Fill Dirt in Burbank, CA

Fill dirt is natural subsoil with low organic material used to raise or level ground. It is a common, cost-effective choice in Burbank for regrading yards and filling low spots, but it is not a finished surface — you should top it with compacted base and a wear surface (gravel, pavers, or lawn) if you need a driveway or patio.

Prices in the Burbank area typically range and depend on local supply, moisture, and delivery distance; expect roughly $15 to $45 per ton or about $20 to $60 per cubic yard as a general range. For an exact delivered price for your address, use Hello Gravel's quote tool or check local suppliers, since rates can fluctuate with demand and trucking costs.

Local sources usually include landscape supply yards, aggregate quarries, construction/demolition recyclers, and material brokers that serve Los Angeles County. The easiest way to see who delivers to Burbank is to check Hello Gravel for suppliers in your zip code or call local landscape supply yards and nurseries to confirm delivery options and stock.

Hello Gravel's minimum order is usually 3 tons, and common delivery vehicles are tri-axle dump trucks that carry roughly 10 to 14 cubic yards loose (exact capacity varies by truck). Standard delivery is often included or low-cost in many areas, but expect delivery fees or distance charges for short loads, tight access, or next-day service; final fees are provided at checkout.

Small residential imports to fix minor low spots often do not require a permit, but changes that affect drainage, raise finished grades substantially, or involve large volumes usually require a permit from Burbank Building and Safety and possibly a grading plan. Compaction requirements depend on use: non-structural fills can often be compacted to 85-90% relative compaction, while structural or load-bearing fills typically require 90-95% and an engineered plan — check with the city or a licensed engineer for your project.

For raising grades and general yard regrading, use low-organic, well-graded fill dirt that compacts well; avoid topsoil or high-organic mixes for subgrade. For driveways and patios, pair compacted fill with a structural base like crusher run or 3/4u0022 crushed rock and a wearing surface (decomposed granite, gravel, asphalt, or pavers) to ensure drainage and durability in Burbank's climate.

Use volume = area × depth: measure your area in feet, multiply by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Example: a 50 ft × 30 ft yard raised 6 inches (0.5 ft) is 50×30×0.5 = 750 cu ft ÷ 27 = 27.8 cu yd; multiply cubic yards by an estimated density (about 1.1 to 1.5 tons per cu yd for loose fill dirt) to get tons — roughly 36 tons using 1.3 tons/cu yd. Always add 5-15% extra for compaction and settling and use Hello Gravel's calculator for a precise estimate.

New fill dirt can settle over months to a year, with most settlement occurring early if the fill was not compacted in lifts. To minimize future work, compact in layers during installation, plan for additional top-off material after initial settlement, protect slopes with erosion control or vegetation, and inspect drainage so water does not concentrate and wash material away.

Yes, many local contractors or equipment operators will handle spreading and compaction after delivery; they commonly use skid-steers, excavators, and plate or roller compactors. Labor and equipment rates vary: expect small jobs to run a few hundred dollars for a day of spreading/compacting, hourly operator rates often in the $75 to $150 range, and machine rentals or operator packages that can be $100 to $250 per hour depending on equipment — get multiple quotes and confirm whether rates include hauling, spreading, and compaction.