Planning Excavation in Coeur d'Alene? Start With the Dig Checklist
CDA Excavation is an independent information and referral website for Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. It explains how a dig works and what to check. It doesn't dig, bid or quote. Emails go to the person who runs this site, who can point you to public lookup tools and county offices.
contact@cdaexcavation.com
Independent information and referral site, not an excavation company.
Where Kootenai County is growing
Coeur d'Alene had 58,179 residents on July 1, 2025, up from 54,649 in April 2020. Post Falls grew from 38,620 to 46,715 and Rathdrum from 9,212 to 13,227 over the same period. New homes and shops need pads, driveways, foundations and utility trenches, which is why this page is organized around the stages of a dig rather than a list of promises.
A dig in four stages
| Stage | What happens | Ask or check |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Plan | Scope the work, find the property line, decide who sets grade | Do plans or an engineer's drawing exist? Is a permit needed? |
| Stage 2: Locate | Utilities are marked before ground is broken | Who is requesting 811, and what is the ticket number? |
| Stage 3: Dig | Clearing, pad, trench, foundation or driveway work | Is the price per hour or per job, and what's included? |
| Stage 4: Finish | Backfill, grading, drainage, cleanup | Who is responsible for settling or drainage problems later? |
Details for each stage are on the Services page.
Before you hire: three checks
- Registration. Idaho registers contractors through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). Search the company's name on DOPL's public search before you sign anything.
- 811. In Idaho, call 811 at least two business days and no more than ten before digging. Dig Safe North Idaho 811 serves Kootenai, Bonner and Boundary counties. The person digging is responsible for the notice. Wait for every utility on the ticket to respond.
- Written price. This site does not set or promise prices. Any company you hire sets its own. Get the scope and price in writing.
How emailing works
- Email your town and your question.
- You reach the person who runs this site. This site is not an excavation company and can't give prices or dates.
- They can point you to public lists where you can check a company's registration. Price, scheduling and workmanship are between you and any company you hire.
Quick answers
What is CDA Excavation?
CDA Excavation is an independent information and referral website. It is not an excavation contractor and does not dig, bid or quote work. Emails go to the person who runs this site, who can point you to public lists for checking a contractor and to county offices. Price, scheduling and workmanship are between you and any company you hire.
How much does excavation cost in Coeur d'Alene?
This site does not publish a price because it found no Idaho rate it could verify as of October 2026. Excavation is commonly priced by the hour for operator and machine, or as a set price for a defined scope. Ask each company what is included, then compare like with like, in writing.
Does an excavation contractor have to be registered in Idaho?
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). Ask the company whether it is registered, and check DOPL's public search. This site makes no registration claim of its own.