What is 811?
811 is the national "Call Before You Dig" one-call system. Before any excavation, contractors and property owners are required to notify 811, which alerts member utility companies in the area to come out and mark their underground facilities.
Always call 811 before you dig. It's free, it's the law, and it's the foundation of safe excavation.
What does 811 cover?
811 marks utility company-owned lines — generally from the public main up to the meter or point of demarcation. That includes things like public electric, gas mains, public water, and telecom carrier lines owned by member utilities.
What does 811 NOT cover?
811 typically does not cover private utilities — lines installed by or owned by the property owner. Past the meter, beyond the point of demarcation, or installed independently on private property, these lines are usually not marked through the public system.
What are private utilities?
A private utility is any underground facility owned by the property or facility owner rather than a public utility company. Common examples include irrigation systems, site lighting and parking lot lighting circuits, outbuilding feeds, private water and sewer lines between buildings, on-site fiber, and force mains.
Why you may still need a private locator
Private utilities are common on commercial sites, campuses, industrial facilities, and even residential properties. If your project involves ground disturbance on private property, there's a meaningful chance that critical utilities in your work area won't be marked by 811 alone.
Are private utilities my responsibility?
In most cases, yes. Property owners typically own the private utilities installed on their property, and excavators are generally responsible for protecting those facilities during ground disturbance. Liability for damaging an unmarked private utility usually does not fall on the public utility company or on 811.
811 and private locating are complementary
These services aren't competitors — they work together. Calling 811 and hiring a private locator gives you the most complete underground picture available. Skip either one, and you're working with a gap in your data.