What happens before the bucket moves
Under California law, moving earth is excavation whatever the machine is called. Government Code 4216 counts grading, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, augering, boring and plowing alike, so a shallow cut across a yard carries the same duty as a pipe trench. The dig area is delineated in white, or with flags and stakes where paint would mislead, before any notification is made.
The notice period is counted in working days, not in hours. Government Code 4216.2 asks for the notification at least two working days and not more than 14 calendar days before the dig, with the day of the call not counted, and no excavation until every operator on the ticket has responded. Within ten feet of a high priority installation the operator meets the crew on site first, and the ticket runs for 28 days before it is renewed.
The trench itself is governed by depth, water and what stands beside it. Title 8 section 1541.1 puts a protective system in any excavation where a competent person sees a cave-in risk, and from five feet unless the ground is stable rock. Section 1541 adds egress within a short lateral distance in trenches four feet deep, spoil and plant kept back from the edge, no work in accumulating water without precautions, a competent person's inspection daily and after every rain, and no undermining of walks or pavement without support.
Backfill is the half of the job that is judged years later. The California Building Code keeps organic material, construction debris and cobbles out of backfill, or uses a controlled low-strength material instead, and asks for it to be placed in lifts and compacted without damaging the foundation or its waterproofing. It also bars excavation that reduces support to a foundation unless that foundation is underpinned or protected first.
What excavation and site work includes
The dig is marked on the ground in white, the notification goes in with time for the working days to run, and existing services are confirmed against the marks once they arrive. Where the plan and the marks disagree, the ground is proved before the machine starts.
Lines near the dig are found by safe means and hand work near a marked service, and an onsite meeting is held where one is required.
The excavation is cut to line and depth with sloping, shoring or a shield as the ground and the depth require, and egress kept close to the work.
Pipe, conduit, footings or pad material go in to the levels the drawings set, bedded as the detail requires, and inspected before anything covers them.
Backfill is placed clean, in lifts, and compacted as it rises, with the surface left ready for what follows.
Nothing is opened on a positive response that has not arrived. A ticket with one operator still to answer is not a ticket to dig, and a ticket that has run past its 28 days is renewed before work goes on.
Where excavation is needed
Utility trenches
Water, electrical, gas and communications runs across occupied commercial sites, dug and backfilled around traffic that has to keep moving.
Footings and pads
Excavation for new footings, equipment pads and small structures, taken to the levels the drawings set and inspected before pouring.
Subgrade for paving
Rough grade and compacted subgrade prepared and handed on, so base and surfacing are laid on ground that will hold them.
Drainage runs
Trenches for storm pipe, French drains and channel drains, dug to a continuous fall towards the outlet.
Work beside buildings
Digs close to an existing foundation, sequenced and supported so the wall keeps its bearing throughout.
Yard and site preparation
Clearing, cutting and shaping ground ahead of a building or lot project, with dust controls running through the work.
Questions about excavation and site work
At least two working days before the dig and not more than 14 calendar days, and the day the notification is made does not count towards the two. Working days run Monday to Friday, in working hours, excluding state and federal holidays.
A ticket is valid for 28 days, and it is renewed by the end of the 28th day where work continues. If it lapses while an excavation is open, digging stops until it is renewed.
Not always. An excavation entirely in stable rock, or under five feet where a competent person finds no sign of a potential cave-in, may go without one. Everything else is sloped, shored or shielded.
The saw-cut strip opened for the trench is patched back as part of this work. Resurfacing beyond that strip belongs to the paving scope.
Yes, with the support of the foundation kept intact. Where the excavation would take bearing away, the wall is underpinned or otherwise protected before the ground beside it is removed.
Excavation and site work by city
Excavation and site work is requested through the grading and drainage page for your city, which covers its ground, its permit office and its utilities.
Related grading and drainage services
