Excavation contractors in Rutherford County, NC
23 excavation contractors are registered in Rutherford County. All 23 hold an active USDOT registration. The largest town is Forest City.
North Carolina's Underground Utility Safety and Damage Prevention Act requires notice no less than three full working days before excavation or demolition begins.1 Grading work that costs $40,000 or more must be done by a licensed general contractor, and the state's licensing board offers a Grading and Excavating classification.2, 3 Land-disturbing activity of more than one acre needs an approved erosion and sedimentation control plan, filed at least 30 days before work starts,4 and disturbing one acre or more also requires coverage under the NCG01 construction stormwater permit.5
All 23 contractors
- WJ Grading(828) 288-2130Rutherfordton4.8 from 16 reviews via Google
- Jackson Grading and Land Clearing(828) 429-9798RutherfordtonLand clearing4.8 from 16 reviews via Google
- Sisk Grading Inc(828) 245-2428Forest City3.4 from 5 reviews via Google
- Shields Tree Service(828) 286-8593Rutherfordton
- Francis Grading(828) 453-8225Ellenboro
- Samuel Grading & Landscaping(828) 429-4756Forest City
- J&L Grading & Clearing LLC(828) 919-0758EllenboroLand clearing
- James Harmon Grading Inc(704) 248-2249Forest City
- (828) 429-7882
- Crawford Backhoe Service LLC(828) 777-3197Rutherfordton
- Blue Ridge Grading and Excavating(828) 446-5432Union Mills
- Firm Roots Grading LLC(828) 305-5371Rutherfordton
- Villarreal Paving & Grading LLC(413) 697-4783Union Mills
- BRS Landscaping & Grading Inc(828) 287-9309Rutherfordton
- C & E Logging and Grading Inc(828) 287-7659Rutherfordton
- J L Drake Grading and Hauling(828) 329-5254Forest City
- (828) 245-0441
- Butlers Landscaping and Grading LLC(505) 646-8820Rutherfordton
- Hooley Grading LLC(740) 248-8407Union Mills
- Johnston Grading LLC(704) 473-5600Ellenboro
- Morrison's Grading(828) 744-2700Union Mills
- Ronnie Walker Backhoe(828) 245-4569Forest
- Carolina Grading & Landing Clearing & Farms(828) 863-4108RutherfordtonLand clearing
Ranked by verified owner, then Google rating, then fleet size. How ranking works
What excavation costs in North Carolina
Ranges are national; get three local quotes.
- Residential excavation and site prep
- $1,500–$5,000 for a typical job; $2,500–$15,000 for a full home sitePrice driver: Soil: clay and rock cost more than loam
- Land clearing, small lot
- $1,400–$5,800Price driver: Tree density
- Grading a yard
- $1,000–$5,000 for an average backyardPrice driver: Slope
- Driveway excavation, before gravel or paving
- $1,000–$5,000Price driver: Access: tight sites need smaller machines and more hours
- Dirt haul-off
- $500–$6,000 per jobPrice driver: Haul distance and disposal
Published labor data puts the Southeast's average rates lowest in the country.
Ranges compiled from HomeGuide, Angi, HomeAdvisor and contractor-published guides, checked September 2026.