March 2024 Vol. 79 No. 3
Features
Damage prevention and safety: Turning awareness into action
(UI) — Surveys and studies reveal that professional excavators/contractors are highly aware of Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA) 811 initiative that requires they (as well as landscapers and homeowners) contact their state’s OneCall Center so underground utility lines are identified and marked before breaking ground.
However, awareness is not enough.
Damage from hitting underground utilities during excavation – service interruption, property harm, costly fines and repairs, and personal injury – continues to happen, at an annual cost of $30 billion in the U.S. CGA also reports that more than half of these reported damages were caused by professional contractors/excavators and the most-common root cause was “no notification made to 811.
Clearly, contractors/excavators must use 811 – before beginning every project that involves excavation or directional drilling – to protect yourselves, crews and communities.
It’s as simple as calling 8-1-1, from within the state the digging is to occur, within the required timeframe. You answer basic questions about the location and details of the digging project, then get a ticket number and instructions.
Even more convenient, contractors/excavators can use the state’s increasingly popular online systems. These allow you to submit a locate request and get a ticket, any time, any place, via Internet connection. Once signed up and logged in, many also provide access to ticket search, update and track, positive response, mobile app and other functions.
To facilitate and support your consistent and effective use of 811, the following directory provides links to each state’s 811 website(s), for comprehensive information about safe-digging regulations, processes and guidelines. It also shows links to the state’s “Online System,” for real-time access to locate requests and more.
In addition, the directory shows each state’s specific law or practice, regarding the minimum amount of time to notify 811 before you intend to dig (“Advance Notice”) and how long you have to complete the requested excavation (“Marks Valid”), as available.
Call or Click 8-1-1
Directory is based on CGA’s “811-in-your-state”
Alabama
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 20 working days
Alaska
Advance Notice: 2 business days; 10 business days in remote locations
Arizona
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 15 working days
Arkansas
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 20 working days from date of issue
California
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 28 days
Underground Service Alert (Northern & Central Calif.)
Dig Alert (Southern Calif.)
Colorado
Advance Notice: 2 days
Marks Valid: 30 days
Connecticut
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Delaware
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 10 business days
Florida
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 30 calendar days
Georgia
Advance Notice: 3 days
Marks Valid: 30 calendar days
Hawaii
Advance Notice: 5 working days
Marks Valid: 28 calendar days
Idaho
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 4 weeks
DIGLINE (state-wide, except five counties shown below)
North Idaho 811 (Bonner, Boundary, Shoshone & Benewah Counties)
Illinois
Advance Notice: 2 working days (48 hours)
Marks Valid: Life of the ticket or until marks become undistinguishable
Julie (statewide)
811 Chicago (metro area)
Indiana
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 20 calendar days
Iowa
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 20 calendar days from notice date
Kansas
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 15 calendar days
Kentucky
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 21 days, as long as marks are visible
Louisiana
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 20 calendar days (as long as visible)
Maine
Advance Notice: 3 business days
Marks Valid: 60 days
Maryland
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 12 business days
Massachusetts
Advance Notice: 3 business days
Marks Valid: 30 days
Michigan
Advance Notice: 72 hours
Marks Valid: 21 days
Minnesota
Advance Notice: 48 hours
Marks Valid: 14 calendar days
Mississippi
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: 14 calendar days
Missouri
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: As long as visible
Montana
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 30 days
Nebraska
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 17 business days
Nevada
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 28 calendar days
New Hampshire
Advance Notice: 3 business days
Marks Valid: 30 days
New Jersey
Advance Notice: 3 business days
Marks Valid: 45 business days
New Mexico
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 15 working days
New York
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 10 working days
UDig NY (state-wide, except NYC and Long Island)
New York 811 (NYC and Long Island
North Carolina
Advance Notice: 3-12 working days
Marks Valid: 15 working days
North Dakota
Advance Notice: 48 hours
Marks Valid: 21 calendar days
Ohio
Advance Notice: 48 hours
Marks Valid: As long as visible
Oklahoma
Advance Notice: 48 hours
Marks Valid: 14 business days and depending on visibility
Oregon
Oregon 811 Utility Notification Center
Advance Notice: 2 days
Marks Valid: 45 days (proposal made to reduce to 30 days)
Pennsylvania
Advance Notice: 3-10 business days (construction phase); 10-90 business days (design phase)
Marks Valid: As long as equipment is kept onsite
Rhode Island
Advance Notice: 72 hours excluding weekends and holidays
Marks Valid: Life of excavation
South Carolina
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: 15 working days
South Dakota
Advance Notice: 48 hours
Marks Valid: 21 working days, providing marks are visible
Tennessee
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: 15 calendar days
Texas
Advance Notice: 2 working days
Marks Valid: 14 days
Utah
Advance Notice: 2 business days/48 hours
Marks Valid: 14 calendar days
Vermont
Advance Notice: 48 hours
Marks Valid: 30 days
Virginia
Advance Notice: 48 hours
Marks Valid: 15 working days
Washington
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 45 days
Washington, D.C.
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 15 business days
West Virginia
Advance Notice: 2 days
Marks Valid: 10 days, while visible
Wisconsin
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: Length of project, if maintained
Wyoming
Advance Notice: 2 business days
Marks Valid: 14 business days
CANADA
In Canada, the One Call System applies, but the 8-1-1- phone number does not. Instead, use the specific phone number for each province/state, if provided, below.
Alberta
(800) 2423447
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: 30 days
British Columbia
(800) 474-6886
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: 30 days
Manitoba
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: 30 days
New Brunswick
(866) 344-5463
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: End date of work on the request
Newfoundland
(800) 663-9228
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: End date of work on the request
Nova Scotia
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: End date of work on the request
Ontario
(800) 400-2255
Advance Notice: 5 business days
Marks Valid: 60 days or longer, as specified by infrastructure owner
Prince Edward Island
(866) 344-5463
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: End date of work on the request
Quebec
(800) 663-9228
Advance Notice: 3 working days
Marks Valid: End date of work on the request
Sasketchewan
(866) 828-4888
Advance Notice: 3 business days
Marks Valid: 30 calendar days
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