Topsoil stripping and stockpiling on a Riverview build?

Topsoil Stripping and Stockpiling in Riverview

Published price guides read in September 2026 show excavator rates of $65 to $150 per hour for a mini and $150 to $250 per hour for a standard machine; few New Brunswick prices are published beyond machine time, so a quote for stripping and stockpiling is built from those hourly figures plus any trucking and disposal costs. The scope of your lot, the depth of topsoil, and whether the stripped material stays on site or leaves will move the final number considerably.

A few things shape what this work actually costs. Topsoil depth varies across a lot and is judged on site, not from any public data. If the machine hits rock close to the surface, the contractor may need a hydraulic breaker, which runs $200 to $300 per hour and sometimes higher for larger machines. If the stripped material cannot be stockpiled on the lot and must be hauled away, trucking distance and tipping fees add to the bill. If clean fill is needed later for backfill or grading, crushed stone runs $40 to $75 per cubic metre and Granular A $35 to $55 per cubic metre, with delivery $75 to $200 per load, and those costs belong in the quote from the start.

On the permit side, Plan 360, the Southeast Regional Service Commission, issues building permits for Riverview, and a permit may be required before construction work begins. Ask Plan 360 directly whether your stripping and site preparation work triggers a permit requirement before the machine arrives. If any part of the lot is within 30 metres of a watercourse or wetland, measured horizontally from the top of the bank in the field, operating heavy machinery and disturbing the ground requires a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration permit from the province before work starts; the fee for a single alteration is $25. For locates, the contractor has a duty under WorkSafeNB's General Regulation 91-191 to determine the location of underground utilities before digging. Ask the contractor to show you both the Info-Excavation ticket, requested at least three working days ahead and valid until the end date written on the request, and the NB Power locate ticket, which is a separate request made at least five business days ahead and valid for 60 days from the date on that form. NB Power's locate covers only NB Power-owned lines; any private lines run to a garage, shed or other structure are the owner's to find and mark before the machine moves.

When reviewing a quote, check that it spells out where the stripped topsoil goes, how rock is priced if it is encountered, what trucking is included, and whether backfill material is in scope or a separate line. Under the Construction Remedies Act you must retain a holdback of 10% of the contract price for 60 days after substantial performance. Ask for a WorkSafeNB clearance certificate before work starts; if the contractor has no workers and coverage is optional for them, ask about their insurance directly.

Local excavation contractors listed in the New Brunswick Construction Network directory can receive your request through the form on this page.

Before you commit to a price, ask the contractor exactly how they will charge if the machine hits rock and how far the spoil is going, because those two lines are where a stripping quote can grow.