Burial depth of electrical cable in conduit

As long as it's in pvc conduit, it's 18" to my knowledge.

If this is a main drop from a pole to house, here in Louisiana, everything(PVC piping) above the ground has to be 80 sec piping, under the ground, 40 sec piping and has to be 36" below the ground level. Also, a 1/4" rope has to be supplied inside the piping for the power company to pull their power line. t's the law here. All you have to do is call the power company to see what they call for.

In LA, it's 18" for an accessory line. I put caution tape at 12" when I bury anything

Ya, sch 80 for your 90s and whatever comes out the ground. Sch 40 for in the ground. Add a pull string.

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inspector

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make sure this guy knows the situation and then do what he says.

NEC is 18" in PVC Conduit for up to 600 volts. If it's a single 120 volt branch circuit with GFCI 20 amps of less, it can be 12" in PVC Conduit. If it is run under a driveway or parking area that is not strictly for residential use or for a dwelling that is more than a 2 family dwelling it needs to be 24 inches.

But always remember, the NEC is not actually law except when specified by local ordinance (it is almost universally, if not actually universally, adopted by states and local municipalities as the minimum standard). You local code is the driver, trust the inspector over the contractor, get him to write you a note or send you an e-mail stating what you need to do as a CYA measure. Or go with the deeper one if it's a marginal difference.

Useful info on what the NEC says.

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rented a mini-excavator for the day. frick a trenching shovel

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This or a trencher (think ditch witch) is a good idea for any trench longer than 10-20 foot or in difficult digging. At least that's my opinion, I'm at least marginally lazy and worked a shovel too often as a very young man.

I used to install irrigation systems and was the shovel guy