Excavation Permits

An excavation permit is required before beginning any excavation work that disrupts the ground in public or private areas, particularly when it might affect public utilities, infrastructure, or environmental safety. These permits are essential for ensuring safety, protecting underground utilities, and maintaining compliance with local laws. The purpose is 

• To prevent damage to underground utilities (gas, water, sewer, electrical lines, etc.).
• To ensure the safety of workers, pedestrians, and nearby structures.
• To regulate soil disposal and environmental impact.
• To coordinate construction schedules to avoid conflicts with public infrastructure maintenance.

Companies or people whose work causes the surface to be broken or landscaping to be damaged on land owned by the City must apply for an Excavation Permit. This can be digging, including hydrovac or boring, but can also be damaging grass by driving over it with vehicles or equipment, or using the City’s land for parking or storage as part of the work. The Excavation Permit makes sure the company or person (Applicant) repairs the damage once their work is finished.

In most cases, the City’s approval to do the work will state the Applicant must get an Excavation Permit.

• What land is owned by the City?
  Parks, green spaces, road right-of-way, and any lot owned by the City. Any part of a lot covered by an easement owned by the City is land controlled by the City.
  

• I’m doing work on my own land in an easement, do I need an Excavation Permit?
  If the work is completely inside the owner’s land and is being done either by the owner or a someone hired by the owner, an Excavation Permit is not needed.
  

• What is needed to apply?
  Along with the form, send drawings of the work, and a copy of your insurance certificate. If the work is in an easement, each property owner needs to state that they know about the upcoming work in writing. This can be a copy of an email.
  

• The form asks for an approval number, where is this?
  All work needing an Excavation Permit, except for maintenance or emergency repairs, must have an approval number from the City. This number will be from a Development Permit, Demolition Permit, or Utility Line Approval. Applicants can ask whoever hired them to do the work for this number. 

• How long does approval take?
  Send the form at least of two business days before the work starts. Once the City checks the form is complete, the Applicant must pay the fees and deposit. A copy of their insurance certificate is also needed for the Excavation Permit to become valid.

  IMPORTANT: by signing the form, the person or company applying becomes responsible for all Conditions of the Excavation Permit. This includes repairing damage after the work is done, and any maintenance or repairs during the two year warranty period.

• What needs to be done during the warranty period?
  Areas that wear out or settle during the warranty period must be repaired. At the end of the warranty, the City will inspect the restored areas, and if there are no problems, will let the Applicant know their duties under the Excavation Permit have ended.
  

• How do Applicants get their deposit back?
  When the repairs are done, contact the inspector named in the letter sent with the Excavation Permit. Once the inspector checks the repair is done properly, the deposit will be returned. This starts the two year warranty.