Good grading is mostly invisible: water goes where it should, lawns drain, and foundations stay dry. Bad grading shows up every winter as soggy yards, ponding and water against the house. Reach Dirt Works does rough and finish grading for homes, acreage and light commercial sites across Snohomish County. We’re a family-owned excavation contractor based in Snohomish.
What’s Included
- Rough grading. We shape the site to plan elevations for buildings, roads and parking.
- Finish grading. Smooth final grades, ready for sod, seed, pavers or landscaping.
- Yard leveling. We flatten sloped or uneven yards for lawns, play areas, patios and gardens.
- Drainage grading. We slope ground away from foundations and toward approved drainage, often combined with French drains or culverts.
- Cut and fill. We balance material on site where possible, and import or export when needed.
- Slope and terrace work. Grading paired with retaining walls where a slope is too steep to grade alone.
Common Projects
- Regrading a backyard for sod or pavers
- Leveling a sloped yard section
- Correcting grades that send water toward a house or garage
- Building pads and site grading for new homes, shops and ADUs
- Parking and yard areas for light commercial properties
- Pasture and arena leveling on acreage
Local Considerations
Rain and soil. Western Snohomish County soils include dense glacial till (“hardpan”) that drains poorly once you’re below the surface. We set grades so surface water moves off the site instead of soaking in and sitting on the hardpan.
When grading needs a permit. In unincorporated Snohomish County, grading generally needs a Land Disturbing Activity (LDA) permit when it goes beyond the exemptions. Those exemptions start at 100 cubic yards in any 18 consecutive months. Fills that support structures or private roads aren’t covered by that 100-yard exemption. Disturbing 7,000 sq ft or more is another trigger. Exempt projects still have to stay at least two feet off property lines and can’t block or change existing drainage courses. Cities set their own grading rules.
Neighbors’ drainage. The county requires erosion protection for adjoining properties where needed: silt fences, check dams and similar measures. Cut and fill slopes have to be stabilized by planting, hydroseeding or mulching.
Season. October 1 through April 30 is the county’s wet season, and seasonal limits apply to land disturbance. Small summer jobs are easiest. Winter work depends on keeping sediment on site.
Grading FAQ
How do I know if my yard needs regrading? Common signs are water pooling near the foundation, a soggy lawn that never dries, erosion channels, or a slope too steep to use. We can look and tell you whether grading, drainage or both will fix it.
Can you grade for new sod or pavers? Yes. Finish grading for sod, seed and paver bases is one of our most common residential jobs.
Will I need a permit? Small yard regrades are often exempt, but it depends on volume, area and location. In unincorporated areas, ask Snohomish County PDS (425-388-3311). In a city, ask its permit center.
Do you haul in topsoil or fill? When a job needs imported material or excess soil hauled off, we include it in the quote.
Areas We Serve
We work within about an hour of Snohomish, including Snohomish, Monroe, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Everett, Arlington, Granite Falls, Mill Creek, and unincorporated communities such as Machias, Cathcart, Clearview and Maltby. See all areas we serve.
Get a Free Quote
Reach Dirt Works is family owned and operated in Snohomish, WA. We’re licensed, bonded & insured (WA contractor license #REACHDW771Q7) and rated 5.0 stars on Google.
Call 360-512-2225 or request a free quote. Tell us where the property is and what you’re planning, and we’ll set up a site visit.
