Excavation Contractor in East York, ON | OCM Excavation

We are OCM Excavation, a licensed excavation contractor running jobs across East York and the GTA. We dig basements, prep driveways, trench drainage, and handle waterproofing excavation for homeowners and small builders in Leaside, Pape Village, Topham Park, and the rest of East York. Most East York jobs we quote come in between $4,200 and $30,000 depending on access and depth. Call 416-317-3090 for a free on-site quote on your East York project.

Why East York homeowners and builders choose OCM

East York is tight, mostly older housing, and the lots are not generous. A typical East York semi sits on a 25 by 100 foot lot with a narrow side yard. That means equipment selection matters more here than in most of the GTA. We have run mini excavators down 36-inch laneways in Pape Village and full-size machines on Leaside teardowns the same week.

Built for narrow East York lots

The 1940s and 1950s housing stock north of Mortimer Avenue was built on side yards under 4 feet, and a lot of the original wood fences are still there. Our smallest mini excavator clears a 36-inch gate, which gets us into Topham Park and Woodbine Heights backyards without taking down the fence. We bring track mats so the original front-yard interlock around Mortimer and O’Connor does not chip on the way in.

Licensed, insured, and used to City of Toronto inspectors

$2M liability insurance plus. East York is part of the City of Toronto, so permits go through Toronto Building. We have worked through that process plenty of times. See the licensed and insured page.

Excavation services we provide in East York

Basement lower and underpinning excavation

Older East York bungalows and semis have 6-foot basement ceilings. We lower the floor 2 to 3 feet with bench footing prep or full underpinning. Excavation portion runs $18,000 to $42,000 depending on shoring and access. Full scope on our excavation services page.

Driveway excavation and base

Strip, regrade, and put down Granular A. East York driveways are usually narrower (one and a half cars). Pricing runs $3,200 to $6,800 for the dig and base. See the 2026 driveway cost guide.

Pool excavation

Pool digs are doable in East York but the access is the gating factor more than the dig itself. Leaside backyards south of Eglinton tend to be wide enough for a standard 16×32 (excavation typically $9,800 to $13,500). On a Pape Village or Topham Park semi the side-yard width usually means a smaller plunge pool and a hand-finish on the last few yards. We pre-walk every East York pool site before we quote so the pool builder knows what shape and depth actually fits.

Foundation waterproofing excavation

Older East York foundations leak. We expose the wall to the footing so your waterproofer can membrane it and we replace the weeping tile. See the basement waterproofing cost guide for typical numbers.

Trenching, post drilling, and drainage

French drains, sewer line trenches, electrical runs, fence post holes, deck post holes. See trenching and post drilling.

Topsoil removal and grading

Backyard regrade in Topham Park, full lot strip on a Leaside teardown, or prep for new sod. See topsoil removal cost, land grading, and site prep services.

Permit and regulatory notes specific to East York

East York is part of the City of Toronto. Permits run through Toronto Building at toronto.ca/services-payments/building-construction. East York specifics:

• Any structural excavation (basement lower, underpinning, additions) needs a Toronto Building permit. Plan 6 to 10 weeks.
• Leaside has a high density of mature street trees and the City’s street-tree by-law protects every City tree. Toronto uses a tree protection zone calculated from trunk diameter, so the dig setback is different for every tree. We check the TPZ radius per tree before we dig and coordinate with your arborist when we are working close to a protected trunk.
• Parts of East York near the Don Valley are inside TRCA-regulated land. If your property backs onto the ravine you will likely need a TRCA permit on top of the City one.
• Ontario One Call locates are required and free. We book them 5 business days ahead.

Recent projects and typical costs in East York

• Foundation waterproofing dig, Pape Village semi: $14,200
• Basement lower with bench footing, Topham Park bungalow: $25,400
• Driveway strip and base, Leaside one-and-a-half car: $4,800
• Side-yard drainage trench, 60 ft, East York semi: $3,900
• Full lot strip for teardown, Leaside: $9,600
• Sewer service line dig, Pape Village: $6,400

Get a free quote for your East York project

Call 416-317-3090 or use our free quote form. We come out, walk the East York site, and send a fixed written price. No deposit to quote.

FAQs

Can your equipment fit a narrow East York side yard?

Yes. Our smallest mini excavator clears a 36-inch gate. We use it for Pape Village and Topham Park backyards all the time. If your side yard is narrower than 36 inches we will flag that on the quote and tell you whether we need to remove a fence section to get the machine in.

Do you handle Leaside tree protection rules?

We coordinate with your designer or arborist on tree protection plans. Toronto’s private tree by-law protects trunks 30 cm or larger and the street-tree by-law protects every City tree. The protection zone is calculated from trunk diameter, so we check the TPZ radius per tree before we dig. We do not pull the arborist application itself, but we work to its conditions when we are on site.

How much does basement excavation cost in East York?

Bench-footing basement lower in East York runs $18,000 to $30,000 for the excavation portion on a 900 to 1,000 sq ft footprint. Full underpinning excavation runs $28,000 to $50,000. Tight East York access can push the high end up.

Do you do emergency excavation in East York for sewer or water line breaks?

Yes. Same-day or next-day response for water and sewer line breaks in East York when our schedule allows. Emergency line digs in East York typically run $4,000 to $9,000 depending on depth and whether the break is under a driveway or paved area.

What about soil disposal from my East York property?

Disposal is included in the quote. From East York the shortest haul to a Reg 406/19 receiving site is usually east on the DVP to a Pickering or Whitby tipping yard. The thing to watch for in East York specifically is the historical urban fill on a lot of the inner-borough lots. If the spoil tests as impacted, the receiving site changes and the per-cubic-yard rate goes up. We flag that on the quote when the soil log on the building permit suggests we will see it.

How quickly can you start an East York job?

Driveway and trenching jobs in East York usually start within 2 to 4 weeks of accepted quote. Basement work starts within 3 to 6 weeks of permit issuance, season permitting.

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