Call 811 before you dig
It is free, it is the law in every state, and it takes a phone call or a web form.
How it works
Call 811 or file online a few working days before you dig. The utilities send locators who mark their lines in your yard with paint and flags. Wait until every utility has responded before you dig.
What the colors mean
- Red: electric
- Yellow: gas and oil
- Orange: communications and cable
- Blue: drinking water
- Green: sewer and drain lines
- White: where you plan to dig (you mark this)
What 811 does not mark
Lines you own after the meter: a sprinkler system, a gas line to a grill or a pool heater, power to a shed or a lamp post. Find those yourself before you cut sod.