diff --git a/.changes/unreleased/Under the Hood-20240309-141054.yaml b/.changes/unreleased/Under the Hood-20240309-141054.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4dff658a8c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/unreleased/Under the Hood-20240309-141054.yaml	
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+kind: Under the Hood
+body: Improve dbt CLI speed
+time: 2024-03-09T14:10:54.549618-05:00
+custom:
+  Author: dwreeves
+  Issue: "4627"
diff --git a/core/dbt/artifacts/schemas/run/v5/run.py b/core/dbt/artifacts/schemas/run/v5/run.py
index eb731b71b5d..e8b5d1ddf36 100644
--- a/core/dbt/artifacts/schemas/run/v5/run.py
+++ b/core/dbt/artifacts/schemas/run/v5/run.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import threading
-from typing import Any, Optional, Iterable, Tuple, Sequence, Dict
-import agate
+from typing import Any, Optional, Iterable, Tuple, Sequence, Dict, TYPE_CHECKING
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from datetime import datetime
 
@@ -22,9 +21,13 @@
 from dbt_common.clients.system import write_json
 
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import agate
+
+
 @dataclass
 class RunResult(NodeResult):
-    agate_table: Optional[agate.Table] = field(
+    agate_table: Optional["agate.Table"] = field(
         default=None, metadata={"serialize": lambda x: None, "deserialize": lambda x: None}
     )
 
diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/main.py b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
index 5dbeae13697..d1b9eebbf3d 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/main.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/main.py
@@ -20,24 +20,6 @@
 from dbt.artifacts.schemas.catalog import CatalogArtifact
 from dbt.artifacts.schemas.run import RunExecutionResult
 from dbt_common.events.base_types import EventMsg
-from dbt.task.build import BuildTask
-from dbt.task.clean import CleanTask
-from dbt.task.clone import CloneTask
-from dbt.task.compile import CompileTask
-from dbt.task.debug import DebugTask
-from dbt.task.deps import DepsTask
-from dbt.task.docs.generate import GenerateTask
-from dbt.task.docs.serve import ServeTask
-from dbt.task.freshness import FreshnessTask
-from dbt.task.init import InitTask
-from dbt.task.list import ListTask
-from dbt.task.retry import RetryTask
-from dbt.task.run import RunTask
-from dbt.task.run_operation import RunOperationTask
-from dbt.task.seed import SeedTask
-from dbt.task.show import ShowTask
-from dbt.task.snapshot import SnapshotTask
-from dbt.task.test import TestTask
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -211,6 +193,8 @@ def cli(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def build(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Run all seeds, models, snapshots, and tests in DAG order"""
+    from dbt.task.build import BuildTask
+
     task = BuildTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -239,6 +223,8 @@ def build(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.project
 def clean(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Delete all folders in the clean-targets list (usually the dbt_packages and target directories.)"""
+    from dbt.task.clean import CleanTask
+
     task = CleanTask(ctx.obj["flags"], ctx.obj["project"])
 
     results = task.run()
@@ -279,6 +265,8 @@ def docs(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest(write=False)
 def docs_generate(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Generate the documentation website for your project"""
+    from dbt.task.docs.generate import GenerateTask
+
     task = GenerateTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -309,6 +297,8 @@ def docs_generate(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.runtime_config
 def docs_serve(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Serve the documentation website for your project"""
+    from dbt.task.docs.serve import ServeTask
+
     task = ServeTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -348,6 +338,8 @@ def docs_serve(ctx, **kwargs):
 def compile(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Generates executable SQL from source, model, test, and analysis files. Compiled SQL files are written to the
     target/ directory."""
+    from dbt.task.compile import CompileTask
+
     task = CompileTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -387,6 +379,8 @@ def compile(ctx, **kwargs):
 def show(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Generates executable SQL for a named resource or inline query, runs that SQL, and returns a preview of the
     results. Does not materialize anything to the warehouse."""
+    from dbt.task.show import ShowTask
+
     task = ShowTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -413,6 +407,7 @@ def show(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.preflight
 def debug(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Show information on the current dbt environment and check dependencies, then test the database connection. Not to be confused with the --debug option which increases verbosity."""
+    from dbt.task.debug import DebugTask
 
     task = DebugTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
@@ -452,6 +447,8 @@ def deps(ctx, **kwargs):
     There is a way to add new packages by providing an `--add-package` flag to deps command
     which will allow user to specify a package they want to add in the format of packagename@version.
     """
+    from dbt.task.deps import DepsTask
+
     flags = ctx.obj["flags"]
     if flags.ADD_PACKAGE:
         if not flags.ADD_PACKAGE["version"] and flags.SOURCE != "local":
@@ -481,6 +478,8 @@ def deps(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.preflight
 def init(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Initialize a new dbt project."""
+    from dbt.task.init import InitTask
+
     task = InitTask(ctx.obj["flags"], None)
 
