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In most areas, you will need a permit for excavation work, even if the project only involves grading or yard leveling. Excavation permits help protect the topography in your area and can avoid issues with poor drainage. In most cases, your excavation company will know whether or not permits are required and will even pull them and close them out for you before and after the job. You can also verify whether permits are necessary by calling your local building department and explaining the proposed project.

The digging depth will depend on the size of the trencher you use. Even smaller units can dig up to 4 feet deep, which is plenty for a DIY job. However, much larger trenchers can reach a depth of 18 feet and are better used by a team of pro contractors, not a single DIYer. As with all home improvement projects, use the right tool for the job and proceed with caution.

Using a drill to bore holes in the stump's center speeds up the process, whatever method you use. If you don’t have a drill, you can still chainsaw or chisel the stump to make it hollow; it will just take more elbow grease and time. Steer clear of burning the stump to hollow it if you can’t drill some holes in it first. Otherwise, getting it to light, stay lit, and burn right through will be a challenge.

It takes two to three hours to trench 100 feet with a mechanical trencher or 10 to 12 hours if digging with a shovel. The total time to dig a trench depends on the depth, width, soil type, terrain, trencher type, and your level of experience. Digging in clay or rocky soil takes longer than soft ground.