Licenses, permits and 811

State contractor licenses

There is no national license for excavation. Some states license the work and publish a lookup: California (CSLB, class A or C-12 for earthwork), Arizona (Registrar of Contractors), Nevada, Utah (DOPL), Oregon (CCB) and Washington (L&I, which also publishes insurance and bond records), North and South Carolina above a job-size threshold, and Florida and Georgia for underground utility work. Texas has no state license for excavation or general contracting. Where a license applies, ask for the number and check it on the state's site before work starts.

Permits

Demolition almost always needs a permit from the city or county building department, usually with utility disconnect letters first. Grading or land clearing over a set area can need a grading, erosion-control or stormwater permit, and tree ordinances, wetlands and burn rules vary by county. A good contractor knows the local rules and says who pulls the permit.

Asbestos surveys before demolition

Federal rules (EPA NESHAP) require an asbestos inspection and written notice at least 10 working days before most demolitions. A single house of four units or fewer is usually exempt from the federal rule, but many states and cities require a survey anyway. Ask your building department.

811: call before you dig

811 is the national call-before-you-dig number. A call or online ticket a few working days before any digging, trenching or grading gets buried gas, power, water and communication lines marked for free, and it is required by law in every state. Your contractor should open its own ticket; ask for the ticket number before the machine arrives.

Insurance and bonding

Ask for a certificate of liability insurance naming you before work starts, and workers' compensation proof for any crew. A bond protects you if the contractor does not finish or pay suppliers; some states require one with the license.