GRADELINE county guide
Excavation in Hillsborough County
Soil regimes, rock depth, haul logistics and the contractors who work Hillsborough County, Florida — the local ground data behind every bid.
Hillsborough County is home to roughly 1,581,426 people, part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, growing about 7.4% over the last five years, covering about 1,023 square miles of land — an urban county of Florida where site work scales with the building cycle.
Ground conditions
Florida's peninsular flatwoods are defined by deep, rapidly draining fine sands (Astatula, Tavares, Apopka series) over a spodic or clayey substratum, with seasonal water tables perched 1 to 3 feet below grade during the June-September wet season. Excavation is fast and low-cost in the upper sand profile, high production trenching with minimal rock. The tradeoffs are trench stability and water: cohesionless fine sand sidewalls collapse without benching, sloping, or trench boxes, and perched water tables require sump dewatering or well points for anything below 4 feet. Stormwater retention and detention pond excavation dominates site work; sand spoil is easy to move but must be kept clear of the pond floor where muck or spodic layers are hit. Phosphate-bearing clay strata common in the central ridge (Polk, Hillsborough) can slow production and hold water above the pit floor. Haul road traffic on saturated sugar sand demands tracked dozers and matting for cranes and concrete trucks.
Dominant soil textures include fine sand, sandy loam, loamy fine sand; 91.6% of the county has bedrock or a restrictive layer within 50 inches of the surface — rock clauses belong in every bid; the median water table sits about 12 inches down, so dewatering is routine on deeper cuts.
| Soil regime | Florida Peninsular Flatwoods Sand |
|---|---|
| Dominant soils | Fine sand, Sandy loam, Loamy fine sand |
| Shallow bedrock (≤50 in) | 91.6% of county |
| High shrink-swell soils | 0.9% of county |
| Median water table | 12 in deep |
| Slope >15% | 1.8% of county |
Haul costs & materials
Haul distance moves county prices more than machine rates do. Here, the nearest major aggregate source is Tampa Plant, about 3.8 miles out (with 20 active quarries within 50 miles).
Construction demand
Construction demand sets how busy crews are and how far out they book. 4,295 single-family permits were issued in the last 12 months (a -9.2% three-year trend), and 8,696 total housing units across all types, and About 32,869 residents work in construction, and 121 site-prep establishments are registered in the county.
Water, septic & flood
Water decides more site outcomes than any other input. In this county, 76.0% of soils carry severe limitations for conventional septic drain fields, so perc tests and alternative systems are common here, and 28.4% hydric soils mark seasonally saturated ground.
Water & ground hazards
Water and geology set the site rules here: 28.4% hydric soils signal seasonally wet ground across the county.
Rough cost estimator
Bulk excavation is commonly priced per cubic yard — roughly $2 to $8 for ordinary soil and far more where rock must be hammered, which applies to a meaningful share of this county. Use the table for ballpark volumes, then confirm with line-item bids from Hillsborough County crews.
| Project volume | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 100 cubic yards | $200 – $800 | Pool hole or small trenching job, easy soil |
| 500 cubic yards | $1,000 – $4,000 | House pad cut or driveway cut on easy ground |
| 1,000 cubic yards | $2,000 – $8,000 | Basement dig or modest site cut, before hauling |
| Rock excavation | $40 – $100+ / cubic yd | Hammered or blasted rock, priced separately |
| Machine + operator | $100 – $250 / hr | Hourly rate for mid-size excavator or dozer |
National ranges, not a quote: bulk excavation is usually priced per cubic yard, roughly $2 to $8 for ordinary soil and $40 to $100 or more where rock has to be hammered or blasted. Rock, groundwater and haul distance move the number most.
Excavation contractors in Hillsborough County
Published listings from the GRADELINE directory, ranked by rating. Every crew serves its own radius — confirm coverage for your address.
01. MJF Grading
Greater Northdale, FL
02. Dirt Movers of Tampa Bay(Lots Cleared)
Plant City, FL · ★ 5.0 (18)
Greater Northdale, FL · ★ 5.0 (2)
04. Tampa Bay Skid Steer Service
Town 'n' Country, FL · ★ 5.0 (4)
Plant City, FL · ★ 5.0 (2)
Common questions
What is the ground like in Hillsborough?
Florida's peninsular flatwoods are defined by deep, rapidly draining fine sands (Astatula, Tavares, Apopka series) over a spodic or clayey substratum, with seasonal water tables perched 1 to 3 feet below grade during the June-September wet season. Excavation is fast and low-cost in the upper sand profile, high production trenching with minimal rock. The tradeoffs are trench stability and water: cohesionless fine sand sidewalls collapse without benching, sloping, or trench boxes, and perched water tables require sump dewatering or well points for anything below 4 feet. Stormwater retention and detention pond excavation dominates site work; sand spoil is easy to move but must be kept clear of the pond floor where muck or spodic layers are hit. Phosphate-bearing clay strata common in the central ridge (Polk, Hillsborough) can slow production and hold water above the pit floor. Haul road traffic on saturated sugar sand demands tracked dozers and matting for cranes and concrete trucks. About 91.6% of the county has rock or a restrictive layer within 50 inches of the surface.
How deep is the water table in Hillsborough?
The water table sits about 12 inches down. Holes dug deeper than that usually need pumps to stay dry. Pools, basements and septic fields are all designed around it.
How many excavation contractors work in Hillsborough?
GRADELINE lists 5 published excavation and site work contractors for Hillsborough, Florida. Search the directory by ZIP to see who covers your address.
Sources & data
- USDA NRCS SSURGO county soil data (ground conditions, shrink-swell, water table)
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (floodplain share)
- US Census Building Permits Survey (construction demand)
- County permit authorities (grading, septic, burn permits)
- 811 Before You Dig, Common Ground Alliance
This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Permit thresholds, fees and restrictions are set by Hillsborough County and Florida agencies; confirm with the county before work starts.