do you need a license to dig up the ground

[bigmudder77]

i heard you need a license before you put a shovel in the ground is it true?

also what about tilling? do you need a license for this too?

i want to go big but i also want to be safe and not get in troble if you need a licenses

[Tim Wright]

Every State is different. Here in WV you need a contractors license to do ANY THING, unless you are doing it for yourself. The Landscape Contractor License is really a sham, but it allows you to get in the door with some wall work, concrete work, final grading, planting, etc, but does not allow for excavating type work.

Tim

[bigmudder77]

im in ohio and have some one that needs a flower bed tilled its like one pass with the tiller and about 5ft long i said id do it for $30 and thats pretty much gonna cover the gas and have about a $20 profit for like 5 mins of work. i just needed to know if i will get in to troble doing this?

i also have a contract they have to sign which mean i am not responsible for any damage and if there is any damage the homeowner or whoever is signing is responsible

[topsites]

Before you dig, call Miss Utility, it's the law!

[Tim Wright]

I cannot imagine that you need anything for tilling other than a business license for tax reasons, but I could be wrong.



Tim

[bigmudder77]

thats what i thought but i wasnt sure and i wanted to make sure before i went and did it. i have about a month before she wants it done cause she needs to dig up her plants that are there and some of them are pretty big and could give her some problims

[SLR]

Are you guys being serious? tilling&needing a licence???I cannot see a tiller for a wee bed going into the ground more than 16inches,I thought all lines were put to a minimum of 4ft deep? All last summer i was digging around 30", to put in half mile long posts into the ground.

[Tim Wright]

Are you guys being serious? tilling&needing a licence???I cannot see a tiller for a wee bed going into the ground more than 16inches,I thought all lines were put to a minimum of 4ft deep? All last summer i was digging around 30", to put in half mile long posts into the ground.


Exactly, I agree. But I do not konw if this guy is in business or not.

Tim

[SLR]

Realistically, the tiller blades may not even go into the soil past the 8 inch mark, if something where that close to the top it was'nt put in right is my quam.

[bigmudder77]

well its at a trailer and i dont need to get sued for that. she said the water line was a little farther up and it wasnt in more than 4inches cause she did it her self. so you see what i mean

[grandview (2006)]

I'd walk away from this.Sounds like you may hit something and it will cost you a lot to fix.

[bigmudder77]

well she will have to sign a waver which holds me not responsible for any damage. and it should hold up in about any court

[PaperCutter]

unless your lawyer tells you otherwise, a waiver isn't bulletproof. Even with the waiver you'd better be able to prove you took every reasonable precaution, down to exposing the water line by hand if she has told you where it is and how deep.

[DuraCutter]

well she will have to sign a waver which holds me not responsible for any damage. and it should hold up in about any court

If you have to use the waiver, it means you weren't paid because something happened. Better safe than sorry. Up your bid to include getting "First Call" to verify where all lines are running in that area. That is the first thing you must do, and if you don't you'll be held liable no "matter what".

Double your price for all the steps you have to take. Otherwise you're only pretending to be a contractor and you may have to pay dearly for that.

Good luck.

:)