To request a utility locate through 811, gather your project details, outline your dig area in white paint or flags, then submit a ticket by phone (dial 811) or through your state one-call center’s online portal at least two to three business days before you plan to dig. The center notifies every utility that owns buried lines in the area, and you cannot break ground until each of them has either marked its lines or reported that it has no facilities there. The service is free, and federal law requires every state to run one.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 6103 – Minimum Standards for State One-Call Notification Programs
When You Need to File a Ticket
The threshold is lower than most people assume. Installing a mailbox, planting a tree, putting in a fence, building a deck, adding a patio, or laying drainage tile all require a call. So does shallow digging, because some utility lines sit just a few inches below the surface.2811 Before You Dig. 811 Before You Dig – Every Dig, Every Time
Homeowner projects carry the same notification requirement as commercial excavation. A weekend fence job and a contractor’s trenching operation both start the same way: with a ticket.
Information to Have Ready Before You File
Organizing your project details before you file keeps the one-call center from bouncing your ticket back for corrections. Have this ready:
- Exact address and nearest cross street, so locators can narrow down which utilities run through the area.
- A specific description of the dig area, such as “the southwest corner of the backyard” or “a strip along the north side of the driveway.”
- Your maximum dig depth, which tells utility companies whether their lines are at risk.
- The type of project. A fence and a swimming pool involve different risk levels for different utilities.
- Your planned start date and the equipment you’ll use, whether hand tools or heavy machinery.
White-Line Your Dig Area First
Many states require you to pre-mark the boundaries of your excavation area before filing the request. This is called white-lining. You outline the dig zone with white stakes, white spray paint, or white flags so professional locators know exactly where to focus when they arrive.3Dig Safe System, Inc. FAQ – Section: The Law Says I Have to Premark Before Calling Dig Safe. What Is Premarking?
White is reserved for your markings. Every other color in the national marking system belongs to utility locators and represents a specific type of buried line, so using anything else creates confusion and can delay your project.
Submitting the Ticket
Dial 811 from any phone. The call routes automatically to the one-call center covering your area. A trained operator walks through your project details, enters them into the system, and gives you a ticket number. Save that number. It’s your proof of compliance and your reference for every follow-up.2811 Before You Dig. 811 Before You Dig – Every Dig, Every Time
Most states also offer online e-ticket portals where you enter the same information through a web form, often with mapping tools that let you drop a pin on the dig site. After submitting online, you receive a confirmation email with your ticket number and a list of every utility company being notified. Whether you call or file online, the ticket triggers the same legal waiting period.
Emergencies are the one exception. If you hit a line or encounter a gas leak, do not use an online portal. Call 811 by phone, and call 911 if anyone is in danger.
The Waiting Period Before You Can Dig
After your ticket is filed, you cannot dig until every notified utility company has responded. Most states require a waiting period of two to three full business days, starting the day after you submit the request. Weekends and government holidays do not count toward that window.4California Legislative Information. California Government Code 4216 – Excavation Near Subsurface Installations
During this window, professional locators visit your property and mark the approximate location of every buried utility line in or near your dig area. Each utility company is responsible for marking only its own lines. Once every company on your ticket has either placed marks or reported that it has no facilities in the area, you’re cleared to start. If even one company hasn’t responded, do not begin.
Reading the Marks You Get Back
The markings left on your property follow a national color code developed by the American Public Works Association. Each color identifies a different type of underground line:5American Public Works Association. Uniform Color Code
- Red: electrical power lines and lighting cables.
- Yellow: gas, oil, steam, or other hazardous materials.
- Orange: communication lines, including phone, cable TV, and fiber optic.
- Blue: potable water.
- Green: sewer and drain lines.
- Purple: reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines.
- White: your proposed excavation area, placed by you rather than the locators.
- Pink: temporary survey markings.
Marks appear as spray paint on the ground, small flags, or both. They show the approximate horizontal path of the line, not its exact depth. Treat the paint as a warning zone, not a guarantee that the line sits directly beneath it.
What 811 Will Not Locate
The 811 system only marks utility-owned infrastructure, which typically ends at the meter or the point where the utility company’s service connects to your property. Everything beyond that point is privately owned, and locating it is your responsibility. On a typical residential lot, the majority of buried lines are actually private.
Common private lines 811 will not mark include:
- Service laterals: the water, sewer, and electric lines running from the utility meter to your house.
- Gas lines past the meter, including propane lines to outdoor grills or pool heaters.
- Irrigation and sprinkler systems, including mainlines, valve boxes, and drip lines.
- Landscape lighting cables and low-voltage wiring to path lights, uplights, and outdoor outlets.
- Septic systems, including tanks, distribution boxes, and leach fields.
- Private drainage, such as French drains, sump pump discharge lines, and private storm drains.
If you suspect private lines exist in your dig area, a private utility locator can map what’s below the surface using electromagnetic equipment and ground-penetrating radar. That is a separate, paid service.
If a Utility Does Not Respond
Every utility on your ticket must either mark its lines or confirm it has no facilities in the area before you dig. If the waiting period passes and a company still hasn’t responded, contact your one-call center, reference your original ticket number, and request a second notice.
The liability picture depends on whether you waited. If you dig with an active ticket and hit an unmarked line belonging to a company that failed to respond, responsibility shifts to that utility. If you dig before getting full clearance, you absorb the liability for any damage. The ticket system only protects you when you follow it all the way through.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 6103 – Minimum Standards for State One-Call Notification Programs
Ticket Expiration and Requesting Re-Marks
Your locate ticket does not last forever. Most states set an expiration window that ranges from roughly 10 to 30 calendar days after the ticket was issued, though the exact duration varies by jurisdiction. Once the ticket expires, the marks on the ground are no longer legally reliable, and you need to submit a new request before continuing work.
Even within a valid ticket’s lifespan, marks fade from rain, foot traffic, and lawn mowing. If the paint or flags become difficult to see, stop digging and contact your one-call center with your original ticket number to request re-marking. You cannot excavate where the marks have been disturbed or are no longer visible. Keep your white-lining intact too, because locators need your proposed excavation outline when they return.
For long-running projects, build ticket renewals into your schedule rather than waiting until the marks are gone.
Penalties for Digging Without a Ticket
Federal law requires every state one-call program to impose penalties on excavators who skip the notification process, with escalating consequences for repeat offenders. Civil fines vary by state but generally range from a few hundred dollars to $50,000 for the most serious or repeated violations.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 6103 – Minimum Standards for State One-Call Notification Programs
Homeowners working on their own property typically face lower maximum fines than commercial contractors, and some states offer warnings or mandatory training for first-time violations. The fine is often the smallest part of the financial hit. If you damage a gas main or fiber optic trunk line, you’re liable for the full cost of emergency response, repair, and any service interruption affecting surrounding properties. A single strike on a fiber optic line serving a commercial area can generate repair bills in the tens of thousands. In cases where an unreported strike causes serious injury or death, some states pursue criminal charges.