Excavation – Residential

Residential excavation in central and southeast Indiana covers digging for basements, foundations, additions, utility trenches and ponds, done safely and to the right depth. Jordan Excavating LLC is a licensed, insured and BBB accredited excavating contractor based in Greensburg that handles residential digs from the 811 locate through backfill and final grade.

Key Takeaways

• Indiana law requires contacting 811 at least two full working days before digging, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
• OSHA requires a protective system such as sloping, shoring or a trench box for trenches 5 feet deep or more unless the cut is in stable rock.
• Excavated soil must be kept at least 2 feet back from the edge of a trench, and a competent person should inspect it daily.
• Many Indiana soils are wet, and Purdue Extension warns that cut banks in these soils are prone to caving in.
• A good residential dig ends with compacted backfill and a grade that slopes water away from the house.

What Residential Excavation Projects Do We Handle?

Most of our residential work falls into a few categories:

• Basements and foundations: digging to the depth on your plans, keeping the hole square and the bottom undisturbed for footings.
• Additions and garages: footing and pad excavation next to an existing house without damaging what is already there.
• Utility and drain line trenches: trenches for water lines, drain tile and other lines from the house to where they need to go.
• Driveway and pad prep: stripping topsoil and cutting to subgrade.
• Ponds: see our residential ponds page.
• Backfill and grading: closing up the job so water drains away, covered on our residential grading page.

We take these jobs across Decatur, Bartholomew, Shelby, Johnson, Marion, Hamilton and the rest of our 20-county area, from Greensburg and Columbus to Greenwood, Noblesville and Seymour.

Do I Need To Call 811 Before Digging In Indiana?

Yes, and it is the law. Indiana 811 requires a locate request at least two full working days before excavation. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays do not count, and a ticket submitted after 7 a.m. Eastern on a working day does not count that day. You can request a locate by calling 811 or 1-800-382-5544, or online.

Once the lines are marked, Indiana 811 describes a two-foot tolerance zone on either side of each mark where only hand tools should be used. Mechanical equipment should only dig outside that zone after the line has been exposed by hand. On our jobs, we place the locate request, wait for every utility to respond, and keep the bucket out of the tolerance zone. It is one of the simplest ways to prevent a dangerous and expensive strike.

How Do We Keep A Basement Or Trench Dig Safe?

The original section of this page mentions collapsed digging sites, and that is the biggest risk in excavation. OSHA requires a protective system for trenches 5 feet deep or more, unless the cut is entirely in stable rock. That protection can be sloping the walls back, benching, shoring or a trench box. Trenches 20 feet or deeper need a system designed by a registered professional engineer.

We also follow the basics on every job:

• Keep spoil piles and equipment at least 2 feet back from the edge.
• Have a competent person inspect the excavation daily and after rain or other changes.
• Test for low oxygen or hazardous gases in trenches more than 4 feet deep where conditions call for it.

Wet Indiana soils make this more important. Purdue Extension notes that cut banks in many wet soils are prone to caving in, so we plan the dig around the soil we find.

How Should Homeowners Prepare For Excavation Day?

A little planning keeps the dig on schedule and avoids surprises:

• Have your plans and survey stakes ready. We dig to the corners and depths on the plans, so the house location should be staked.
• Check permits. Your county or town building department may need a permit before work starts, and IDEM stormwater coverage applies to projects disturbing one acre or more.
• Clear access. Equipment and dump trucks need a firm path to the dig.
• Decide where the dirt goes. Keep topsoil and fill for backfill and grading, or plan to haul it off.
• Talk timing with your builder. Rain can delay a dig, so build some slack into the schedule.

Cost depends on depth, soil, access and how much material moves, so we price each job after seeing the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a residential excavation contractor do?

A residential excavation contractor digs and moves soil for home projects such as basements, foundations, additions, garages, utility trenches and ponds. The job includes calling 811, digging to the right depth, keeping the excavation safe, backfilling and setting a grade that drains. Jordan Excavating LLC handles all of this for homeowners and builders.

How far in advance do I need to call 811 in Indiana?

Indiana 811 requires contact at least two full working days before you dig. Weekends and state and national legal holidays do not count, and a request made after 7 a.m. Eastern on a working day does not count that day. You can call 811, call 1-800-382-5544 or submit a request online.

When does a trench need shoring or a trench box?

OSHA requires a protective system for trenches 5 feet deep or more unless the cut is in stable rock. Options include sloping or benching the walls, shoring or a trench box. Trenches 20 feet or deeper need a protective system designed by a registered professional engineer, and a competent person should inspect excavations daily.

How long does a basement excavation take?

The digging itself on a typical home basement is usually a short part of the overall build, but the exact time depends on the size of the basement, the soil, rock, water and weather. Rain is a common cause of delays in Indiana. We give each customer a realistic schedule after walking the site.

Do you do residential excavation outside Decatur County?

Yes. Jordan Excavating LLC is based in Greensburg in Decatur County and serves 20 Indiana counties, including Bartholomew, Shelby, Johnson, Marion, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Jackson and Monroe. That covers Columbus, Greenwood, Shelbyville, Indianapolis, Carmel, Seymour, Bloomington and many other towns in central and southeast Indiana.

Get A Free Estimate

Send us your plans or tell us what you are building and we will look at the site and give you a clear estimate. Jordan Excavating LLC is locally owned, licensed and insured, with 10+ years of experience. Request your free estimate online or call (812) 371-6999.

Related: Residential Grading | Residential Drainage | Commercial Excavation

Written by Cameron Jordan, owner of Jordan Excavating LLC, serving central and southeast Indiana for 10+ years. Last updated: October 22, 2026.

Sources: Indiana 811: 5 Steps to Safe Digging | OSHA: Trenching and Excavation Safety Fact Sheet | Purdue Extension AY-300: Drainage Recommendations for Indiana Soils | IDEM: Construction Land Disturbance Permitting