Frequently asked
Common questions about excavation in the Cowichan Valley
The 10 questions below come up most often on excavation work in the Cowichan Valley, answered from the same sources Duncan Excavating quotes from — WorkSafeBC, BC 1 Call, the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Agricultural Land Commission. Where a figure could not be confirmed, that is said plainly.
- What information is needed to get a quote?
- The property address, what needs to happen to the ground, and any date the work has to meet. A photograph of the site is worth more than a paragraph describing it, because access width and slope are what decide the machine. Everything after that is settled on the site visit.
- Does an excavation quote include disposal?
- It should, and a quote that omits it is not cheaper but incomplete. CVRD recycling centres charge $94 per tonne for rubble and $165 for clean untreated lumber, but accept no rock, sod, dirt or stumps, so most excavation spoil goes to a private facility that publishes no rates.
- How far ahead does excavation work need to be arranged?
- The digging is rarely the constraint. A BC 1 Call locate request needs three working days, or five for large projects. An Agricultural Land Commission Notice of Intent runs at least 60 days, and that clock does not start until the notice is acknowledged as complete.
- What happens if the excavation hits groundwater?
- On the Cowichan Valley floor the water table sits at a median of 2.4 metres, and one provincial observation well near Duncan swings about 3.1 metres between its winter high and its summer low. Groundwater is shallowest from November through January, so timing is part of the plan rather than a surprise.
- Who is responsible for locating underground services?
- Under the OHS Regulation the location of all underground utility services must be accurately determined before excavating or drilling with powered equipment. BC 1 Call requests are free. The regulation also prohibits using pointed tools to probe for underground petroleum and electrical services.
- Does the Agricultural Land Reserve affect a residential project?
- Often, and more than people expect in this valley. Placing fill or removing soil on ALR land needs a Notice of Intent to the Agricultural Land Commission, $150, at least 60 days ahead. A structure for a principal residence affecting 1,000 square metres or less is exempt.
- What is the difference between a permit and a Notice of Intent?
- A permit is a decision that work may proceed. A Notice of Intent is a filing that starts a clock — the Agricultural Land Commission has 60 days to approve, ask for more information, or order the work stopped. The distinction changes how a schedule is built, not whether the work is allowed.
- Can excavated soil be reused on the same property?
- Sometimes, and it is usually the cheapest option when it works. Outside the ALR, North Cowichan exempts the lesser of 300 cubic metres per parcel or 60 cubic metres per acre per calendar year, and exempts parcels under one hectare outright. Inside the ALR the Notice of Intent applies.
- Is a retaining wall part of an excavation job?
- The excavation for one is. The wall itself needs a permit: the Cowichan Valley Regional District requires a permit to construct or structurally repair a retaining wall in the electoral areas, and fill slopes steeper than 1:2 need certification by a professional engineer.
- What does priced per metre mean on a trenching quote?
- Trenching is commonly quoted by length rather than as a lump sum, because depth and ground type are consistent along a run. Depth is what changes the rate — past 1.2 metres an excavation a worker enters has to be sloped, benched or shored under the OHS Regulation.
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Duncan Excavating quotes excavation across the Cowichan Valley after a site visit.