Digging the pool is the quick part; Angi puts a typical dig at 4 to 8 hours. Fitting the pool, its barrier and its equipment onto the lot is where the planning goes.
What a dig costs
Angi's 2026 national guide: $2,500 average, most digs $500 to $3,020, with labor about 80 percent of the cost.
| Ground | Per cubic yard (Angi) |
|---|---|
| Dirt | $8 to $25 |
| Sand | $8 to $40 |
| Rocky | $40 to $100 |
Angi's Orlando guide adds that wet, rain-soaked dirt increases hauling, at $10 to $30 per cubic yard.
The barrier
Florida Statutes 515.29 sets the barrier basics: at least 4 feet high on the outside, no gaps or footholds a young child could use, gates that open outward away from the pool and close and latch on their own, and placement far enough from the water's edge. A wall of the house can serve as part of the barrier if no door or window in it opens to the pool.
One safety feature, minimum
Under 515.27, a new home pool needs at least one of these to pass final inspection: a barrier enclosure, an approved safety cover, 85-decibel exit alarms on doors and windows to the pool, self-closing and self-latching doors with the release at least 54 inches up, or an in-pool alarm certified to ASTM F2208.
On septic lots
If the house is on septic, lay out the pool around the tank and drainfield before anyone digs. See septic excavation.
Sources
- Angi: How much does pool excavation cost? (Scott Dylan Westerlund, updated October 19, 2026)
- Angi: How much does excavation cost in Orlando, FL? (updated June 17, 2026)
- Florida Statutes 515.29 (2024): Residential swimming pool barrier requirements
- Florida Statutes 515.27 (2025): Residential swimming pool safety feature options
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Rules, prices and contacts change, so check the source before relying on it.
Questions and answers
How tall does a pool fence have to be in Florida?
At least 4 feet on the outside, under Florida Statutes 515.29, with gates that open away from the pool and close and latch on their own.
Get your pool dig quoted
Ring the number or use the form, and a contractor working in Osceola County follows up. Quotes cost nothing.
If the call goes to voicemail, say your name, number, where the property is and what needs doing.