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Excavation contractors in Pennsylvania

2793 excavation contractors in Pennsylvania hold an active USDOT registration. The 60 counties listed below have at least 15 each and account for 2742 of them.

Pennsylvania law requires anyone planning to dig to notify the one-call system at least three business days, and no more than ten business days, before work starts.1, 2 The state has no licensing requirement for most construction contractors, though some municipalities license them locally.3 Contractors who do $5,000 or more a year in home improvement work, which includes driveways, must register with the Attorney General.4 Earth disturbance of 5,000 square feet or more needs a written erosion and sediment control plan, and disturbance of 1 acre or more needs an NPDES permit.5, 6

Counties

Other counties in Pennsylvania

51 contractors in 7 counties with fewer than 15 listings.

What excavation costs in Pennsylvania

These are published national ranges, not quotes. Local quotes vary.

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 has no separate figure for the Northeast, so expect prices near the national range.

Ranges compiled from HomeGuide, Angi, HomeAdvisor and contractor-published guides, checked September 2026.

Sources

  1. 1.Underground Utility Line Protection Law, Act 287 of 1974
  2. 2.Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
  3. 3.Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
  4. 4.Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  5. 5.25 Pa. Code § 102.4
  6. 6.25 Pa. Code § 102.5