5 Star Land Management
Henderson, TNChester County
demolition, driveways, erosion control, excavation, foundations, grading
Chester County, TN Contractor directory
Excavation contractors in Chester County, TN
4 verified excavating and site work contractors serving Chester County.
County excavation guide
Ground conditions and project requirements in Chester County
Use this local research to understand soil, seasonal constraints, permits, and jobsite logistics before choosing a contractor.
Skip to 4 contractorsSoil Regime ProfileEPA Ecoregion 73, 74 (Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Mississippi Valley Loess Plains)
Mississippi Alluvial Plain & Loess Bluffs
Dominant Soil Order: Entisols / Inceptisols / Alfisols
Parent Material: Quaternary Alluvial Silt, Clay, and Wind-blown Eolian Loess Deposits
This western lowland and bluff corridor features two distinct ground profiles: the deep alluvial silt and clay floodplains of the Mississippi River basin and the massive, wind-deposited loess bluffs flanking the river. Loess soils (Memphis series) possess unique cohesion that allows deep, near-vertical trench walls when bone dry, but they disintegrate into a fluid, highly erodible slurry upon water contact. Gully erosion along cut slopes can develop within hours of heavy rainfall unless protected with hydroseeding and erosion control blankets. In the lower alluvial plains, deep stone-free clays and silts feature high water tables and poor load-bearing capacity, requiring extensive geotextile fabric, crushed aggregate sub-base, and continuous dewatering pumps for deep utility trenching.
Geographic Footprint:Western Tennessee (Shelby, Tipton, Dyer, Lauderdale)
Geotechnical Baseline
Physical Ground Conditions & Soil Properties
Shallow Bedrock (<50 in)
2.8%of county land area
Deep soil mantle; rock refusal rare for standard basement or trench cuts.
High Shrink-Swell Clay
0.5%expansive soil
Low volumetric expansion risk in native subgrade.
Median Water Table Depth
21inches from surface
Shallow water table; active dewatering or sumps needed for deep trenching.
Hydric / Wetland Soils
9.7%hydric coverage
Indicates poor natural drainage and potential jurisdictional wetland pockets.
Steep Terrain (Slope >15%)
33.8%of terrain
Mountain/hilly terrain; terracing, benching, and tracked haulers frequent.
Septic Severe Limitations
94.1%severe rate
High rate of conventional drainfield limitations; engineered or drip systems often required.
Dominant Soil Textures:Fine sandy loamSilt loamSilty clay loam
Surface Stones / Boulders: 0.7% coverage
Compliance & Permitting
Earthwork Regulations & Permit Thresholds
Stormwater & Erosion Control
TDEC NPDES Construction General Permit TNR100000 (1+ acre disturbance); SWPPP and NOI required before clearing
Administers NPDES stormwater discharge coverage for land-disturbing construction activities.
State Threshold:1.00 Acre
Local Threshold:Follows state
Grading Permit: Required locally
Onsite Wastewater & Utilities
TDEC Division of Water Resources , Chester County Environmental Field Office
Jurisdiction over septic tank permits, soil evaluation perk tests, and drainfield sizing.
Housing on Septic:55.0%
Soil Evaluation:Site evaluation by TDEC-approved soil consultant (soil profile + morphology per Rule 0400-48-01); perc tests not accepted
811 One-Call Requirements
Tennessee 811
Mandatory notice window: 72 hours prior to mechanized earthwork (excluding weekends and legal holidays).
Licensing & Clearing Permits
Contractor License Threshold: Required for earthwork contracts exceeding $50,000 in Tennessee.
Burn Permit Season: Free burn permit required Oct 15 – May 15 statewide; check daily permit status by phone or BurnSafeTN.orgAuthority: Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (BurnSafeTN.org); TDEC open-burning rules also apply
Weather & Ecology
Seasonal Constraints & Clearing Windows
Design Frost Depth
12inches
Building code minimum depth for footing frost protection.
Frozen Ground Days
0days / year
Typical days with sub-freezing soil conditions affecting digging.
Wet Season Months
March
Peak precipitation window requiring sediment traps and soil aeration.
Supply Chain & Hazards
Logistics, Aggregate Sources & Geohazards
Aggregate & Material Supply
#1 Jackson Pit
Nearest active quarry: 18.9 miles haul distance.(15 active crushed stone/sand operations within 50 miles).
Flood & Hazard Overlay
FEMA 100-Yr Flood:9.8%(100% NFHL digital map coverage)
NWI Wetlands:13.0%jurisdictional coverage
Karst Terrain & Sinkhole Risk: Low
0.0% of county underlain by soluble carbonate rock formations.
HUC8 Primary Watersheds:South Fork Forked Deer, Lower Hatchie, Lower Tennessee-Beech, Upper Hatchie
Public conservation land: 2.8% (USGS PAD-US).
Area-specific FAQ
Do I need to call before digging in Chester County?
Yes. You should contact Tennessee 811 at least 2 working days before any digging so underground lines can be marked.
How deep do footings need to be in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, footings typically need to extend below the frost line, which is around 12 inches here. A local contractor will confirm the code requirement for your site.
Verified local listings
Excavation contractors serving Chester County
4 verified listings
