Cost to Level a Yard in Los Angeles [2025 Data]

Yard leveling costs in Los Angeles average $2,159, and most projects total somewhere between $1,097 and $3,487. Your price will depend mostly on the square footage of the lawn area you want leveled and how uneven or sloped the area is. Los Angeles has a very flat topography, so most projects are relatively small in scope.

Yard Leveling Cost Factors

Some yard leveling projects in Los Angeles, California, cost as little as $700, while some residents pay up to $5,000. There are a few key cost factors to consider that can help determine where your price will fall within that range.

Size

Most landscapers in the area will charge primarily based on the size of the area you want leveled. The average cost of yard leveling in LA is between $1 and $2 per square foot, so you can measure the space you need smoothed out and use this base pricing to get a preliminary estimate.

Since the topography in LA is mostly flat, many homeowners looking for yard leveling want to remove depressions and minor slopes across their entire properties. If that sounds more like what you’re looking for, it may be easier to base your estimate on acreage. The average property in Los Angeles is 0.145 acres, and leveling an entire yard of that size would cost between $6,300 and $12,600.

Type of Project

The part of the outdoor space you’re regrading and why plays a big role in calculating the final cost to level your yard. Check out these common regrading projects to see where your total will fall based on your plans.

Severity of Slope

The slope of your existing lawn will help dictate the overall price tag for this project. If you have a very steep slope on one side of your yard that you need to level, that will cost you more than a slight slope. Contractors typically charge based on the elevation change; the more significant the change, the bigger the price tag.

The City of Los Angeles is mostly flat, so most homeowners will have relatively flat lawns that require minimal regrading. You’ll pay less here than in hilly cities, where severe slopes can require major excavation and retaining wall installation to level a yard.

Land Clearing

When it’s time to regrade your yard, you may need to consider the cost of clearing land, which can add anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on what you need cleared away. Minor debris and small shrubs may only add a few hundred to your expenses, but removing trees can mean thousands of dollars in add-on costs. Around 25% of the city is covered by tree canopy, so there’s only a small chance your land leveling project will require tree removal.

Land Surveying

A land survey costs between $800 and $5,500, which can be a significant cost factor if you need one before leveling your yard. A survey may be necessary if your project requires excavation that could disrupt underground utility lines.

However, Los Angeles is rather flat, so the likelihood is that your project won’t require extensive excavation that demands a survey to identify the location of water, sewer, gas, and power lines. You may need one if you’re flattening the perimeter of your yard to install a fence between your property and your neighbor’s.

Fill and Topsoil

Fill dirt is a rocky material that’s ideal for packing in pockets during a regrade. It costs between $5 and $30 per cubic yard. How much you need depends on the scope of your project and what’s available to relocate from elsewhere in your yard.

Topsoil goes down over the fill dirt. You’ll pay between $12 and $55 per cubic yard. Topsoil costs more than fill dirt because it’s full of nutrients to help nurture a lush landscape.

Yard Leveling Pro Costs

Hiring a professional landscaping company in Los Angeles to handle your grading project will mean paying above-average labor costs, as the cost of living in LA is more than 40% higher than the national average. You can expect between 90% and 95% of your total to go toward labor alone, which means between $1,900 and $2,100.

While this is a high price, the job is very labor-intensive, so hiring a pro will save you time and prevent personal injury. You’re also more likely to get a perfectly flat property, and you won’t run the risk of being responsible for disrupting underground utility lines if your project requires excavation.

The City of Los Angeles doesn’t require permits for yard leveling, so you won’t need to worry about budgeting for permit fees. However, you will need permits for most landscaping features, so if you’re leveling your land to install a pool, patio, walkway, or driveway, you’ll need to consider permit fees for those projects.

Does Leveling a Yard Increase Home Value?

Yard leveling normally won’t add to your home value in Los Angeles. The project only boosts property value if you’re correcting a slope that makes your property unusable, like a steep hill in your backyard. LA is mostly flat, so it’s rare that intensive leveling is necessary.

However, if you have additional plans for your property after leveling, those could boost home value. For example, you’ll see a return on investment (ROI) on landscaping costs, driveway installation, patio installation, and pool installation.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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