By: Cameron Jordan
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Reading time: 6 min.
Commercial excavation is the digging, hauling and shaping of soil and rock for building pads, foundations, utility trenches and ponds on business, industrial and public projects. If your project in central or southeast Indiana needs earth moved to reach plan elevations, it needs excavation, and Jordan Excavating LLC brings the equipment and experience to do it safely and on schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Commercial excavation covers mass excavation, foundation and footing digs, storm sewer and utility trenches, and pond or basin work.
- OSHA requires a protective system for trenches 5 feet deep or more, unless the excavation is entirely in stable rock.
- A competent person must inspect open trenches daily and after rain or any change in conditions.
- Indiana 811 must be contacted at least two full working days before digging begins.
- GPS-guided equipment helps hit plan elevations with less over-digging and rework.
Excavation is the process that moves dirt, rocks, and other underground materials. The use of tools and heavy machinery is necessary, and, in some instances, explosives may be required. According to OSHA, one cubic yard of soil, depending on the type, can weigh as much as 3,000 pounds, which is about the same weight as a small automobile. Accordingly, excavation work requires a precise set of skills if it is to be performed safely and efficiently. Attempting this on your own can have disastrous results.
Multiple facets are involved in excavating a site, and they are determined by the structure being erected. They may include dredging, trenching, and digging. Marking the boundaries of the dig site and proper excavation depths must be determined and adhered to. Choosing a company with the skill set required for the project and an emphasis on safety is imperative.
What Types Of Commercial Excavation Do We Handle?
Commercial excavation is not one job, it is a group of related jobs. The ones we handle most often for builders, developers and property owners in central Indiana include:
- Mass excavation and cut and fill to bring a whole site to plan elevations.
- Building pads, footings and foundations dug to the depths and dimensions on the plans.
- Storm sewer and utility trenches for pipe, structures and service lines.
- Detention and retention ponds that manage runoff from new hard surfaces (see commercial pond building).
- Spoil management, including stockpiling usable soil on site and hauling off what is not needed.
Because we also do site prep and grading, we can carry a site from raw ground to a finished pad without handing it between several contractors.
What Safety Rules Apply To Commercial Excavation?
Excavation is one of the most dangerous parts of construction, and OSHA sets clear rules for it. The key points we follow on every commercial dig:
- Trenches 5 feet deep or more need a protective system such as sloping, shoring or a trench box, unless the cut is entirely in stable rock.
- Trenches 20 feet deep or more need a protective system designed or approved by a registered professional engineer.
- A competent person inspects trenches daily, after rain and whenever conditions change.
- Spoil piles and materials stay at least 2 feet back from the trench edge.
- Underground utilities are located before digging, and heavy equipment stays back from trench edges.
Soil matters here too. Purdue Extension notes that cut banks in many Indiana soils are prone to caving, which is why we never assume a trench wall will stand on its own.
How Long Does Commercial Excavation Take?
The schedule depends on the scope. The biggest factors are:
- The volume of soil to move, and whether it stays on site or has to be hauled.
- Soil type and groundwater. Wet clay, sand and shallow rock each change the pace.
- Depth of cuts and how much trench protection is required.
- Weather, since saturated ground slows hauling and compaction.
- How the work is sequenced with utility crews, concrete and other trades.
A single foundation dig can move quickly, while a large site with mass excavation, utility trenches and a pond is planned in phases. After a site visit and plan review, we lay out a realistic schedule and tell you up front what could change it, so there are no surprises when the concrete crew is ready to go.
How We Handle Commercial Excavation Across Central Indiana
Jordan Excavating LLC is based in Greensburg, and we dig across 20 counties in central and southeast Indiana, from Hamilton and Marion counties down through Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson. That includes work in Indianapolis, Carmel, Noblesville, Columbus, Seymour, North Vernon and Franklin.
Our process is simple. We walk the site, review the plans and soils information, and confirm utilities are marked. Our GPS-guided machines dig to the design elevations, which keeps over-excavation and wasted fill to a minimum. We set trench protection to match depth and soil, keep spoil organized, and backfill and compact in layers so the ground stays put. When the dig is done, we can move straight into rough and finish grading.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep can commercial excavation go?
Depth is set by the project plans, whether that is a shallow footing, a basement or a deep storm sewer run. Deeper cuts need more protection. OSHA requires a protective system for trenches 5 feet deep or more, and an engineer-designed system for trenches 20 feet deep or more.
What happens to the extra soil from excavation?
Whenever possible, we keep good soil on site and use it as fill elsewhere on the project, which saves hauling. Topsoil is stockpiled separately for final grading and seeding. Material that is not suitable or not needed is loaded and hauled off. We plan this before digging so stockpiles do not block the work.
Do you handle utility and storm sewer trenching?
Yes. Storm sewer and utility trenching is a regular part of our commercial work. We dig to the line and grade on the plans, protect the trench as depth and soil require, set bedding, and backfill and compact in layers. We coordinate with utility providers and your general contractor on timing and inspections.
What happens if you hit rock during excavation?
Parts of southern Indiana have limestone and shale close to the surface, so rock does come up. When it does, we look at how much there is and how it affects the plans, then talk with you and your engineer about options. We do not guess or keep digging blind, because rock can change both schedule and design.
Do I need a permit for commercial excavation in Indiana?
Most commercial excavation is part of a larger construction project, so the permits are tied to that project. If the work disturbs 1 acre or more, IDEM’s Construction Stormwater General Permit applies. Your city or county may also require local permits, and Indiana 811 must be contacted before digging.
Get A Free Estimate
Tell us about your project and we will walk the site, review your plans and give you a clear, no-pressure estimate. Fill out our free estimate form or call us at (812) 371-6999.
Related services: Commercial Site Prep, Commercial Pond Building, Commercial Drainage.
Written by Cameron Jordan, owner of Jordan Excavating LLC, serving central and southeast Indiana for 10+ years. Last updated: October 22, 2026.
Sources: OSHA: Trenching and Excavation Safety Fact Sheet | U.S. Department of Labor: OSHA trench safety news release | City of Greenfield: Indiana 811 | Purdue Extension AY-300: Drainage Recommendations for Indiana Soils | IDEM: Applicability of the Construction Stormwater General Permit
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