Fill Dirt in Fellsmere, FL

Prices vary by supplier, moisture content, distance, and truck access. In Fellsmere and the West Florida area you can generally expect delivered fill dirt to run roughly $12 to $30 per cubic yard (about $10 to $25 per ton), with heavier or wet loads toward the high end. Exact pricing depends on your zip code and the supplier; check rates through Hello Gravel for an up-to-date quote. Note that 1 cubic yard of fill dirt in this area typically weighs about 1.2 to 1.4 tons, so convert accordingly.

Hello Gravel connects you with vetted local suppliers and contracted haulers serving Fellsmere and nearby West Florida communities. Because Fellsmere is a small city, some deliveries may come from nearby towns in Indian River County or adjacent counties; installation crews (grading contractors) are usually available locally or regionally. Use Hello Gravel to check availability, see supplier options, and request installation or spreading at checkout.

Fellsmere’s sandy native soils drain well but do not hold moisture for compaction, and a shallow water table can cause fill to become saturated and lose strength. That means un-compacted fill dirt can settle and shift over time unless placed in proper lifts, moisture-conditioned, and paired with good drainage. For projects near the water table, contractors often recommend engineered fill, drainage measures, and proof compaction.

Local contractors commonly place fill in 6- to 8-inch lifts and compact each lift with a plate compactor for small jobs or a vibratory roller for larger areas. Moisture conditioning (wetting or drying) and proof-rolling with equipment are typical to achieve stability; in structural projects, density testing (compaction tests) may be required. Always confirm compaction requirements with your contractor and the permitting authority for your project.

To raise 1,000 sq ft by 6 inches you need about 500 cubic feet, which is roughly 18.5 cubic yards. Using a conversion of about 1.2 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that equals about 22 to 26 tons of fill dirt. Most local suppliers and haulers will deliver that quantity (it may require multiple truckloads); note Hello Gravel’s minimum order is 3 tons, and you can get delivery scheduling and pricing for this size job on the site.

Possibly. City of Fellsmere, Indian River County, and neighborhood HOAs can have rules or permits related to grading, drainage changes, driveway alterations, septic systems, or impervious surface limits. Before ordering large amounts of fill dirt, check with Fellsmere City Hall, Indian River County Building Department, and your HOA to confirm permits and any required erosion or drainage plans.

Common local practice is to combine fill dirt with geotextile fabric at problem interfaces and a layer of crushed stone or crusher run under traffic areas. For driveways, contractors often place several inches of compacted crusher run or 3/4u0022 stone over the fill for load-bearing capacity, and add swales or French drains to move water away. These layers reduce settlement, improve drainage, and extend the life of the installation in Fellsmere’s climate.

Fill dirt alone is more prone to saturation, erosion, and settlement in heavy rains compared with engineered base materials like crushed stone or compacted gravel. When properly placed (compacted lifts) and combined with drainage and a stone base, fill dirt can be stabilized, but for hurricane-season resilience many contractors prefer rock bases and positive grading to reduce washout and pooling. Plan for extra drainage measures and monitoring after major storms.

Delivery is usually quoted per ton or per cubic yard and covers haul and dump; spreading and compaction are typically billed separately by contractors. In West Florida, delivery-only rates follow the per-yard or per-ton ranges above, while spreading/compaction labor and equipment commonly run in broad ranges (for example, $75 to $200 per hour for equipment plus operator, or roughly $10 to $60 per cubic yard installed depending on access and scope). Always ask contractors for itemized quotes so you can compare delivery-only versus turnkey installation.

Fill dirt is suitable for general yard fill and raising grades, but for structural or load-bearing uses it is often not the preferred sole material. Contractors typically prefer engineered or crusher-run material for driveway bases and specified backfill materials and compaction for pool or septic work; local codes or engineers may require particular materials and compaction testing. Check project-specific requirements with a contractor and your permitting authority before ordering fill dirt.