Foundation and Footing Excavation in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Who This Service Is For

Foundation and footing excavation services in Broward County are essential for general contractors, custom home builders, commercial developers, and anyone constructing buildings that require precise foundation preparation throughout Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Weston, Plantation, and other communities.

Whether you're building a custom home in Victoria Park, commercial structure in Plantation, or any building requiring foundations in Fort Lauderdale, proper excavation is critical for structural integrity. We coordinate licensed contractors with precision equipment and expertise to excavate foundations to exact engineering specifications, navigating Broward County Building Code Division, Development & Environmental Review (DER), flood zone requirements, storm event protection, and high water table conditions.

Broward County Foundation Excavation Considerations

Foundation excavation in Broward County requires specialized knowledge of local conditions and building code requirements:

• Minimum Footing Depth Requirements: Florida Building Code requires exterior footings to be placed not less than 12 inches below the finished grade of the ground surface. However, this baseline requirement must be adapted based on site-specific conditions including elevations of nearby roads and water bodies, property undulations, surrounding terrain, and flood-prone designations. In areas with high water tables, the finished floor height should be set appropriately higher than the likely height of any water intrusion.
• Flood Zone Requirements and Base Flood Elevation (BFE): Broward County has implemented enhanced building standards requiring new structures in flood-designated areas to be built at or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE). Foundation excavations must account for flood zone regulations and foundation elevation requirements, often requiring significant fill material to meet BFE. Storm event protection requires that first floor elevations of all structures within drainage districts must protect structures from a 100-year, 3-day storm event.
• High Water Table and Dewatering: Broward County's high water table, which can be within 2-3 feet of the surface in many areas, often requires dewatering systems for foundation excavations. SFWMD Environmental Resource Permits are required for dewatering activities affecting state waters. The applicant must have all applicable SFWMD permits before proceeding with dewatering operations. Proper dewatering prevents water intrusion and ensures stable excavation walls and dry foundation placement, especially in areas like Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and coastal neighborhoods.
• Development Permits: Projects involving development work as described in Florida Statute 380.04 require a development permit prior to the issuance of a building permit. This is a critical prerequisite for foundation excavation projects in Broward County.
• Broward County Building Permits and Plan Review: Foundation excavation requires Uniform Building Permit Applications (updated November 14, 2025) from Broward County Building Code Division or municipal building departments. Permit applications can be submitted through ePermits OneStop. Permits are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance. Plan review by plans processing staff ensures compliance with Florida Building Code standards, storm event protection requirements, and county-specific flood mitigation requirements.
• Development & Environmental Review (DER): Foundation excavation projects typically require Development & Environmental Review through ePermits OneStop for applicable building permits. All DER submittals are only accepted electronically. Broward County's Planning and Development Management Division ensures that proposed developments comply with the Broward County Land Development Code and Natural Resource Protection Code.
• Coastal Soil Conditions: Coastal areas in Broward County including Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach have unique soil characteristics including sand, limestone bedrock, and organic materials that affect foundation excavation and bearing capacity. Soil conditions determine excavation methods and foundation design, requiring specialized techniques for limestone bedrock removal when encountered.
• Limestone Bedrock: Broward County's limestone bedrock may require specialized excavation equipment and techniques. Bedrock conditions affect excavation depth and may require rock removal or foundation design adjustments. When excavations encounter limestone bedrock, we coordinate with engineers to determine the best approach, which may include rock removal, foundation design changes, or foundation placement on bedrock.
• Safety and Shoring: Deep foundation excavations require proper shoring, sloping, or benching to prevent cave-ins and ensure worker safety per OSHA requirements. Broward County's high water table and coastal soil conditions require specialized shoring techniques to prevent excavation collapse and ensure worker safety.

The Foundation Excavation Process in Broward County

Our coordinated approach ensures your foundation excavation is completed precisely and meets all Broward County specifications and regulatory requirements:

1. Engineering Drawing Review: We review engineering drawings to understand foundation dimensions, depths, and specifications specific to Broward County building codes, flood zone requirements, and storm event protection. Drawing review ensures excavation meets exact requirements for foundation type, building loads, Base Flood Elevation (BFE) compliance, and storm event protection (100-year, 3-day storm event for structures) where applicable.
2. Site Layout and Staking: Foundation locations are staked and marked according to survey data and engineering drawings, accounting for flood zone requirements, storm event protection, and elevation adjustments. Layout ensures foundations are positioned correctly on the site and meet Broward County requirements.
3. Development Permit Coordination: We help identify required development permits as described in Florida Statute 380.04, which must be obtained prior to the issuance of building permits for foundation excavation projects in Broward County.
4. Broward County Permit Coordination: We help identify required permits including Uniform Building Permit Applications (updated November 14, 2025), Development & Environmental Review (DER) through ePermits OneStop, SFWMD Environmental Resource Permits for dewatering activities affecting state waters if required, and coordinate with building departments. All DER submittals are only accepted electronically. Permits are valid for 180 days from the date of issuance.
5. Contractor Selection: We match your project with licensed contractors who have the right equipment (excavators, compactors, dewatering systems) and experience for precision foundation excavation in Broward County, including expertise with high water table conditions, coastal soils, flood zone requirements, and storm event protection.
6. Dewatering Setup: For excavations requiring dewatering, contractors set up dewatering systems in compliance with SFWMD Environmental Resource Permit requirements for activities affecting state waters, ensuring proper water quality management and discharge compliance. The applicant must have all applicable SFWMD permits before proceeding with dewatering operations. This is especially important given Broward County's high water table.
7. Precision Excavation: Contractors perform excavation to exact depths and dimensions, meeting Florida Building Code minimum footing depth requirements (12 inches below finished grade minimum), with careful attention to depth control and wall verticality. Excavation prepares foundation areas for concrete placement, accounting for Broward County's high water table and coastal soil conditions.
8. Soil Preparation: Foundation soils are prepared to proper grade and compaction, meeting Broward County building code requirements for foundation support. Unsuitable material is removed, and bearing surfaces are prepared for foundation support, especially important given Broward County's sandy and limestone soil conditions.
9. Inspection and Foundation Placement: Excavations are inspected by Broward County Building Code Division or municipal building departments before foundation placement. After approval, foundations are placed, and backfill operations begin with proper compaction to meet Broward County building code requirements, storm event protection requirements, and engineering specifications.

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