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Excavation Contractors in Seattle, Washington

Find excavation contractors serving Seattle, Washington, 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 Seattle

35 excavation contractors serving Seattle 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 Seattle

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 Seattle?

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

Seattle Permits and Local Rules

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.

RuleWhat it means for your projectSource
Tree protection codeTree removal on private property is generally prohibited when no development is proposed, with some exemptions; in most cases removal needs SDCI review, replacement, a registered tree service provider and public notice. Providers must post notice at least 6 full business days before removing a tree 6 inches DSH or larger; owners who remove their own trees skip the notice but may still need SDCI authorization.Source
Grading permitA grading permit is generally needed for more than 500 cubic yards of soil movement, land disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more, 750 square feet or more of new or replaced hard surface, or a grade change over 4 feet with more than 50 cubic yards. In most environmentally critical areas and their buffers the threshold drops to 25 cubic yards, and riparian corridors, wetlands and buffers need a permit regardless.Source
Trees in environmentally critical areasSDCI approval is required before removing a protected tree in an environmentally critical area or its buffer, except in emergencies; hazard removal needs a qualified tree risk assessor’s report and may require native replanting. SDCI does not treat removing established vegetation as routine maintenance.Source
ECA small project waiverLimited disturbance of ECAs is possible through a Director-approved small project waiver tied to a development proposal: up to 150 sq ft in riparian management areas and wetland buffers, or 300 sq ft in steep slope erosion hazard areas, with cumulative limits and native replanting required.Source
Floodplain developmentSDCI approval is required before construction or development in a designated floodplain; if no other permit is needed, a Floodplain Development License is required, and grading of any type or amount in a floodplain requires approval.Source
Call 811 before diggingUnder 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 permitThe 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 brushWAC 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

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 Seattle

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 Seattle land clearing contractors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do excavation contractors charge in Seattle?

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 Washington Directories

Sources

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