Under your yard there is a network you cannot see: gas, electric, water, sewer and communications lines. Hitting one while digging for a patio, a fence post or a footing can cut service to your street, cause injuries and lead to expensive repairs. The 811 call exists to prevent that.
What 811 is
811 is the national call-before-you-dig number. In Northern California the call is answered by USA North 811, also known as Underground Service Alert. You give the location and the work you plan, and the member utility companies send someone to mark their lines near the dig site. The service is free.
Why it is mandatory
California law requires anyone planning to excavate to notify the regional notification center before digging. It applies to contractors and homeowners alike. Beyond the legal requirement, it is the cheapest insurance on any project.
How it works on our projects
We make the call ourselves, usually about four days before the start date, so the markings are in place when the crew arrives. That applies to every project that involves digging: paver patios and driveways, footings for pergolas and fences, irrigation trenches and lighting cable. You do not need to do anything, with one exception. If a utility has to mark a line behind a gate or fence, we will ask you to make sure they have access.
Reading the marks
Utilities use a standard color code for paint and flags, so you can tell what is underneath at a glance:
- Red: electric lines
- Yellow: gas, oil or steam
- Orange: communications, such as phone, cable and fiber
- Blue: drinking water
- Green: sewer and drain lines
- Purple: reclaimed water and irrigation
- Pink: temporary survey markings
- White: the proposed excavation area
Planning to dig yourself?
Make the call a few days before you plan to start, even for a small job like a fence post or a new planting bed. The marks show the approximate path of each line, so dig carefully near them, by hand when you are close.
