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An 811 utility locate and a private utility locator cover different underground lines, so many projects need both. Call 811 before any excavation: the one-call center notifies participating utility owners, who mark the facilities they own. If owner-installed or other private lines could cross the work area, arrange a private locator too—typically after submitting the 811 ticket, so both sets of marks can be considered before digging.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 811 utility locate | Public-network facilities owned by participating utilities | A one-call center routes a request; utility owners or their contractors mark their own facilities | Free in the cited state programs | November 2026 |
| Private utility locator | Owner-installed or non-member lines that are outside the public 811 request | A specialist is hired to trace private facilities on the property | Paid; no national price is published in the cited official sources | November 2026 |
Price, ticket timing, validity, ownership boundaries, and safe-digging rules vary by state and utility. The table summarizes the distinction; it does not replace the rules from your state 811 center or the utility owner.
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What is the difference between an 811 locate and a private locate?
811 is a free public notification and locate-request system in the state programs cited here; it is not usually a crew that comes out and marks every line. The 811 center sends the ticket to participating utility owners. Those owners, or their locating contractors, respond about facilities they own and operate near the proposed excavation. Georgia 811 explains how a request starts the marking process, and Colorado 811 clarifies that private lines are not marked through its residential request.
A private utility locator is a specialist hired by the property owner or excavator to find lines that are not covered by the public utility response. It may be needed for lines installed by an owner, a prior owner, or a contractor, or for facilities whose owner is not part of the 811 network. Colorado 811 says private lines are the property owner’s responsibility and must be located at the owner’s expense. Texas811 likewise says fees apply for private locating and places that cost on the property owner.
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The practical distinction is ownership and participation, not whether a line is underground, useful, or connected to a utility. A buried cable can be on your property and still belong to a public utility; conversely, a line carrying water or electricity can be private even though it connects to a public service. Local ownership rules differ, so use the examples below as a screening guide, then confirm the boundary with the local utility or state 811 center.
Does 811 mark every underground line on my property?
No. An 811 ticket generally covers facilities owned by participating public utilities, not every buried line within the property boundary. The notified utilities are responsible for marking or locating the facilities they own at the dig site, as USA North 811’s homeowner guidance explains.
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Public utility infrastructure commonly includes neighborhood-serving electric, gas, communications, water-main, and sewer-main facilities. In Virginia, public lines are normally marked to the point of consumption, commonly the meter; Virginia 811’s public-versus-private handout describes that boundary and reported more than 500 utilities in the state in 2023. That figure is specific to Virginia and the handout’s date, not a national count.
Lines on the private side of a meter or service point may not be covered, but the meter rule is a clue, not a universal ownership test. A utility may own or maintain a line farther onto a property, or local rules may draw the boundary differently. Ask the utility serving the property where its responsibility ends if the ownership is unclear.
What does 811 not mark?
Expect to arrange private locating when a project could encounter facilities installed for the property rather than owned by a participating utility. State 811 resources list these common examples:
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- Sprinkler and irrigation piping;
- Invisible pet fences;
- Landscape, pathway, or yard lighting;
- Propane-tank and barbecue-gas lines;
- Electric feeds running to a detached garage, shed, pool, or other outbuilding;
- Septic tanks and associated lines;
- Satellite or dish-TV lines; and
- Some water or sewer segments between a meter or cleanout and the house.
The lists published by Texas811, NC811, Colorado 811, Virginia 811, and USA North 811 are useful examples, but coverage and ownership can vary by location.
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When do I need 811, a private locator, or both?
For any ground disturbance, start with 811. Add a private locate if a private line may run through the work area. The combination is especially important when digging around houses, outbuildings, landscaping, pools, septic systems, irrigation, or private utility feeds.
| Project situation | What to arrange | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Any ground disturbance, including shallow hand digging | Submit an 811 request before digging | Arkansas 811 says anyone disturbing the ground must notify 811 regardless of depth. |
| Only public-network facilities are expected | Submit an 811 request and wait for the utility responses | Participating public owners or their contractors respond for facilities they own; the cited state programs provide this request for free. |
| A private line may cross the excavation | Submit 811 and hire a private locator for the uncovered lines | Owner-installed lines such as irrigation, private lighting, or feeds to outbuildings are outside the public ticket in the cited guidance. |
| A contractor will do the excavation | Confirm who submitted the 811 request; get the ticket number and status | Texas811 assigns the notification duty to the excavating contractor and recommends keeping the ticket number. |
When uncertain, do not choose between the two services based only on who owns the land. Submit the public request and ask whether the suspected facility is included; if it is not, arrange private locating. The Colorado 811 residential guide also provides a directory of private locating companies as a convenience for Colorado users, not as a nationally applicable directory.
How do I coordinate 811 and a private locate?
Use this sequence as a planning framework, then follow the rules, response system, and timing printed by your state 811 center. The exact deadlines and validity periods are not national standards.
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- Define the work area. Identify the actual limits and type of excavation, not just the property address. A narrow trench, fence line, planting area, or post location should be described clearly so the response can address the right area.
- Pre-mark the proposed dig area in white. USA North 811 says white paint, stakes, flags, chalk, or white flour can show the proposed limits. Use the method and marking rules your local center specifies. Pre-marking communicates where work is planned; it does not locate a buried utility.
- Submit the 811 request before excavation. Have the address, nearest cross street, project type, precise work area, and access instructions ready. NC811’s FAQ and Texas811’s request guidance describe the information an excavator should provide.
- Keep access clear. Gates, animals, locked areas, equipment, or other obstructions may prevent a locator from reaching the work area. State guidance advises providing access and instructions when the ticket is filed.
