Foundation Excavation in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County
Foundation excavation is the dig for a footing, crawlspace or basement. In Kootenai County, settle whether hauling the dirt away is included and who arranges the inspection before concrete.
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What foundation excavation involves
Before a foundation is poured, the ground is dug to the shape and depth the plans call for. A footing needs a narrow cut, a crawlspace a shallow excavation across the building area, and a basement a deep one. The dirt that comes out has to go somewhere, which is why hauling is one of the first things to settle.
Foundation work is tightly sequenced. It follows the pad and clearing, and it comes ahead of forms and concrete. An inspection has to happen before concrete, so knowing who arranges it keeps the job from stalling.
When people need a foundation dig
- A house, shop or garage is ready to build on a cleared, leveled pad.
- A basement or crawlspace is planned.
- A footing is needed for an outbuilding.
- An addition needs its own foundation.
- The plans call for excavation to a set depth.
- Growth in Kootenai County is adding new homes and shops that need foundations.
What the work usually looks like
- Confirm the plans. The depth and shape of the dig come from the building plans.
- Locate. 811 notice comes before digging.
- Mark. The foundation outline is marked on the pad.
- Dig. The footing, crawlspace or basement is excavated.
- Handle the dirt. Dirt is stockpiled, spread or hauled away as the scope says.
- Inspection and concrete. The inspection is arranged before forms and concrete.
How to prepare
Settle these points before the dig:
- Have the building plans and the dig depth in hand.
- Settle whether hauling the dirt away is included.
- Settle who arranges the inspection before concrete.
- Ask the county or your city whether a permit is needed.
- Find out who is requesting 811 and get the ticket number.
- Settle who is responsible for settling or drainage problems later.
- Get the scope and price 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 foundation dig, the total depends on depth, ground and what happens to the dirt.
- Type of foundation. A basement means a deeper, larger dig.
- Hauling. Whether the price includes hauling the dirt away.
- Ground conditions. Rock and wet ground slow digging.
- Preparation. Clearing and pad work done first reduce what the dig covers.
- Backfill and grading. Finishing work after the concrete adds a step.
- Permits. Who pays for any permit the work needs.
Where the dig fits in a building sequence
A foundation dig sits in the middle of a longer sequence: clearing, the pad, utility trenches, the dig, the inspection and then forms and concrete. Backfill, grading and drainage come after. Each step depends on the one before it, so knowing the order, and who is responsible at each step, keeps the whole job moving.
Local rules and sources
Permits and inspection. 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). An inspection has to happen before concrete, so settle who arranges it.
811. 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.
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
What does foundation excavation include?
Foundation excavation is the dig for a footing, crawlspace or basement, to the shape and depth the building plans call for. Whether the price includes hauling the dirt away, and who arranges the inspection before concrete, are the points that most affect the job. Settle both in writing before work starts.
Is hauling the dirt away included in the price?
Not always. Some foundation prices include hauling the dirt away and others do not, which can make two prices look very different. Ask in writing whether hauling is included, and compare prices only when they cover the same work, including where the dirt goes.
Who arranges the inspection before concrete?
An inspection has to happen before concrete, so settle who arranges it before the dig begins. Ask the city's building or planning office, or Kootenai County's Building Division at 208-446-1040, what inspections apply to your project, and put the answer in the written scope.
Does a foundation need a permit in Kootenai County?
Kootenai County says building permits cover structures, and permits are required before site disturbance such as grading and excavating. Inside a city, start with the city's building or planning office. Outside city limits, start with the county's Building Division, and settle who handles any permit.
Who is responsible for settling or drainage problems later?
That should be settled in writing before the dig. A dig has four stages, and the last one covers backfill, grading, drainage and cleanup. Ask who is responsible if the ground settles or water collects after the work is done, and get the answer in the scope.
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