Excavation and Grading cost in Davis, CA
Davis homeowners typically pay $8,200 – $24,500 for excavation and grading. Local labor and materials price 9% above the national average.
Davis average
$16,400
Typical low
$8,200
Typical high
$24,500
Per cubic yard
$55 – $165
Sample ZIP
95616
What drives Davis pricing
Local labor
Licensed Davis contractors carry California workers' comp and prevailing wage pressure, and crews here quote roughly 9% above the national labor average. Demand in the Sacramento market peaks in spring, so booking early usually beats a rush premium.
Permits & code
Davis follows the California Building Standards Code, so most structural, electrical, plumbing and re-roof work needs a permit from the Davis building department plus Title 24 energy compliance. Sacramento-area jurisdictions add floodplain review in parts of the valley.
Climate & conditions
Davis sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with wet winters, so expect heat-rated materials and exterior work scheduled outside the wet winter.
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Estimated project cost
$9,690 – $13,253
Most homeowners pay around $11,471
Compare quality / material level
Cost by material in Davis
Installed Davis pricing per cubic yard.
| Option | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Simple grading | $68 – $93 |
| Standard excavation and haul | $93 – $120 |
| Rock or difficult soil | $120 – $160 |
| Excavation with retaining and drainage | $160 – $220 |
Where the money goes in Davis
A typical $16,400 Davis project, broken down by line item.
- Labor0.45% · $74
- Materials0.38% · $62
- Permits & inspections0.05% · $8
- Overhead & profit0.12% · $20
Common add-ons
Extras that show up on Davis quotes but rarely in the headline price.
Soil haul-off
Rock breaking
Erosion control
Compaction testing
Ways to save in Davis
- Keep excavated soil on site for backfill and berms to avoid haul-off.
- Schedule when the ground is dry — wet soil doubles handling time.
- Collect three written bids on an identical scope — spreads of 20–40% are normal.
- Book in the off-season and stay flexible on the start date to save 5–15%.
- Bundle nearby work into one mobilization so you only pay setup and travel once.
- Ask what the contractor would change to cut 10% without hurting durability.
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Excavation and Grading cost near Davis
Excavation and Grading cost in Sacramento, CA
$8,125 – $24,275
Excavation and Grading cost in Roseville, CA
$8,200 – $24,500
Excavation and Grading cost in Elk Grove, CA
$8,050 – $24,050
Excavation and Grading cost in Woodland, CA
$7,749 – $23,151
Excavation and Grading cost in Yuba City, CA
$7,372 – $22,028
Excavation and Grading cost in Rancho Cordova, CA
$7,899 – $23,601