Mass Excavation and Cut/Fill in Miami, FL

Who This Service Is For

Mass excavation and cut/fill services in Miami-Dade County are essential for developers, general contractors, subdivision developers, and anyone preparing large sites that require significant earthmoving to achieve proper elevations in Miami-Dade County.

Whether you're developing a new subdivision in Doral, commercial complex in Aventura, or preparing a large site for construction in Coral Gables, mass excavation and cut/fill operations balance site elevations efficiently. We coordinate licensed contractors with heavy equipment to handle large-scale earthmoving projects, navigating Miami-Dade DERM, RER, and SFWMD requirements with specialized knowledge of high water table conditions and regulatory restrictions.

Miami-Dade County Mass Excavation Considerations

Mass excavation and cut/fill operations in Miami-Dade County require specialized knowledge of local conditions and regulatory requirements:

• DERM Permitting and Source Removal Plans: Large-scale earthmoving operations in Miami-Dade County must comply with DERM letters and Source Removal/Soil Management Plans to ensure environmental protection. DERM letter guidance dated May 15, 2025, specifically addresses compliance requirements for excavation and soil management operations. Projects requiring Miami-Dade Review under Chapter 24 must obtain DERM Plan Review Approval prior to issuance of a building permit.
• High Water Table and Dewatering: Miami-Dade's high water table, which can be within 2-3 feet of the surface in many areas, affects excavation depth and requires dewatering systems for deep excavations. DERM Class V Permits are required for temporary dewatering to ensure that sediment, turbidity, and contaminants are removed before discharge. Cut operations may encounter water, requiring proper dewatering and water management, especially in areas like Miami Beach, Aventura, and coastal neighborhoods.
• Salt Barrier Line and Depth Restrictions: Excavation depths in Miami-Dade County are constrained by the salt barrier line and aquiclude penetration limits. Lake excavations cannot penetrate the aquiclude as determined by the Director of Environmental Resources Management, and minimum excavation depths must be at least 10 feet below mean low water elevation. The maximum depth is limited to depths that would contain water with 250 ppm chlorides as projected to the year 2000.
• Public Hearing Requirements: Excavations below street level in Miami-Dade County require public hearing approval, with specific exceptions for certain project types. Lake excavations west of the salt barrier line are allowed without a public hearing in areas within the developable boundaries of the adopted metropolitan development pattern map, whereas lake excavations east of the salt barrier line require public hearings.
• Operational Restrictions: Large-scale earthmoving projects must implement strict operational controls, including restricted operating hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, with weekend and extended-hour operations permitted only if the Director determines they do not become objectionable to surrounding areas.
• Flood Zone Requirements: Cut and fill operations in flood zones must comply with FEMA requirements. Fill placement may be restricted, and elevations must meet flood zone regulations, including Base Flood Elevation (BFE) requirements. Properties in flood zones often require significant fill material to meet elevation requirements.
• SFWMD Environmental Permits: Large-scale mass excavation may require SFWMD environmental resource permits for land disturbance, especially near wetlands or surface waters. Permits may restrict cut and fill operations in sensitive areas. We coordinate all required SFWMD permits.
• Final As-Built Surveys: Projects must submit final as-built surveys prepared by Florida-licensed surveyors or professional engineers upon completion, showing final elevations, cut and fill volumes, and compliance with engineering specifications.

The Mass Excavation and Cut/Fill Process in Miami-Dade County

Our coordinated approach ensures your mass excavation and cut/fill project is completed efficiently and meets all Miami-Dade County specifications and regulatory requirements:

1. Site Assessment: We review engineering drawings, survey data, and site conditions to understand cut and fill requirements specific to Miami-Dade County. Volume calculations determine earthwork scope and identify opportunities for site balancing, including flood zone analysis, water table assessment, and salt barrier line considerations.
2. Miami-Dade Permit Coordination: We help identify required permits including Miami-Dade RER building permits, DERM Plan Review Approval (for projects requiring Miami-Dade Review under Chapter 24), DERM Class V Permits for dewatering, DERM Source Removal/Soil Management Plans, SFWMD environmental resource permits, and coordinate with regulatory agencies. Public hearing approval may be required for excavations below street level or lake excavations east of the salt barrier line.
3. Contractor Selection: We match your project with licensed contractors who have the right equipment (excavators, bulldozers, scrapers, haul trucks, dewatering systems) and experience for large-scale earthmoving in Miami-Dade County, including expertise with high water table conditions, coastal soils, and regulatory compliance.
4. Dewatering Setup: For excavations requiring dewatering, contractors set up dewatering systems in compliance with DERM Class V Permit requirements, ensuring sediment, turbidity, and contaminants are removed before discharge. This is especially important given Miami-Dade's high water table.
5. Cut Operations: Contractors perform excavation from high areas, removing material for use as fill or export, in compliance with operational restrictions (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays). Cut operations establish general site grades and prepare material for placement, ensuring compliance with salt barrier line and aquiclude penetration limits.
6. Fill Operations: Fill material is placed in low areas with proper compaction to achieve required elevations, meeting Base Flood Elevation (BFE) requirements for properties in flood zones. Fill operations use material from cut areas or imported fill, with proper sequencing for efficiency and environmental compliance.
7. Site Balancing: Coordinated cut and fill operations balance site elevations while minimizing material import and export, meeting Miami-Dade County stormwater management requirements. Site balancing maximizes use of on-site material while ensuring proper drainage and compliance with regulatory requirements.
8. Final Grading and As-Built Survey: Final grading operations achieve exact elevations specified in engineering drawings. Final as-built surveys prepared by Florida-licensed surveyors or professional engineers are submitted upon completion, showing final elevations, cut and fill volumes, and compliance with all permit conditions.

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