June Lake Excavation and Grading
June Lake is unincorporated, so there’s no town building department. Building permits go through Mono County’s Building Division, and grading permits through Mono County Public Works. Many lots around the Loop sit on slopes, close to the neighbors, in hazard-prone terrain. Even a small cabin project can trigger a county grading permit.
Harris Excavation handles excavation, grading, trenching and drainage in June Lake for homeowners, general contractors and developers. We’re a licensed California general engineering contractor (CSLB #1117960) and a CA Licensed Timber Operator (#B014361).
Excavation and Grading Services in June Lake
- Cabin, addition and new home excavation on sloped and tight lots. Residential excavation
- Retaining wall excavation and backfill where a cut into the hill needs holding
- Drainage for spring runoff, including French drains, swales and regrading. Residential drainage
- Water and sewer lateral trenching, plus electrical service trenching. Residential trenching
- Fuel reduction and defensible space clearing, including tree work
- Erosion control and winterizing disturbed soil before the season closes. Erosion control
Why Work With Harris Excavation
When a June Lake Project Needs a County Grading Permit
Mono County’s grading permit package lists the triggers. You need a permit if your project will:
- Excavate 200 cubic yards or more, or dig deeper than 4 feet at any point
- Place more than 200 cubic yards of fill, or fill 3 feet or more deep at any point
- Create a cut or fill slope steeper than 2:1
- Grade closer than 2 feet to a property line
- Change a drainage swale, ditch or gutter
- Clear vegetation from more than 10,000 square feet
Basement excavation covered by a building permit is exempt. On a small sloped lot, an ordinary driveway or retaining wall can hit the depth, slope or property-line triggers. We check your scope against this list before we price it.
Avalanche, Rockfall and Flood Ground in the Loop
The safety section of the June Lake Area Plan names the hazards: rockfall areas, debris fans, talus slopes and landslide areas, plus historic avalanche areas identified by the June Lake Avalanche Advisory Committee. State Route 158 near Oh! Ridge is subject to avalanche closures. The plan’s 100-year flood areas include the western part of Down Canyon and the meadow between June and Gull Lakes.
The plan calls for geotechnical studies by a state-certified engineer before development on steep slopes, in rock slide areas and in historic avalanche zones. It also prohibits structures for human occupancy in Alquist-Priolo fault rupture zones. We dig to that engineer’s recommendations, and the county’s standard grading specifications hold cut and fill slopes to 2:1 unless a site-specific soils report supports steeper.
A Short Season With a Hard Stop
Mono County’s design criteria list June Lake at 7,600 feet with a 155 psf ground snow load, and set frost depth at a minimum of 18 inches below finished grade. The season is short. The county’s general construction specifications for land development projects say construction must stop by October 15, with the site prepared for winter and all exposed soil stabilized. Temporary erosion control must be in place before grading starts. Work hours are 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.
Fill goes in 8-inch maximum lifts compacted to 90%, and subgrade under paving to 95%. To dig in summer, start permits in spring.
Fuel Reduction and Defensible Space
The Area Plan classifies all private land in the Loop in the “very high hazard” fire danger category, and notes that Down Canyon and Oh! Ridge sit outside the June Lake Fire Protection District. Depending on how your parcel is mapped, state law (PRC 4291 or Government Code 51182) requires defensible space out to 100 feet from the house, but not beyond the property line. Clearing more than 10,000 square feet of vegetation can also trigger the county grading permit. As a Licensed Timber Operator, we can thin and remove trees along with the dirt work. Read our defensible space guide.
Where We Work Around June Lake
We work across the June Lake Loop, including June Lake Village, West Village, Down Canyon, the June Lake Highlands and the Gull Lake and Silver Lake areas. The June Lake Public Utility District provides water and sewer service to the Village and Down Canyon areas. Nearby, we also serve Mammoth Lakes, Lee Vining, Bridgeport, Bishop and the rest of Mono County.
June Lake Excavation FAQ
Who issues permits in June Lake?
Mono County. June Lake is unincorporated, so building permits come from the county Building Division and grading permits from Mono County Public Works.
Does my small project need a grading permit?
Possibly. Digging deeper than 4 feet, a slope steeper than 2:1, or grading within 2 feet of a property line can each trigger one, even on a small job.
How late in the year can you dig?
For projects under the county’s construction specifications, work stops by October 15 and the site has to be winterized. Plan to break ground in early summer.
My lot is in a rockfall or avalanche area. Can you still build?
The Area Plan calls for a geotechnical study first. Once your engineer’s recommendations are in hand, we excavate and grade to them.
Get a June Lake Excavation Estimate
Send us your plans, survey and any geotechnical report. We’ll walk the lot, check it against the county’s permit triggers, and send a clear written estimate. Request a free estimate