Atlanta’s excavating and earthwork contractor market is one of the most active in the country, driven by the metro area’s continuous new construction across residential subdivisions in the northern suburbs, commercial development along major corridors, institutional projects including hospitals, universities, and government facilities, and the infrastructure work supporting rapid population growth across a region that consistently ranks among America’s fastest-growing metros. Excavating contractors in Atlanta handle a wide range of work, from residential foundation excavation and septic system installation in suburban neighborhoods to massive commercial site grading operations clearing and preparing tens of acres for new development. Atlanta’s topography, with its rolling Piedmont terrain and varying elevation across the metro area, creates complex grading challenges that require experienced site work contractors familiar with Georgia’s soil conditions, drainage requirements, and erosion control regulations.
Georgia requires contractors performing excavation work above $2,500 to hold state contractor registration and carry appropriate insurance. All excavation work must be preceded by a call to Georgia 811 to identify and mark underground utilities before any digging begins, and this legal requirement applies to every excavation job regardless of size. When evaluating Atlanta excavating contractors, ask about their equipment capacity, their experience with your project type and scale, and their familiarity with local grading and erosion control permit requirements. Red flags include contractors who begin excavation work without a 811 utility locate, those who cannot produce an equipment list appropriate for your project scale, or any company that quotes major excavation work without a site visit and soil assessment. The best Atlanta excavating contractors manage erosion control and stormwater compliance as standard practice rather than afterthoughts.
Top Excavating Contractor Companies in Atlanta
1. Plateau Excavation
Website: https://www.plateauexcavation.com
Address: Kennesaw, GA
Service Area: Southeast US
Services:
- Commercial site excavation
- Large-scale earthwork and grading
- Data center site preparation
- Land clearing
- Infrastructure excavation
- Utility installation support
About: Plateau Excavation operates the largest and most technologically advanced fleet of earthmoving equipment of any commercial infrastructure contractor in the Southeast, with over 1,200 machines available for project deployment. The company’s equipment scale enables it to operate on the largest commercial development projects in the Atlanta market and beyond, having handled major projects including Truist Park (the Atlanta Braves ballpark) and the Hyundai manufacturing plant in Georgia. The combination of fleet size, advanced technology, and major project experience positions Plateau Excavation as the premier large-scale commercial earthwork contractor in the Southeast, operating from its Kennesaw headquarters with project reach extending across the region. For Atlanta’s largest commercial and industrial site development projects, Plateau brings an operational capacity that no competitor in the regional market can match.
2. D R Excavation Atlanta
Address: 1100 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30309
Website: https://www.excavationdoneright.com
Service Area: Atlanta and surrounding metro area
Services:
- Residential excavation
- Commercial and industrial site preparation
- Foundation and basement excavation
- Land clearing
- Trenching for utilities
- Septic system excavation
- Pond construction
- Grading
About: D R Excavation Atlanta brings over 20 years of full-service excavation experience from its Peachtree Street office in the heart of Atlanta, serving residential, commercial, and industrial excavation needs with modern equipment and a strong safety focus. The company’s residential excavation expertise, including septic system installation and foundation work, serves the ongoing suburban development and renovation market, while its commercial and industrial site preparation capability addresses the larger project segment. D R Excavation’s address in the center of Atlanta provides geographic positioning that facilitates service across the full metro area from intown Atlanta through the northern and eastern suburbs. The company’s full-service turn-key approach covers all phases of site preparation from initial clearing through finished grade.
3. RLL Services LLC
Phone: (404) 946-3203
Website: https://www.rllservicesllc.com
Service Area: Walton, Newton, Rockdale, and Gwinnett counties, metro Atlanta area
Services:
- Residential and commercial excavation
- Land clearing
- Stump grinding
- Grading and site preparation
- Residential development excavation
About: RLL Services LLC operates as an experienced excavation and landscaping contractor serving the eastern Atlanta metro, covering Walton, Newton, Rockdale, and Gwinnett counties from its Oxford, Georgia base. The company provides free estimates for residential and commercial clients and handles a range of excavation work from residential land clearing through commercial site preparation across its east Atlanta service territory. The Gwinnett County coverage is particularly relevant given that county’s position as one of the fastest-growing in Georgia, with residential and commercial construction activity generating strong excavation demand. RLL Services’ combination of excavation and landscaping services allows clients to manage site preparation and landscape installation with a single contractor relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is required before excavation work begins on an Atlanta property?
A: Georgia law requires a 811 call-before-you-dig notification at least three business days before any excavation work begins on any property, regardless of project size. The 811 service coordinates with all underground utility operators to mark the location of buried gas, electric, water, communications, and other utility lines in the excavation area. Failure to call 811 before excavating is illegal in Georgia and can result in significant liability for utility damage and service disruption. For commercial projects, additional permit requirements from local governments for grading, land disturbance, and stormwater management apply and should be obtained before mobilizing equipment.
Q: What does excavating contractor work cost in Atlanta?
A: Excavation costs in Atlanta vary significantly by project type and scale. Hourly rates for excavation equipment and operator in Atlanta typically range from $40 to $180 per hour depending on equipment type and operator experience. Residential foundation excavation for a standard Atlanta home typically runs $2,000 to $8,000 depending on foundation type, basement versus crawl space, and the volume of material to be removed and hauled. Land clearing for a residential lot of one to two acres runs $2,500 to $8,000 depending on tree density and debris disposal requirements. Large commercial site grading projects are typically bid by the cubic yard of material moved, with rates varying significantly by project complexity, access, and material characterization.
Q: What soil conditions does Atlanta excavation commonly encounter?
A: Atlanta’s predominant soil type is red Georgia clay, which is highly plastic, swells significantly when wet, and shrinks during drought conditions. This expansive clay creates challenges for excavation work as it can be difficult to compact properly and can cause settlement and movement of structures built on or in it if not properly managed. Many parts of the metro area also have a transition zone of soft, weathered granite (known locally as saprolite or grus) below the clay layer that has different excavation characteristics. Solid granite bedrock is encountered in parts of Atlanta, particularly in established intown neighborhoods and the northern suburbs, where ledge rock can significantly increase excavation cost and time. A competent Atlanta excavating contractor will assess likely subsurface conditions before pricing and mobilizing for major excavation projects.
Conclusion
Atlanta’s excavating contractor market ranges from massive commercial operations capable of handling the largest development projects in the Southeast to experienced local operators serving the residential and small commercial excavation market across the metro area. Plateau Excavation is the regional leader in commercial infrastructure earthwork, with a 1,200-machine fleet and major project experience including Truist Park and the Hyundai plant. D R Excavation Atlanta provides 20-plus years of full-service residential and commercial excavation from its central Atlanta address with modern equipment and strong safety protocols. RLL Services LLC serves the growing eastern Atlanta metro with accessible, professionally operated excavation for residential and commercial clients across multiple counties. Contacting any of these companies for a site assessment and estimate is the recommended starting point for your excavation project.