     results = task.run()
@@ -514,6 +513,8 @@ def init(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def list(ctx, **kwargs):
     """List the resources in your project"""
+    from dbt.task.list import ListTask
+
     task = ListTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -578,6 +579,8 @@ def parse(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def run(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Compile SQL and execute against the current target database."""
+    from dbt.task.run import RunTask
+
     task = RunTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -608,6 +611,8 @@ def run(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.runtime_config
 def retry(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Retry the nodes that failed in the previous run."""
+    from dbt.task.retry import RetryTask
+
     # Retry will parse manifest inside the task after we consolidate the flags
     task = RetryTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
@@ -644,6 +649,8 @@ def retry(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.postflight
 def clone(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Create clones of selected nodes based on their location in the manifest provided to --state."""
+    from dbt.task.clone import CloneTask
+
     task = CloneTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -676,6 +683,8 @@ def clone(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def run_operation(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Run the named macro with any supplied arguments."""
+    from dbt.task.run_operation import RunOperationTask
+
     task = RunOperationTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -711,6 +720,8 @@ def run_operation(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def seed(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Load data from csv files into your data warehouse."""
+    from dbt.task.seed import SeedTask
+
     task = SeedTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -743,6 +754,8 @@ def seed(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def snapshot(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Execute snapshots defined in your project"""
+    from dbt.task.snapshot import SnapshotTask
+
     task = SnapshotTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -785,6 +798,8 @@ def source(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def freshness(ctx, **kwargs):
     """check the current freshness of the project's sources"""
+    from dbt.task.freshness import FreshnessTask
+
     task = FreshnessTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
@@ -825,6 +840,8 @@ def freshness(ctx, **kwargs):
 @requires.manifest
 def test(ctx, **kwargs):
     """Runs tests on data in deployed models. Run this after `dbt run`"""
+    from dbt.task.test import TestTask
+
     task = TestTask(
         ctx.obj["flags"],
         ctx.obj["runtime_config"],
diff --git a/core/dbt/context/providers.py b/core/dbt/context/providers.py
index e3520bc780a..90f0a508c8c 100644
--- a/core/dbt/context/providers.py
+++ b/core/dbt/context/providers.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     Iterable,
     Mapping,
     Tuple,
+    TYPE_CHECKING,
 )
 
 from typing_extensions import Protocol
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@
 from dbt_common.clients.jinja import MacroProtocol
 from dbt_common.context import get_invocation_context
 from dbt.adapters.factory import get_adapter, get_adapter_package_names, get_adapter_type_names
-from dbt_common.clients import agate_helper
 from dbt.clients.jinja import get_rendered, MacroGenerator, MacroStack, UnitTestMacroGenerator
 from dbt.config import RuntimeConfig, Project
 from dbt.constants import SECRET_ENV_PREFIX, DEFAULT_ENV_PLACEHOLDER
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@
 from dbt_common.utils import merge, AttrDict, cast_to_str
 from dbt import selected_resources
 
-import agate
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import agate
 
 
 _MISSING = object()
@@ -851,8 +852,10 @@ def load_result(self, name: str) -> Optional[AttrDict]:
 
     @contextmember()
     def store_result(
-        self, name: str, response: Any, agate_table: Optional[agate.Table] = None
+        self, name: str, response: Any, agate_table: Optional["agate.Table"] = None
     ) -> str:
+        from dbt_common.clients import agate_helper
+
         if agate_table is None:
             agate_table = agate_helper.empty_table()
 
@@ -872,7 +875,7 @@ def store_raw_result(
         message=Optional[str],
         code=Optional[str],
         rows_affected=Optional[str],
-        agate_table: Optional[agate.Table] = None,
+        agate_table: Optional["agate.Table"] = None,
     ) -> str:
         response = AdapterResponse(_message=message, code=code, rows_affected=rows_affected)
         return self.store_result(name, response, agate_table)
@@ -921,7 +924,9 @@ def try_or_compiler_error(
             raise CompilationError(message_if_exception, self.model)
 
