NAICS UNIVERSITY · Free research for insurance agents
Site Preparation Contractors
NAICS 238910 · United States · 2022 edition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in site preparation activities, such as excavating and grading, demolition of buildings and other structures, and septic system installation. Earthmoving and land clearing for all types of sites (e.g., building, nonbuilding, mining) is included in this industry. Establishments primarily engaged in construction equipment rental with operator (except cranes) are also included.
Start the review with underground utility strikes.
For Site Preparation Contractors, the saved research highlights underground utility strikes, cave-in and collapse, equipment liability and property damage. Confirm how these arise in the actual operation, what controls are used and whether additional services change the proposed coverage.
Questions to ask
- What specific operations does the contractor perform — earthmoving only, demolition, septic, blasting, or a combination?
- Is any work classified as structural or complete building demolition, or is it limited to interior gutting, land clearing, and earthmoving?
- Are any blasting or explosive operations performed, or subcontracted to others?
- Does the contractor do any underground storage tank removal, and if so, are any tanks related to hazardous materials?
- What is the breakdown of residential versus commercial versus public/municipal work by revenue?
- Does the contractor own its equipment fleet, rent equipment, or do both — and what is the approximate total equipment value?
- Has the contractor encountered any underground utility strikes, cave-ins, or collapse events in the past five years?
- Are any septic design services provided alongside installation, and does the contractor carry any professional liability coverage?
Activities described by this code
- Blasting, building demolition
- Building interior gutting and stripping
- Concrete breaking and cutting for demolition
- Cutting new rights of way
- Demolition, building and structure
- Exterior demolition contractors
- Foundation digging (i.e., excavation)
- Foundation drilling contractors
- Grading construction sites
- Interior demolition contractors
- Dewatering contractors
- Dirt moving for construction
- Equipment rental (except crane), construction, with operator
- Excavating, earthmoving, or land clearing contractors
- Line slashing or cutting (except maintenance)
- Septic system contractors
- Trenching (except underwater)
- Underground tank (except hazardous) removal
- Wrecking, building or other structure
- Whole building deconstruction
Other activities to examine
- Servicing land and subdividing real property into lots for sale to builders: 237210 — Land Subdivision
- Constructing distribution lines and related buildings and structures for utilities (i.e., water, sewer, petroleum, gas, power, and communication): 2371 — Utility System Construction
- Earth retention or underwater trenching: 237990 — Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
- Crane rental with operator: 238990 — All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- Overburden removal as an activity prior to mineral removal from quarries or open pit mines: 21 — Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
- Drilling oil and gas field water intake wells: 213111 — Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
- Dismantling tanks in oil fields: 213112 — Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations
- Construction equipment rental without an operator: 532412 — Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing
- Tree and brush trimming for overhead utility lines: 561730 — Landscaping Services;
- Nuclear power plant decommissioning and environmental remediation work, such as the removal of underground steel tanks for hazardous materials: 562910 — Remediation Services
Census classification reference
For educational purposes only. AI-generated insurance research and automated logic can contain errors. Independently verify classification and coverage decisions.
Compare another operationInsurance operations research — draft
Site preparation contractors perform the groundwork that precedes vertical construction — excavating foundations, grading and clearing land, demolishing existing structures, installing septic systems, cutting trenches for utilities, and dewatering job sites. Work is performed almost entirely at client locations using heavy equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, compactors, and dump trucks. Some contractors also rent construction equipment with an operator to other project teams.
Questions to investigate
- What specific operations does the contractor perform — earthmoving only, demolition, septic, blasting, or a combination?
- Is any work classified as structural or complete building demolition, or is it limited to interior gutting, land clearing, and earthmoving?
- Are any blasting or explosive operations performed, or subcontracted to others?
- Does the contractor do any underground storage tank removal, and if so, are any tanks related to hazardous materials?
This insurance research was generated in April 2026. It has not received a complete human review. The October 12, 2026 audit checked codes and titles only, not descriptions or coverage assertions.