- Track positive response. Do not assume a ticket is complete because paint has appeared or the expected wait has elapsed. Check the positive-response system, confirm that every notified utility has responded, and compare the response status with the site marks. The status and markings should be consistent before work begins.
- Arrange a private locate for possible private facilities. Give the private locating company the work limits and identify the suspected systems, such as irrigation, a septic connection, or power to a shed. A private locator is not a correction to the 811 ticket; it is a separate service for lines the public request does not cover.
- Follow the applicable waiting period and ticket validity. State rules control when excavation may begin and how long a ticket remains valid. For example, Tennessee says a normal request needs at least three working days and its tickets are valid for 15 calendar days after the legal start date; Colorado describes a three-business-day workflow; Arkansas gives a two-working-day example. These are state-specific examples, not interchangeable deadlines.
- Excavate carefully around marks. Markings show an approximate route, and depth is not guaranteed. The legal tolerance-zone definition also varies: Tennessee describes a zone based on facility width plus 24 inches, while the cited Colorado workflow describes an 18-inch zone. Follow the rule on your own ticket and expose facilities using the safe-digging method required in your jurisdiction.
- Stop and resolve discrepancies before proceeding. If a utility response is missing, use the no-response or re-notification process through 811. If a suspected private line has no mark, do not assume the public utility failed to respond; obtain a private locate or otherwise resolve the uncertainty before digging.
Keep the ticket number and response records accessible to the excavator. If the project changes location or scope, check with the 811 center about whether the existing request covers the revised work; do not assume a ticket for one marked area applies to a different excavation.
How long after contacting 811 can I dig?
There is no single national waiting period. The cited state examples range from two working days in Arkansas to at least three working days in Tennessee, with Colorado describing a three-business-day workflow. Holidays, weekends, request details, and local rules may affect when the ticket is actionable, so follow the date and legal start time shown by your state 811 center rather than relying on another state’s example.
Waiting for the minimum interval does not by itself mean the site is clear to dig. Confirm positive responses for every notified utility, verify the marks or status, and handle any no-response notices through the center. Also check ticket validity: Tennessee, for example, says its tickets remain valid for 15 calendar days after the legal start date. That period is not a universal renewal rule.
How much does a private utility locator cost?
Private locating is paid, but the reviewed official sources do not publish a national price. Texas811 says fees apply and the property owner pays; actual charges depend on the service and location, so obtain a local quote rather than relying on a national estimate. By contrast, the 811 request is free in the cited state programs, although the exact service and rules are state-specific.
When requesting a quote, describe the property, the proposed excavation area, the suspected private systems, and the timing. Ask what facilities the service will attempt to locate and how the result will be communicated. Do not assume a private locating company will identify every possible line or that its scope matches an 811 ticket; clarify what is included before work begins.
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What should I do if a utility was not marked?
If a public utility has not responded by the time indicated on the ticket, do not dig in the affected area. Use your state’s no-response or re-notification process, and verify that the ticket has the correct address, work area, and access details. State 811 guidance describes escalation through the one-call center; for example, Colorado 811’s before-you-dig workflow explains the response process.
If the missing mark is for a private facility, an 811 re-notification will not make the public center responsible for it. Arrange a private locate. If you cannot determine whether a facility is public or private, contact the utility owner and 811 center before proceeding. Never treat the absence of paint as proof that the route is clear.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why are 811 marks not an exact map?
Utility marks are field indicators, not a promise that a line sits precisely beneath the paint or at a known depth. Tennessee 811 states, “Locating is not an exact science; therefore, the actual location of the facility could vary from the position of the marks.” The facility’s actual position can differ from the indicated route, and depth is not guaranteed.
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Who is responsible for submitting the 811 ticket?
The excavator must ensure the request is made before the work starts, but the person who places the call can depend on the project and state rules. Texas811 says the excavating contractor has the notification duty and recommends that the contractor retain the ticket number. A homeowner hiring a contractor should ask whether the contractor submitted the request, when the legal start date is, and how they will confirm all responses.
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Do not rely on a verbal assurance alone. Ask for the ticket number and confirm the request covers the specific excavation area. If the owner or contractor will also need a private locate, make that a separate explicit part of the plan; an 811 ticket does not automatically include one.
Which rules should I verify locally?
Before scheduling excavation, check your state 811 center and the relevant utility owner for details that can change by jurisdiction:
- How far in advance the request must be submitted and when the legal start time begins;
- How long a ticket remains valid and when it must be renewed;
- What constitutes a complete positive response, and how to escalate a missing response;
- Whether and how the proposed dig area must be marked in white;
- How the tolerance zone is defined and what excavation method is required near a mark;
- Where the utility’s ownership or maintenance responsibility ends, including at a meter or cleanout; and
- Whether any additional local notification or permit applies to the work.
The official resources linked here provide examples from particular states, not one nationwide rulebook. Start with your own state’s center, such as Arkansas 811’s FAQ, Tennessee 811’s guidance, or your applicable state program. For ownership boundaries, ask the utility directly when its local rules are unclear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dig by hand without calling 811?
No—shallow hand digging is still ground disturbance. Arkansas 811 says the notification requirement applies regardless of depth, though the precise legal requirement should be confirmed with the state center where the work is planned.
Who pays for a private utility locate?
The property owner pays in the guidance from Colorado 811 and Texas811. If a contractor is managing the project, agree in advance who will arrange and pay for this separate service.
Does homeowners insurance cover damage to an unmarked private line?
The cited official 811 sources do not establish an insurance rule, and coverage depends on the policy and circumstances. Ask your insurer or agent rather than treating an unmarked private line as automatically covered.
Can I rely on a previous owner’s utility map?
A property sketch can help identify possible lines, but it does not replace current 811 responses or private locating for uncovered facilities. Lines may not be shown, and marks are approximate rather than an exact map.
