Top-rated excavation pros.

Get matched with top excavation pros in Santa Ynez, CA

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your excavation project in Santa Ynez, CA?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Find Excavation pros in Santa Ynez

Affordable Construction Services
4.8(
22
)
Excavation - Major Grading or ReslopingBuilding Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For Business+1 more

Serving Santa Ynez, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1997

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"I hired Daniel for some mudslide excavating work. Job went well. He was prompt and reliable. Done on time. Would recommend."
Response time2 days
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by95%of homeowners
Avatar for Shofar Landscape Contracting
Shofar Landscape Contracting
5.0(
13
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Ynez, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Shofar Landscaping contracting was honest, timely, and efficient! They were professional and completed all the work we discussed and met our expectations. The crew were wonderful to work with! Looks great! Thank you!"
Response time1 day
Response rate87%
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Essential Landscapes Inc.
Essential Landscapes Inc.
5.0(
4
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or ReslopingLandscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Ynez, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Customers say: True professional

"The job went very well, from the initial walk-through of the landscape clean up project through the planning and execution of the work. Jorge understood our needs, offered suggestions, was very knowledgeable and professional and prompt and on time in all phases of the project. The landscape cleanup involved over 40 hours of labor. We felt the total cost was quite reasonable. His team continues to provide monthly maintenance services."
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+21

Response time2 days
Response rate100%
4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Wilber Construction, Inc.
Wilber Construction, Inc.
5.0(
9
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingBuilding Site - Preparation and Clearing - For BusinessExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping+2 more

Serving Santa Ynez, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 2003

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"My friend recently had some work done at his house and recommended him. I called and told him what I was looking to do and he was honest and told me how I could save money and do it myself. walked me through the process and told me who to call with the city and approximate time frames. You don't come across this type of "good people" too often these days. I highly recommend Wilber Construction. Randy will be my first call in the future for any type of construction work. Thanks Randy!"
Response time2 days
Recommended by33%of homeowners
Avatar for 1st Demo, Inc.
1st Demo, Inc.
4.9(
15
)
Building Site - Preparation and ClearingExcavation - Major Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Ynez, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"I had my stucco stripped completely from my two story house. This task is quite labor intensive, and it would take me the rest of my year to do it, and I didnâ t want to do it. Cleanly done, no nails or detritus left around,worth it to me-very satisfied indeed- Dave Coon"
It is not done until clean
careful removals
Every detail is important
Roof removal
Same day progress

+1

Response time1 day
Response rate89%
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Elements Landscape Design Group
4.3(
6
)
Landscape - Minor Grading or Resloping

Serving Santa Ynez, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 2005

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Frank and his crew were great! They did a great big working with our neighbors and myself. Demoing a large fence between our homes. The end result was incredible. I was so happy with the yard after the removal of everything. It was better than how they found it. Just what we asked for. I would recommend Elements to any family, friend or neighbor. Already have had several people comment on what a beautiful fence we put in!! Made some great suggestions for other projects too. He'll be back to do!!"
Response time12 hrs
Recommended by50%of homeowners
Showing 1-10 of 25
Excavating questions, answered by experts

The best method for digging a trench depends on the scope of the project. For a short, shallow trench (less than 2 feet deep) in light, soft soil, digging by hand may be sufficient. However, digging by hand is labor-intensive, so consider the effort required. A machine trencher is the better option for longer trenches (over 100 feet), deeper ones, or when dealing with difficult soil conditions, such as rocky or hard ground, or obstructions like tree roots. A machine can save significant time and energy in these situations.

You can bury underground electrical wire six inches deep—but only if you use a rigid metal electrical conduit. For rigid, non-metallic conduits, bury the wire at least 12 inches deep. If using an underground feeder cable rated for direct burial, you'll need to place it at least 18 inches deep, as it has no conduit for extra protection.

Yes. A metal detector is one of the quickest and easiest ways to find your septic tank. However, metal detectors can be too expensive (costing upward of $300 in some cases), and not everyone has a metal detector just lying around. If that’s the case for you, you can also take a long metal rod and poke it into the ground at regular intervals until you hit something—likely your septic tank lid.

In most areas, you will need a permit for excavation work, even for projects that only involve grading or yard leveling. Permit requirements depend on your local government and the scope of the project, but they are especially common for significant digging or work that could affect utilities or public property. These permits help protect the local topography and prevent drainage issues. An experienced excavation company will typically know whether permits are needed and can often handle the process of pulling and closing them for you. You can also verify permit requirements by contacting your local building department and describing your project.

Septic drain lines (or leach lines) are typically buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and should be at least 6 inches below the surface. These pipes are perforated and surrounded by filtering materials like sand or gravel. Burying the lines at this depth helps minimize odors and allows bacteria and other biological processes in the soil to effectively treat the wastewater. Burying lines too close to the surface can cause issues unless the soil is very compact and stable.

The Santa Ynez, CA homeowners’ guide to excavation services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.