Basement Excavation in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County

A basement excavation is the deepest dig on a house project, so the questions to settle first are depth, where the soil goes, how the sides of the hole are kept safe, and who gives Idaho 811 notice. In Idaho, federal OSHA's five-foot excavation rule applies to employers digging a basement.

Email us about your project: contact@cdaexcavation.com

What a basement excavation involves

A basement starts as a large, deep hole shaped to the building plans. It is wider than the foundation so there is room to build the walls, wrap them and backfill, and the soil that comes out is a big volume that has to be stacked, spread or hauled away. On a hillside lot near the lake the volume can be large, and the way the hole is cut into the slope matters.

Because the hole is deep, the ground around it matters. Loose or wet soil can slough, groundwater can fill the hole, and rock can slow the dig. A basement dig also sits between other jobs: clearing and the building pad come first, and footings, walls, drainage and backfill come after.

Whoever digs is responsible for keeping the excavation safe for people working in or near it. OSHA's rule for that is summarized below, and it is a fair question to ask any company how it plans to meet it on your lot.

When people look into this

The plans call for a full or daylight basement.
A sloped lot needs a walkout basement cut into the hillside.
A pad is finished and the hole is the next step.
The foundation depth has been set and a start is being planned.
A crawlspace plan has changed to a basement.
Soil from the dig needs a plan before work begins.

What the work usually looks like

Confirm the plans. Depth, width and the working room around the foundation come from the plans.
Give 811 notice. Notice comes first (details below).
Strip the topsoil. Topsoil is removed and kept apart from the soil below it.
Dig in stages. The hole is taken down toward depth, with sides sloped or supported as the safety rule requires.
Check depth and level. The bottom is checked against the plans before footings are set.
Plan the spoil. Dirt is stacked away from the edge, spread or hauled away.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Have the building plans and the foundation depth in hand.
Mark the footprint and the area around it where machines and spoil will sit.
Decide what happens to the soil: kept on the lot, spread or hauled away.
Find out who will give 811 notice and get the ticket number.
Ask how the sides of the hole will be sloped or supported and who is responsible.
Tell whoever prices the job about any water you have seen on the lot.
Ask the city or Kootenai County whether a permit applies before work starts.
Get the price and what it includes in writing.

What affects the cost

Excavation is commonly priced by the hour for operator and machine, or as a set price for a defined scope. For a basement, depth and soil volume drive the price more than anything else.

Depth and footprint. Every extra foot of depth adds a large volume of soil.
Soil type. Rock, cobbles, clay or loose soil change how rapidly the dig goes.
Water. Wet ground or groundwater can add pumping or a pause.
Hauling. Soil hauled away adds machine time and distance.
Sloping or shoring. Safe sides take room, time or equipment.
Access. A narrow or steep route to the hole slows machines.
Winter. Frozen ground can slow digging and change a start date.

Hillside lots change the dig

Many lots around Coeur d'Alene and the lakes sit on slopes, and a basement cut into a slope means the uphill side of the hole is a tall cut face while the downhill side may be open. That changes how soil is handled, where water will run after the dig and what the finished grade around the walls looks like. A walkout basement, where one side opens to grade, uses the slope instead of fighting it.

For pricing, ask how the company plans to handle the uphill cut and the water above it. Retaining walls and drainage often appear on the same job, and a price that leaves them out may be for only part of the work.

Local rules and sources

Excavation safety. OSHA's excavation rule (29 CFR 1926.652) requires a protective system for employees in excavations 5 feet deep or more unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock, and for shallower excavations unless a competent person's examination of the ground shows no sign of a potential cave-in.

Utility locates. Under Idaho Code 55-2205, the excavator marks the dig area in white paint and gives notice two to ten business days before digging. Once utilities mark their lines, the excavator is responsible for keeping the markings visible, and they stay valid for no more than four consecutive weeks. If digging hasn't started within three weeks of the notice, notice must be given again. Wait until every utility on the ticket has responded before you dig.

Dig Safe North Idaho 811 serves Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties (800-428-4950). 811 may route a call from near a county line to a different center; the direct line for Kootenai County is 800-428-4950.

Permits. Kootenai County says permits are required before site disturbance such as grading, excavating and storm drainage or run-off control, and building permits cover structures. Inside a city, start with the city's building or planning office. Outside city limits, start with Kootenai County's Building Division (208-446-1040).

Registration. Idaho requires contractors to register with the Idaho Contractors Board at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Idaho law counts excavating as construction (Idaho Code 54-5203). Some work is exempt, such as a single small project priced under $2,000 that is not part of a larger job (54-5205). Check the company on DOPL's public search before you agree to anything.

Reasons to trust this page

Most rules on this page name their public source, such as an Idaho statute or a county office.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

How deep can a basement dig go without extra safety steps?

Under federal OSHA's rule at 29 CFR 1926.652, a protective system is required in excavations 5 feet deep or more unless they are made entirely in stable rock, and in shallower ones unless a competent person finds no sign of a cave-in risk. A basement is far deeper, so ask how the sides will be sloped or supported.

Who gives 811 notice before a basement dig in Idaho?

The excavator is responsible. Under Idaho Code 55-2205 the dig area is marked in white paint and notice is given two to ten business days before digging. Marks stay valid for no more than four consecutive weeks, and notice must be given again if digging has not started within three weeks. Settle who will call and get the ticket number.

What happens to the soil from a basement?

It can stay on the lot, be spread or be hauled away, and each choice changes the cost. Hauling adds machine time and distance, and a price that leaves it out is not comparable to one that includes it. Settle the plan in writing, and keep topsoil apart if you want it back later.

Does a basement dig need a Kootenai County permit?

Kootenai County says permits are required before site disturbance such as grading, excavating and storm drainage or run-off control, and building permits cover structures. Inside a city, start with the city's building or planning office. Ask before work starts, and settle who will handle any permit the work requires.

How is basement excavation priced?

Excavation is commonly priced by the hour for operator and machine, or as a set price for a defined scope. For a basement, depth, soil type, water and hauling change the total most. Ask for the basis and what is included in writing, so prices from different companies cover the same work.

Related services and areas

Request a quote

Tell us about your project and how to reach you.