Earthwork Where the Ground Isn't Flat

Hillside Grading & Slope Work

From Wood Ranch slopes to Santa Monica Mountains view lots, we cut keyways, build engineered slopes, terrace yards, and repair slope failures — always to the engineer's plan, always with drainage and erosion control in mind.

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Hillside grading is engineered earthwork: benches and keyways cut into competent material, fill placed and compacted in lifts, subdrains where the plans call for them, and finished slopes at stable ratios with erosion control. It's how a sloped lot becomes a usable yard, driveway, or building pad — legally and safely.

Hillside work we perform

Cut/fill slope construction to civil and soils plans
Keyway and bench excavation for engineered fills
Terracing and retaining wall over-excavation & backfill
Slope failure and slough repair (with your geotechnical engineer)
Driveway cuts on grade, view-lot pad expansion
Winterization: swales, v-ditches, erosion control blankets

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Excavator benching a hillside cut with compacted fill lifts visible

Local hills, local knowledge

The region's hillsides differ block to block — Conejo volcanic rock in Thousand Oaks, sandstone in the Simi Hills, deep alluvium at the valley floors. Machine selection, breaker time, and shrink/swell all change with the ground. Twenty-five-plus years digging this region means our bids reflect the ground you actually have.

Hillside Grading: Frequently Asked Questions

Do hillside projects need special permits?

Almost always. Hillside grading typically triggers a grading permit with engineered plans, soils reports, and inspections, and some cities have dedicated hillside ordinances. We work from your engineer's approved plans and coordinate inspections.

Can you fix a slope that failed last winter?

Yes — slope repairs are engineered fixes. We team with your geotechnical engineer: remove the failed material, cut a keyway into competent ground, and rebuild with compacted, tested lifts and drainage.