Site prep is the earthwork before something gets built: a house pad, a shop or RV pad, a driveway, a sport court or a block wall footing. It's usually a mix of clearing, cutting, filling, compacting and hauling, finished to the grades on a plan.
What's usually included
- Clearing brush and debris from the footprint. See lot clearing.
- Cut and fill to bring the pad to the planned elevation, with fill compacted.
- Drainage shaping so the finished pad sheds water toward retention, not toward the structure. See grading.
- Hauling excess dirt off, or bringing fill in.
Prices to expect
Angi's Phoenix guide puts a typical excavation job at $1,844 to $6,083, averaging $3,598. Unit prices from the same guide:
| Item | Angi, Phoenix |
|---|---|
| Leveling | $5 to $15 per cubic yard |
| Dirt removal or hauling | $10 to $30 per cubic yard |
| Machine with operator | $105 to $260 per hour |
| Extra work for soil type, such as caliche | $210 to $1,240 |
The paperwork side
- Queen Creek requires a grading permit, with plans sealed by a registered civil engineer.
- Disturbing 0.10 acre or more needs a county dust permit in Maricopa County, or a site permit application in Pinal County.
- Projects of one acre or more file a state AZPDES Notice of Intent before the town issues the grading permit.
Full details on the permits page.
Licensing
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors licenses excavating, grading and oil surfacing work as R-2 (residential), A-5 (commercial) or CR-2 (both). Those classifications cover digging, trenching, grading, compacting and filling. You can look up any contractor's license on the ROC website before you hire.
Sources
- Angi: Excavation costs in Phoenix, AZ (updated June 16, 2026)
- Town of Queen Creek, Engineering Division: Grading and Drainage Plan Review Checklist and Grading & Drainage Notes (dated 2/4/2020)
- Maricopa County Air Quality: Dust Sources, Control, and Training
- Pinal County Air Quality: Dust
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors: License Classifications
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Rules, prices and contacts change, so check the source before relying on it.
Questions and answers
What does a house pad cost near Queen Creek?
It depends on the cut, fill and haul. Angi's Phoenix guide lists $5 to $15 per cubic yard for leveling, $10 to $30 per cubic yard for hauling and $105 to $260 an hour for a machine with operator.
What license does an excavation contractor need in Arizona?
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors uses R-2 for residential excavating and grading, A-5 for commercial, and CR-2 for both.
Get your site prep quoted
Send the form or call and a local excavation contractor will follow up. There's no charge to ask for a quote.
If you reach voicemail, leave your name, number, the property address and what you need dug, graded or cleared.