2026, excavation may not begin until positive responses are received from all operators; markings expire 45 calendar days after notice. | Source |
| Construction stormwater permit | The Department of Ecology’s Construction Stormwater General Permit is needed for clearing, grading, excavating or stockpiling that disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre if part of a common plan of development that will disturb one acre or more, when stormwater can reach surface waters. Ecology can also require coverage for any size site it considers a significant contributor of pollutants. Current permit effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2030. | Source |
| Burning cleared brush | WAC 173-425-040 bars residential and land clearing burning in urban growth areas (after Dec. 31, 2000, with limited exceptions to 2006), in cities over 10,000 people, and in nonattainment areas; land clearing burning is also barred where population density is 1,000+ per square mile, and where a reasonable alternative to burning exists. | Source |
Local rules vary by city:
- Seattle: In Seattle, removing trees 6 inches DSH or larger is generally prohibited without development or SDCI approval, and tree service providers must be city-registered and post public notice before removal.
How to Choose an Excavation Contractor in Washington
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
- Washington: 811 requirement (amended 2025 c 292 s 4)
- Washington: Construction stormwater permit (permit effective 2026-01-01)
- Washington: Open burning rules (WSR 00-07-066, effective 2000-04-13)
- 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.