     @contextmember()
-    def load_agate_table(self) -> agate.Table:
+    def load_agate_table(self) -> "agate.Table":
+        from dbt_common.clients import agate_helper
+
         if not isinstance(self.model, SeedNode):
             raise LoadAgateTableNotSeedError(self.model.resource_type, node=self.model)
 
diff --git a/core/dbt/exceptions.py b/core/dbt/exceptions.py
index 25e4c055f14..8b10a57a7f2 100644
--- a/core/dbt/exceptions.py
+++ b/core/dbt/exceptions.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import re
 import io
-import agate
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional, Union
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional, Union, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from dbt_common.exceptions import (
     DbtRuntimeError,
@@ -19,6 +18,10 @@
 from dbt_common.dataclass_schema import ValidationError
 
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import agate
+
+
 class ContractBreakingChangeError(DbtRuntimeError):
     CODE = 10016
     MESSAGE = "Breaking Change to Contract"
@@ -1349,7 +1352,7 @@ def __init__(self, yaml_columns, sql_columns):
         self.sql_columns = sql_columns
         super().__init__(msg=self.get_message())
 
-    def get_mismatches(self) -> agate.Table:
+    def get_mismatches(self) -> "agate.Table":
         # avoid a circular import
         from dbt_common.clients.agate_helper import table_from_data_flat
 
@@ -1400,7 +1403,7 @@ def get_message(self) -> str:
                 "This model has an enforced contract, and its 'columns' specification is missing"
             )
 
-        table: agate.Table = self.get_mismatches()
+        table: "agate.Table" = self.get_mismatches()
         # Hack to get Agate table output as string
         output = io.StringIO()
         table.print_table(output=output, max_rows=None, max_column_width=50)  # type: ignore
diff --git a/core/dbt/task/run_operation.py b/core/dbt/task/run_operation.py
index 7b217853ce7..1c6c5002e27 100644
--- a/core/dbt/task/run_operation.py
+++ b/core/dbt/task/run_operation.py
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 import threading
 import traceback
 from datetime import datetime
-
-import agate
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import dbt_common.exceptions
 from dbt.adapters.factory import get_adapter
@@ -24,6 +23,10 @@
 RESULT_FILE_NAME = "run_results.json"
 
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import agate
+
+
 class RunOperationTask(ConfiguredTask):
     def _get_macro_parts(self):
         macro_name = self.args.macro
@@ -34,7 +37,7 @@ def _get_macro_parts(self):
 
         return package_name, macro_name
 
-    def _run_unsafe(self, package_name, macro_name) -> agate.Table:
+    def _run_unsafe(self, package_name, macro_name) -> "agate.Table":
         adapter = get_adapter(self.config)
 
         macro_kwargs = self.args.args
diff --git a/core/dbt/task/test.py b/core/dbt/task/test.py
index 0754ca2277f..d3b16b88bc0 100644
--- a/core/dbt/task/test.py
+++ b/core/dbt/task/test.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import agate
 import daff
 import io
 import json
@@ -8,7 +7,7 @@
 from dbt_common.events.format import pluralize
 from dbt_common.dataclass_schema import dbtClassMixin
 import threading
-from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, Union, List
+from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, Union, List, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from .compile import CompileRunner
 from .run import RunTask
@@ -37,6 +36,10 @@
 from dbt_common.ui import green, red
 
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    import agate
+
+
 @dataclass
 class UnitTestDiff(dbtClassMixin):
     actual: List[Dict[str, Any]]
@@ -325,7 +328,7 @@ def _get_unit_test_agate_table(self, result_table, actual_or_expected: str):
         return unit_test_table.select(columns)
 
     def _get_daff_diff(
-        self, expected: agate.Table, actual: agate.Table, ordered: bool = False
+        self, expected: "agate.Table", actual: "agate.Table", ordered: bool = False
     ) -> daff.TableDiff:
 
         expected_daff_table = daff.PythonTableView(list_rows_from_table(expected))
@@ -388,7 +391,7 @@ def get_runner_type(self, _):
 
 
 # This was originally in agate_helper, but that was moved out into dbt_common
-def json_rows_from_table(table: agate.Table) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+def json_rows_from_table(table: "agate.Table") -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
     "Convert a table to a list of row dict objects"
     output = io.StringIO()
     table.to_json(path=output)  # type: ignore
@@ -397,7 +400,7 @@ def json_rows_from_table(table: agate.Table) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
 
 
 # This was originally in agate_helper, but that was moved out into dbt_common
-def list_rows_from_table(table: agate.Table) -> List[Any]:
+def list_rows_from_table(table: "agate.Table") -> List[Any]:
     "Convert a table to a list of lists, where the first element represents the header"
     rows = [[col.name for col in table.columns]]
     for row in table.rows: