Frequently Asked Questions
Read on for answers to the most common questions our team fields from clients!
Harris Excavation offers a full range of excavation and earthwork services including residential and commercial excavation, site grading, utility trenching, drainage system installation, land clearing, site preparation, and erosion control. We serve homeowners, property managers, developers, and general contractors across the Bay Area and Eastern Sierras.
Excavation costs in the Bay Area vary based on project scope, soil conditions, site access, and the type of work required. Residential projects such as foundation excavation or utility trenching typically range from $5,000 to $40,000+. Commercial and large-scale grading projects are priced based on cubic yards of material moved and site-specific conditions. Harris Excavation provides free, detailed estimates — contact us at (310) 346-8580 or submit a request online to get accurate pricing for your project.
In most cases, yes. Excavation work in California — particularly projects involving utility trenching, grading, drainage alterations, or work near property lines — typically requires permits from your local city or county building department. Requirements vary by municipality across San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and Mono County. Harris Excavation is familiar with local permitting processes in all areas we serve and can advise you on what approvals your specific project will require.
Excavation is a form of grading, but not all grading is excavation. Excavation is typically defined by removing bulk amount of material from our sites. Grading reshapes the surface of the land to achieve a specific slope or elevation, most commonly to direct water away from structures or prepare a site for construction. Many projects require both: excavation to remove material, then grading to achieve the correct finished surface. Harris Excavation handles both as part of comprehensive site preparation services.
Yes. Harris Excavation provides residential trenching for water lines, electrical conduit, gas lines, drainage pipes, and other underground utilities. We serve homeowners throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara County, including South San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Redwood City, and surrounding cities. All trenching work is performed to local code requirements by our licensed crew.
Harris Excavation serves two primary markets. In the Bay Area, we cover San Mateo County (including South San Francisco, Millbrae, Redwood City, San Mateo, and Menlo Park) and Santa Clara County (including San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and Mountain View). In the Eastern Sierras, we serve Mono County and beyond including Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, Bridgeport, and June Lake. Contact us to confirm coverage for your specific location.
Yes. Harris Excavation holds a California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license #1117960 as a General Engineering Contractor. We also hold CA Timber Operator license (B014361). We carry full general liability insurance and workers compensation coverage on all projects. Our license status can be verified directly at the CSLB website.
Project timelines vary by scope. Most residential excavation and trenching projects are completed in 1 to 3 days. Larger site preparation, grading, or drainage projects typically take 3 to 10 days. Commercial projects are scheduled based on site conditions and project phasing. Harris Excavation provides a detailed project timeline with every estimate so you know exactly what to expect before work begins.
Yes. Site preparation and land clearing are core services at Harris Excavation. We handle vegetation removal, tree clearing, stump grinding coordination, rough grading, and soil stabilization to prepare lots for new construction, additions, or development. We serve residential homeowners, property managers, and commercial developers across the Bay Area and Eastern Sierras.
Getting an estimate from Harris Excavation is simple. Call us at (310) 346-8580 or email estimating@harrisexcavationco.com with a description of your project and location. You can also submit a request through our Contact page. We respond to all estimate requests the same day to get the process started.