Excavation Contractor Brooklyn NY
From tight-access brownstone lots to full foundation digs, Empire Excavation NYC handles the digging other contractors walk away from. We work across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Island — with NYC DOB permits, tight-site equipment, and crews who know city soil.
Digging in New York City Is a Different Trade
Excavating in Brooklyn and the five boroughs is nothing like digging on open suburban land. Lots are 20 feet wide. Access is often a single narrow alley or a sidewalk cellar door. Underground, you're dealing with a century of buried foundations, old oil tanks, rubble fill, glacial till — and in parts of Brooklyn and the Bronx, solid rock that needs hammering, not scooping. Empire Excavation NYC exists for exactly this environment.
We bring compact excavators and skid steers that fit through tight gates and work inside fenced urban lots. Our crews hand-dig around live utilities, coordinate with Con Edison and National Grid when service lines are in the trench path, and — critically — we handle the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) permit side of excavation work, including shoring, underpinning, and protection plans when your dig affects a neighboring foundation. If you've gotten quotes from landscapers who "can probably dig it," talk to a real excavation contractor first.
Our Excavation Services
Residential Excavation
Yard dig-outs, pool excavation, additions, garage pads and drainage work on Brooklyn residential lots.
Foundation Excavation
Full foundation digs for new builds, underpinning and cellar dig-outs in brownstones and row houses.
Grading & Land Leveling
Re-grading yards away from foundations, leveling for patios and driveways, drainage-correcting slopes.
Trenching, Demolition & Site Prep
Utility trenches for gas, water, electric and sewer lines, plus demolition and full site clearing.
Why NYC Homeowners and Builders Call Us
- Permits done right. We know what the NYC DOB requires for excavation, shoring and underpinning — and what inspectors look for on site.
- Tight-access equipment. Compact machines sized for 20-foot lots, narrow driveways and interior courtyard work.
- Rock and rubble experience. Hydraulic breakers for Manhattan schist, Bronx rock, and the buried concrete every old Brooklyn lot hides.
- Neighbor protection. Vibration monitoring awareness, underpinning coordination, and clean sites that don't draw complaints.
- Free, detailed estimates. We look at the site, check access and soil, and give you a written number — not a guess.
How a Project Typically Goes
- Call or send the quote form. Tell us the address, what needs digging, and your timeline.
- Site visit. We walk the lot, check access width, utilities, soil conditions and permit triggers.
- Written estimate. Line-item pricing: excavation, hauling, rock provisions, permit support.
- Permits and scheduling. We file what's needed with the DOB and schedule around your builder's timeline.
- Dig, haul, done. Clean excavation, spoil hauled off-site, grade left ready for the next trade.
Areas We Serve
Based in Brooklyn and digging across the metro: Brooklyn (brownstones, tight lots, cellar dig-outs), Queens (single-family lots, driveway and yard work), Manhattan (deep urban sites and access-constrained projects), the Bronx (rocky soil, commercial sites), Staten Island (residential grading and new construction), and Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk county homes and builds).
Guides & Resources
Wondering what excavation costs in Brooklyn? Read our Brooklyn excavation cost guide with realistic per-project ranges. Got the questions everyone asks? Our Brooklyn excavation FAQ answers them straight — timelines, permits, dirt disposal and underground surprises. Planning a project that needs city approval? See our NYC DOB excavation permit guide. And learn more about the company on our About page, or contact us for a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does excavation cost in Brooklyn?
It depends on access, depth and soil. Typical ranges: small residential dig-outs $3,000–$8,000, full foundation excavations $15,000–$60,000+, utility trenches $1,500–$6,000. Rock, tight access and permit requirements move you up the range. See our full cost guide for details.
Do I need a permit to excavate in NYC?
Usually yes. Excavation that supports a new building, addition, or underpinning needs a DOB permit, and work near neighboring foundations may require special inspections and protection plans. Minor yard grading typically does not. Our permit guide walks through the triggers.
Can you work on a lot with no driveway access?
Often, yes. We run compact excavators that fit through standard gates, and for true no-access lots we can hand-dig with conveyor or crane-assisted bucket work. The site visit determines the approach.
Do you haul away the dirt?
Yes. Spoil removal and clean trucking is part of every written estimate, with disposal at licensed facilities. Contaminated soil (common on old industrial lots) is handled under the right manifest requirements.
How far in advance should I book?
Two to four weeks is typical for residential work; foundation digs tied to a builder's schedule should be booked 4–8 weeks out so permits and sequencing line up.
Ready to Dig? Get a Free Estimate Today.
Call now or send the quote form — most requests answered within one business day.
Call (917) 555-0100 Free Quote Form