Utah County
Excavation, Concrete & Driveways — Orem, UT
Orem is largely built out, and that changes the work. There's less raw ground to open up and far more replacement: driveways poured in the seventies that have finally given up, sewer laterals at the end of their life, and infill and redevelopment projects squeezed onto tight lots between existing homes. Working in an established city means protecting what's already there — mature trees, neighboring driveways, existing utilities — while still getting machines in and the job done.
Sitework built for Orem
Replacement over greenfield
Most Orem work is tear-out and replace. The old slab comes out, the failed subgrade gets fixed, and the new pour is built to last longer than the last one.
Tight, established lots
Narrow access between existing homes calls for smaller equipment and careful protection of landscaping, sidewalks, and neighboring property.
Aging underground
Older Orem neighborhoods are reaching the end of life on sewer laterals and water lines. We locate, dig, repair, and restore the surface cleanly.
What we focus on here: Driveway replacement, concrete flatwork, sewer and water lateral repair, and small-site excavation across Orem's established neighborhoods.
What Orem requires before you dig
Every rule and number below comes from Orem's own code, fee schedule, or published guidance — each one linked. Last verified 2026-08-22.
Disturb more than 500 square feet of soil, and Orem requires a permit
Orem requires a Land Disturbance Permit for any project that disturbs more than 500 square feet of soil, under the city's own Supplemental Specifications, Definitions Section G. The same specification, Section 0.2.C.1, requires a SWPPP for any construction activity disturbing 500 square feet of soil or more. Five hundred square feet is roughly a 20-by-25-foot patch, well under the state's one-acre UPDES baseline. Most excavation, driveway, and site-grading jobs in Orem clear that threshold before the crew unloads equipment.
Source: City of Orem – Supplemental Document to the 2017 APWA Standard Construction SpecificationsCutting a newer street costs far more than cutting an older one
Orem scales its Road Cut Fee to the age of the pavement, on top of the $94.00 Engineering Permit fee. A roadway 0 to 2 years old costs $5,000 plus $50.00 per linear foot to cut; 2 to 5 years old drops to $1,500 plus $25.00 per linear foot; 5 years or older is $150 plus $10.00 per linear foot. Working without a permit doubles the calculated permit and road-cut fees, per the city's own fee schedule.
Source: City of Orem – FY2027 Fee Schedule (Engineering Fees)A drive approach needs an Engineering Permit, not a building permit
Orem's own permit guidance is direct: drive approaches need an Engineering Permit, not a building permit. That distinction trips people up regularly, since the instinct is to apply through Building Safety first. It applies to any driveway approach connecting to an Orem street, and it is separate from whatever building-code inspections the rest of the project still needs. Get the right department on the first call, not the second.
Source: City of Orem – When Do I Need a Building Permit? (2026 rev.)Grading plans need a PE stamp and a geotechnical report, not just a permit fee
Orem's Engineering Grading Permit itself is a flat $94.00 fee, but the paperwork behind it is heavier. Every site plan submitted to the city must include a grading plan, prepared by a professional engineer, showing cut and fill volumes in cubic yards. A Geotechnical Report, including percolation testing, is a required part of that Grading and Drainage Plan on every site plan Orem reviews. The city has not published a specific square-footage or cubic-yard threshold that triggers the permit itself.
Source: City of Orem – Development Packet, Site PlanOrem FAQs
My Orem driveway is original to the house. Can it be repaired or does it need replacing?
Depends on whether the problem is the slab or the base under it. Surface cracking can sometimes be lived with; sinking, pooling, or heaving usually means the subgrade failed and patching won't hold. We'll tell you which one you have — free inspection at driveways.cadoava.com.
Can you work on a narrow Orem lot without tearing up the yard?
Yes. Established neighborhoods are tight, so we bring equipment sized for the access, protect landscaping and adjacent concrete, and leave the site clean.
Do I need a permit for excavation work in Orem?
Almost always, yes. Orem requires a Land Disturbance Permit for any project disturbing more than 500 square feet of soil, and a SWPPP is required at that same threshold under the city's Supplemental Specifications. That's smaller than most residential excavation or grading jobs, so plan on pulling a permit before equipment moves dirt, not after.
What does it cost to cut into an Orem street for a sewer or water line repair?
It depends entirely on how old the street is. On top of the $94.00 Engineering Permit fee, Orem's Road Cut Fee runs $5,000 plus $50 per linear foot on a street 0 to 2 years old, $1,500 plus $25 per linear foot at 2 to 5 years, and $150 plus $10 per linear foot once the street passes 5 years. Find out the pavement age before you price the repair.