How to Prepare Your Property for Excavation Work

Getting Your Property Ready for Excavation

Excavation day is not the time to discover that the gas line runs through your planned work area or that the excavator cannot fit through your side yard. Proper preparation prevents delays, reduces costs, and protects your property from unnecessary damage.

Whether you are preparing for a foundation dig, French drain installation, driveway replacement, or site grading, these steps apply to virtually every excavation project.

Two Weeks Before: Administrative Preparation

Call 811 for Utility Locates

This is the single most important preparation step. Oregon law requires utility locates before any digging, and the service is free.

• Call 811 or submit a request at digsafelyoregon.com
• Request locates at least 48 business hours before digging (request earlier if possible)
• Utility companies will mark underground lines with color-coded paint or flags:
  • Red: Electric
  • Yellow: Gas/oil
  • Blue: Water
  • Green: Sewer/storm drain
  • Orange: Communications/cable
  • White: Proposed excavation area

Private utilities are not marked by 811. Septic tanks, private water lines, irrigation systems, and landscape lighting wiring are your responsibility to identify.

Verify Permits

Confirm that all required permits have been issued before work begins:

• Grading permit (if required by your jurisdiction)
• Building permit (if excavation is part of a larger construction project)
• Erosion control permit (for sites over 1 acre or in sensitive areas)
• Right-of-way permit (if work extends into the public right-of-way)

Starting excavation without permits can result in stop-work orders and double fees.

Confirm Your Contract

Review your excavation contract and confirm:

• Scope of work matches your understanding
• Start date, estimated duration, and working hours
• Payment schedule and terms
• Who is responsible for landscape restoration
• Insurance certificates are current

One Week Before: Physical Preparation

Clear the Work Area

Remove everything movable from the excavation zone and equipment access path:

• Yard items: Furniture, grills, play equipment, garden art, bird baths, raised beds
• Vehicles: Move cars, trailers, boats, and RVs clear of the access route
• Storage: Relocate firewood stacks, lumber, building materials
• Temporary structures: Take down canopies, shade sails, or temporary fencing
• Plants: Move potted plants and any transplantable landscaping you want to keep

Protect Trees

Trees near the excavation area need protection. Root damage from heavy equipment or excavation can kill a tree that took decades to grow.

• Install tree protection fencing at the drip line (the outer edge of the tree canopy), or at minimum 6 feet from the trunk for small trees
• Do not allow equipment to park or drive within the drip line unless specifically discussed with your contractor and arborist
• Mark trees to be removed vs. protected with flagging tape
• Oregon has tree protection ordinances in many cities. Portland, for example, requires permits for removing trees over 12 inches in diameter

Plan Equipment Access

Excavation equipment needs a clear path to the work area. Walk the route with your contractor and address:

• Gate width: Standard excavators need at least 8 feet of clearance. Mini excavators need 4-6 feet
• Overhead clearance: Watch for power lines, tree branches, and eaves
• Ground conditions: Soft or muddy access routes may need temporary gravel or steel plates
• Turning radius: Equipment needs room to maneuver, especially on narrow lots
• Neighbor access: If the best route crosses a neighbor's property, get written permission first

Address Drainage

If your property has known drainage issues, address them before excavation compounds the problem:

• Clear gutters and downspouts so roof water is not discharging into the work area
• Temporarily redirect downspout extensions away from the excavation zone
• Note any areas where water currently pools. Your contractor needs to know this

The Day Before: Final Checks

Secure Pets and Children

• Arrange for pets to be confined indoors or off-site during equipment operation
• Ensure children understand the work zone is off-limits
• Consider temporary fencing around the excavation area if children are present

Communicate with Neighbors

Knock on adjacent doors and provide:

• Approximate start date and duration
• Working hours (typically 7 AM to 5 PM)
• Expected noise and dust levels
• Any temporary impacts to shared driveways, parking, or access
• Your phone number for questions or concerns

Document Existing Conditions

Take photos and video of:

• Your property's current condition, especially areas near the work zone
• Adjacent property conditions (neighbor's fence, driveway, landscaping)
• Existing cracks in your foundation, driveway, or retaining walls
• The condition of the equipment access route

This documentation protects everyone if there are disputes about pre-existing damage.

Confirm Logistics

Touch base with your contractor to confirm:

• Start time and equipment arrival
• Where equipment will be staged overnight (if multi-day project)
• Where excavated soil will be stockpiled on-site (or hauled away)
• Location of portable restroom (required for crews on multi-day projects)
• Emergency contact numbers

During Excavation: What to Expect

Noise and Vibration

Excavation equipment generates significant noise. Expect:

• Diesel engine noise from excavators and trucks
• Beeping from equipment in reverse
• Impact noise if rock is encountered
• Vibration that may be felt inside your home, especially with compaction equipment

Most Oregon jurisdictions limit construction noise to 7 AM - 7 PM on weekdays and 8 AM - 5 PM on Saturdays.

Dust and Mud

Depending on conditions:

• Dry weather: Expect dust. Contractors should apply water for dust control
• Wet weather: Expect mud on driveways and streets. Contractors should install a stabilized construction entrance and clean tracked mud from public roads

Traffic and Parking

• Dump trucks hauling soil or delivering gravel will increase traffic on your street
• Temporary parking restrictions may apply if trucks need to block the road
• Your driveway may be inaccessible during certain phases

Inspections

Your local building department may require inspections at specific points:

• Erosion control installation (before digging starts)
• Bottom of excavation (before foundation forms or pipe installation)
• Compaction testing (before backfill is accepted)
• Final grade (before the project is closed out)

After Excavation: Restoration

Once excavation is complete, verify:

• Grades slope away from structures on all sides (minimum 6 inches in 10 feet)
• Compaction testing passed for all fill areas
• Erosion control is in place until permanent vegetation or surfaces are established
• Utility locates are cleared (paint and flags will fade naturally)
• Access routes are restored (remove temporary gravel, repair ruts)

Discuss landscape restoration with your contractor. Some include basic restoration in their bid; others treat it as a separate scope.

Cojo Makes Preparation Easy

When you hire Cojo for excavation work, we guide you through the preparation process. We coordinate utility locates, plan equipment access, and protect your property throughout the project.

Contact Cojo to start planning your excavation project, or view our services.