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Utility Trenching in Hillsboro, OR

Utility trenching in Hillsboro, OR for water, sewer, gas, power, and irrigation lines. Hillsboro Excavation Co. digs to depth, beds, and backfills to code. Free estimates.

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Licensed & insured in Oregon Free on-site estimates Local Washington County crew Wet-season ready

Utility trenching in Hillsboro puts your water, sewer, gas, power, and irrigation lines in the ground the right way — dug to depth, bedded properly, and backfilled and compacted so nothing settles or fails. Hillsboro Excavation Co. cuts clean, straight, code-compliant trenches for homeowners, builders, and property owners across Hillsboro and Washington County. From a single water-line replacement to full utility runs for a new build, we dig it once and dig it right.

Trenching looks simple until something goes wrong. Dig too shallow and a line freezes or gets damaged; skip proper bedding and a pipe cracks under load; backfill without compacting and the trench sinks into a trip hazard across your yard or driveway. Add in Hillsboro's clay soil, high winter water table, and the buried utilities already in the ground, and it's a job that rewards doing it correctly. We locate first, dig to spec, and leave the trench compacted and clean.

Open utility trench with new water and sewer pipe on gravel bedding in Hillsboro, OR — A clean utility trench with new sewer and water line on proper gravel bedding — Hillsboro, OR.

Utility Lines We Trench in Hillsboro

Hillsboro Excavation Co. digs and backfills trenches for every kind of buried utility, coordinating depth, bedding, and separation to meet code and utility-company specs:

Water service lines — new service and replacements, dug below frost depth with proper bedding and tracer wire.
Sewer and septic lines — gravity and pressure lines dug to grade so they drain right, with the fall held consistent.
Storm and drain lines — tying downspouts, area drains, and French drains into a proper outfall.
Gas lines — trenching for natural gas and propane runs to the utility's depth and separation spec.
Electrical and low-voltage — conduit trenches for power, sub-panels, EV chargers, and data, with correct depth and separation from other utilities.
Irrigation and landscape — clean, shallow trenching for sprinkler mains and drip zones.

Dug to Depth, Bedded, and Compacted Right

The part you don't see is what makes a trench last. We dig to the depth code and the utility require — below frost line for water, to grade for sewer, to spec for gas and power — then bed the pipe on sand or drain rock so it's supported evenly instead of resting on rock or hard clay. Backfill goes in and gets compacted in lifts, so the ground over your line stays put instead of sinking a season later. Where a trench crosses a driveway or lawn you want to keep, we plan the restoration so it's not an eyesore.

We locate before we dig

Hillsboro has a lot already buried — water, gas, power, cable, fiber. Oregon law requires a locate before you dig, and hitting an unmarked line is dangerous and expensive. We call in the locate, hand-verify around marked utilities, and dig carefully near anything live. It's the difference between a clean job and a gas leak or a neighborhood outage. This is exactly why trenching is worth handing to a crew that does it every week.

How Much Does Utility Trenching Cost in Hillsboro, OR?

Utility trenching in Hillsboro is usually priced per linear foot, running about $12 to $30 per foot for typical residential depth in workable soil. The number moves with depth, soil and rock, how many utilities share the trench, and restoration — cutting through a concrete driveway or hitting basalt costs more than open lawn. Short runs and connections are often quoted as a flat project. Below are typical ranges across Washington County so you can budget before we come out.

Trenching scope	Typical size	Typical Hillsboro cost
Standard residential trench	per linear foot	$12 – $30
Deep or rock trenching	per linear foot	$25 – $60
Water or sewer service run	50 – 100 ft	$1,800 – $6,500
Irrigation / low-voltage	per linear foot	$8 – $18
Driveway / concrete cut & patch	add-on	$300 – $1,500

Ranges are typical for the Hillsboro / Washington County area and include trenching, bedding, backfill, and compaction. Depth, rock, shared utilities, and surface restoration move the number. We give a firm, itemized quote after a free site visit — no obligation.

Permits, Locates, and Code in Hillsboro

Most utility trenching in Hillsboro involves a permit — plumbing or site-utility permits for water and sewer, electrical permits for power runs — plus a required utility locate before any digging starts. Depth, bedding, and separation between utilities all have to meet code and the utility company's spec, and inspections often happen while the trench is still open. Hillsboro Excavation Co. coordinates the locate, digs to the inspected spec, and times the work so your inspection and backfill line up. We keep the job legal, safe, and moving.

What Working With Us Looks Like

1. Free on-site estimate

We walk the run, check depth, soil, access, and what's already buried, and give you a written, itemized quote per foot or per project.

2. Locate & permits

We call in the utility locate and coordinate the permits so we dig safely and to the inspected spec.

3. Dig, bed, and lay

Our crew cuts a clean, straight trench to depth, beds the pipe or conduit properly, and coordinates your inspection while it's open.

4. Backfill & restore

We backfill and compact in lifts so nothing settles, then restore the surface — lawn or driveway — so your yard isn't left scarred.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does utility trenching cost in Hillsboro, OR?

Utility trenching in Hillsboro is usually priced per linear foot, running about $12 to $30 per foot for typical residential depth in workable soil. Deep or rocky trenching runs $25 to $60 per foot, and a full water or sewer service run of 50 to 100 feet often lands between $1,800 and $6,500. Depth, rock, shared utilities, and surface restoration move the number. We give a firm, itemized quote after a free site visit.

How deep does a utility trench need to be?

It depends on the utility. Water lines go below frost depth so they don't freeze, sewer lines are dug to grade so they hold consistent fall and drain, and gas and electrical runs follow the utility company's required depth and separation from other lines. In Hillsboro that typically means anywhere from about 18 inches for irrigation up to several feet for water and sewer. We dig to the code and utility spec your job is inspected against.

Do you call for a utility locate before digging?

Always. Oregon law requires a locate before any digging, and Hillsboro has a lot buried — water, gas, power, cable, and fiber. We call in the locate, hand-verify around marked utilities, and dig carefully near anything live. Hitting an unmarked line is dangerous and expensive, so this step is non-negotiable on every trench we dig.

Do I need a permit for utility trenching in Hillsboro?

Usually yes. Water and sewer work typically needs a plumbing or site-utility permit, and power runs need an electrical permit. Inspections often happen while the trench is still open, before backfill. We coordinate the locate, pull the permits the job needs, dig to the inspected spec, and time the work so your inspection and backfill line up.

Will trenching tear up my yard or driveway?

We plan the restoration up front. Backfill goes in and gets compacted in lifts so the trench doesn't sink into a rut later, and we restore the surface — reseeding lawn or patching a driveway cut — so your yard isn't left scarred. Where a trench has to cross concrete, we quote the cut-and-patch as part of the job so there are no surprises.

Get Your Free Hillsboro Excavation Estimate

Tell us about your project and we will come walk the site and give you a straight, itemized quote — no obligation, no pressure. Call us, or send the form and we will get back to you the same business day.

Prefer to talk?

Call or text and reach us directly. We answer during business hours and return every message.

(971) 397-9361

Hours: Mon–Sat, 7am–6pm