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Homeowner Responsibilities

Smart digging means knowing where utility lines are buried before you dig in order to protect yourself from injury and prevent damage to underground utility lines. One easy call to 811 starts the process of getting underground utility lines marked for free. Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and installing or replacing a mailbox. Digging without calling can disrupt utility service to an entire neighborhood, harm you and those around you, and potentially result in fines and high repair costs. Call 811.

The process

Digging within the tolerance zone

Using positive response to communicate

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The process

Call two full business days before digging. If you're planning a weekend project, the latest you should call is Tuesday. In that time, SSOCOF notifies the member utilities, who will send a locater to mark your utility lines with flags and/or paint markings.

During your call, you will be asked to provide the following information:

Name, area code, phone number, address, city, county and nearest cross streets.
Type of work to be done and how long it will take.
Date and start time digging is scheduled to begin.
Contractor/contact person and phone number.
Where on the property you want marking done.
Specific directions to your property – landmarks, etc.

Note: SSOCOF members typically locate only those underground facilities they own. Water and sewer companies locate main water lines in easements and rights-of-way and lines to a water meter, but may not locate the water facilities from a meter to a home or sewer laterals. Electric companies usually locate their lines to homes and businesses, but not those running to swimming pool pumps and heaters, irrigation systems or another building on the property. Private underground facilities can be located by hiring a contract locator or keep a detailed drawing of where you placed the private lines

After the ticket is processed

After all information is complete, an SSOCOF representative will give you a ticket number. This ticket is immediately sent to all SSOCOF members (utility companies) with underground services near your area. Once notified, members or their locators have two full business days to locate and mark the underground lines. Day one begins the day AFTER you call. Each of the colored marks you'll find represent a specific service. (See color codes below.)

Color Code for Marking Underground Utility Lines

Know when it's ok to dig

Under Chapter 556, you must verify the system's positive responses before you begin excavation. SSOCOF's positive response system will automatically notify you by email or fax when all SSOCOF members have responded to your ticket. That notification is sent when all members have responded or two full business days expires, whichever comes first. At that point, you can begin digging.

You may also access the positive response system anytime during this process to track the progress of members who respond to your ticket. For more information about positive response click here or scroll down this page.

If some of the members have not responded, your ticket will automatically be sent again. You may complete a non-compliance report when this happens.

Digging within the tolerance zone

When you're ready to begin digging, please keep these things in mind.

The marks on the ground represent the approximate location of the underground lines.
Dig carefully within 24-inches on either side of those marks.
If you accidentally damage, dislocate or disturb any utility line, call the owner of that line and report the incident. If the damage is serious and creates an emergency situation, call 911 and take precautions to safeguard your health and property.
The marks are valid for 30 calendar days. Please tell children that the flags are not toys and should not be removed from the ground.

Using positive response to communicate

Callers who provide an email address or fax number will automatically receive a notice from the positive response system. That notice will tell you which companies have located, cleared or not located your site.

If a member does not provide a response to the positive response system, they will automatically be sent another ticket. You, however, can begin digging when the two full business days expires according to the law.

Two options for accessing the positive response system

Call (800) 852-8057 and enter your ticket number. The system will proceed to name each member and the response they have provided.
Click here or click on the positive response system link in the left menu bar.