Excavation & Grading Services in South San Francisco, CA
South San Francisco is home base for Harris Excavation, and it’s really two kinds of job site. West of 101, houses climb the hills from downtown and Grand Avenue up through Sign Hill, Buri Buri, Avalon and Westborough. Yards are small, driveways are steep and the street is right there. East of 101, biotech campuses, warehouses and industrial lots sit on flat ground near the Bay, and the work is utility trenching and site prep for general contractors and developers.
We’re a licensed general engineering contractor (CSLB #1117960), and we work on both sides of the freeway, directly for homeowners and as the excavation sub for GCs and developers.
What We Do in South San Francisco
- Drainage fixes for yards that pond or send water toward the house: French drains, catch basins, dry wells and regrading. Residential drainage
- Sewer lateral and utility trenching for water, sewer, storm and electrical lines, including PG&E service upgrades. We’re PG&E Operator Qualified. Residential trenching
- Site grading and base prep for turf, pavers, patios and parking pads
- Foundation and ADU excavation on tight hillside and downtown lots. Residential excavation
- Commercial trenching and site prep East of 101 and in Lindenville. Commercial services
- Erosion and sediment control so soil stays out of the street and storm drains. Erosion control
Selling a South City Home? Check the Sewer Lateral First
Since June 21, 2022, South San Francisco has required a sewer lateral compliance certificate when a property is sold. A licensed plumber runs a CCTV camera through the line, and depending on what the video shows, it may need a repair or a full replacement before the city signs off. Properties served by the Westborough Water District are exempt, and so are multi-unit buildings that share a lateral. If a sale can’t wait, the city allows up to 180 days to finish the work with a $10,500 deposit held in escrow.
When the lateral has to come out, the plumber scopes the line and we dig and backfill the trench, working around the other utilities in a tight front yard. Lateral work in the sidewalk or street also needs an encroachment permit from the city’s Engineering Division. Its standard conditions limit that work to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, require an 811 call to Underground Service Alert at least two working days ahead, and require steel plates over any trench left open overnight. Our sewer scope guide explains what the camera looks for.
When Drainage and Grading Need a City Permit
South San Francisco’s Engineering Division requires a grading permit for work that installs an on-site storm drainage system, and for excavating, grading, importing or exporting more than 50 cubic yards of soil. Note that drainage is on that list, not just earthmoving. A grading permit comes with a soils report, an erosion and sediment control plan and a surety bond. During the rainy season, grading over 200 cubic yards needs written approval from Engineering staff.
Small, self-contained yard projects can be exempt: no excavation deeper than 2 feet, no slope steeper than 2:1, and less than 150 cubic yards in total. We’ll tell you which side of that line your project is likely on before we price it.
Protected Trees Are Measured Around the Trunk
South San Francisco’s Tree Preservation Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 13.30) measures trunk circumference, not diameter, 54 inches above grade. Most trees are protected at 48 inches around, oaks and several other heritage species at 30 inches, and blue gum eucalyptus at 75 inches. Removing more than a third of a protected tree’s root system needs a permit from the Parks Division. Near a large tree, we dig by hand or with vacuum excavation and work with your arborist.
South San Francisco Project: Lawn to Turf and Pavers
A South San Francisco homeowner had an uneven lawn with drainage problems. We stripped several inches of topsoil to reach solid ground, installed a drainage system, laid filter fabric, and imported and compacted aggregate base, graded so water drains the right way. The result was a smooth base ready for artificial turf and pavers. See the project.
South City Neighborhoods We Work In
We work all over town: Westborough, Avalon, Brentwood, Buri Buri, Sunshine Gardens, Winston Manor, Paradise Valley, the Sign Hill area, downtown and Grand Avenue, Lindenville, and the East of 101 business district out to Oyster Point. Nearby, we also serve Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, San Bruno, Millbrae and San Mateo, plus the rest of San Mateo County.
South San Francisco Excavation FAQ
Do I need a sewer lateral certificate to sell my house?
In South San Francisco, yes, unless the property is served by the Westborough Water District, already has an active certificate, or is a multi-unit building sharing one lateral.
Does a drainage project need a permit here?
It can. The city’s grading permit covers on-site storm drainage systems as well as earthwork over 50 cubic yards. We’ll review your project and tell you what’s likely needed.
Do you work on commercial sites East of 101?
Yes. We work there as the excavation subcontractor for general contractors and developers on trenching and site prep.
Start Your South City Project
Send us your plans, or a few photos of the yard and a short description of the problem. We’ll walk the site and send a clear written estimate. Request a free estimate