Most of our trenches here replace century-old clay laterals and aging water services. They run frost-deep, often to the alley, under a city right-of-way permit.
Frost depth drives trench depth in Minnesota. Water lines go well below the frost, and footings for anything attached to a house go to 42 inches or deeper in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. We dig to the depth the plumber, electrician or utility specifies, slope or shore deeper trenches, and bed the pipe in sand or rock as required. In sandy Richfield and Brooklyn Park soil, trench walls need care; in clay till, they stand better but turn slick after rain.
Most of the trenching we do in Minneapolis and the first-ring suburbs is sewer and water line replacement. Clay tile laterals from the early 1900s crack and fill with roots, and old galvanized or lead water services are being replaced across the metro. The licensed plumber replaces the line and makes the connections, and we dig, support the street or alley cut as permitted, and backfill and compact in layers.
Every job starts with a Gopher State One Call locate. Utilities mark the lines they own, but lines you own are not their job to mark: power to a detached garage, a gas line to a grill, irrigation and low-voltage lighting. We ask what you know about those lines and dig carefully near them. Work in the street or alley also needs a right-of-way permit from the city.
Trenching & utilities in Minneapolis: common questions
How deep are water lines in Minneapolis?
Your plumbing code and water utility set the depth, which must be below the frost line. Before digging starts, the plumber gives us that number.
Can you replace a lead water service?
We dig the trench and the licensed plumber replaces the line. Many cities in the metro have programs for lead service replacement, so ask yours.
Can you dig in the alley?
With the city's right-of-way permit, yes. Many Minneapolis sewer and water lines run to the alley or the street.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the site with you.
- Written quote: Scope, equipment and price in writing.
- Utility locate & plan: We have utilities marked and plan access, haul-off and erosion control.
- Dig, grade & clean up: We complete the work, grade the site and haul away spoil.