Excavation in Port Alberni

• Excavation

  Foundation, basement and site excavation for homes and small commercial jobs across Port Alberni and the Alberni Valley.

• Site Preparation

  Clearing and grading a lot so it's ready for a foundation, a driveway or the next trade.

• Drainage

  Perimeter drains, French drains and regrading to move water away from a home or a wet yard.

• Driveways

  Driveway excavation, regrading and base prep, built to shed water instead of holding it.

• Permits & Locates

  We pull the permit through the City or the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, and call BC 1 Call before every dig.

• Soil & Disposal

  Material is hauled to the Alberni Valley Sort'nGo Centre and priced per job — we check the City's soil bylaw before anything leaves your lot.

1. 1

   On-site visit

   We look at your property, check access for equipment, and confirm what permits the job needs.

2. 2

   Written quote

   You get a clear, itemized price before any work starts, based on the machine class and time the job needs.

3. 3

   Locate, permits and the work

   We call BC 1 Call, pull any required permit, and get the job done — then leave the site graded and clean.

Explore excavation services & guides

• ExcavationFoundation, basement and site excavation, with permits pulled and a BC 1 Call locate on every job.
• Site PreparationClearing and grading a lot so it's ready for the next trade.
• DrainagePerimeter drains, French drains and grading to move water away from your home or yard.
• DrivewaysDriveway excavation, regrading and base prep, so water runs off instead of pooling.
• All excavation servicesBrowse the full service lineup.
• Areas we serveCommunities across the Alberni Valley.
• Excavation cost guideTypical machine rates and disposal fees.
• Common questions answeredCosts, permits, drainage and site prep.

What does it cost to hire an excavator in the Alberni Valley?

Machine rates run from about $142 to $169 an hour for a mini excavator, up to $257 to $398 an hour for the largest machine classes, operator included, per the Island Equipment Owners Association's suggested rate guide. We quote each job on site, based on the machine class and time it needs — see the cost guide for the full rate table.

Do you call before you dig?

Yes, every time. We submit a locate request to BC 1 Call before any excavation. A locate stays valid for 30 days, and we have to start work within 14 days of the request.

What areas does Port Alberni Excavating serve?

Port Alberni Excavating serves Port Alberni, Sproat Lake, Beaver Creek and Cherry Creek across the Alberni Valley.

Are you insured?

Yes. We carry $2M liability insurance, we're WorkSafeBC certified, and we pull permits and get them inspected.

Do you need a permit for excavation in Port Alberni?

Yes, for most structural work. Building permits inside Port Alberni go through the City under Building Bylaw No. 5077, and the standard application fee is $100. We pull the permit as part of the job — see the permits guide for what needs one.

Does a new driveway need a permit?

Inside Port Alberni, driveway and grading work is checked at the final Engineering inspection on your building permit, which confirms it complies with the regulations. We grade every driveway to pass that inspection.