Those small colored flags usually mark the approximate route of buried utilities before excavation. Electric, gas, water, sewer, and communications lines may be marked so people planning construction or landscaping can avoid damaging them. A utility may also place flags for its own project, so their presence does not necessarily mean a resident requested a locate or that digging is about to start.
What the flag colors usually mean
The American Public Works Association (APWA) temporary marking guide assigns colors to common underground facilities. Use the colors as a general guide, not a guarantee: local practices can differ, and a flag may carry an owner’s name or other identifying information.
| Color | Usual marking meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables. |
| Yellow | Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, gaseous, or dangerous materials. |
| Orange | Communications, cable television, alarm, or signal lines and conduits. |
| Blue | Water. APWA guidance also includes irrigation and slurry lines; the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) list specifies potable water. |
| Purple | Reclaimed water. FHWA also lists irrigation and slurry lines. |
| Green | Sewer and drain lines. |
| White | Proposed excavation or the route of a proposed subsurface line. |
| Pink | Temporary survey markings or temporarily visible survey monuments. |
These are standard assignments, but municipalities may use colors differently. For example, the Village of Oregon, Wisconsin, says purple can mark a Village storm sewer and pink can indicate that no Village utilities are within the locate boundaries. Its FAQ also describes white flags with owner identification for certain project or utility information. Check any printed name and ask the local utility or one-call service if a marking is unclear.
Sources: APWA temporary marking guide, revised 4/99; FHWA guidance on utility markings; Village of Oregon, Wisconsin, FAQ.
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Why flags appear in a yard
Before planned digging, someone submits a locate request—often called a ticket—to the local one-call service. That service notifies facility operators in the proposed excavation area. Operators or their locators then mark the approximate locations of their buried facilities, using flags, paint, or both. Flags make the marked route visible; they do not show every underground feature or establish that the whole yard will be excavated.
A utility may also arrange marks for work it is undertaking itself. The flags alone therefore do not tell you who requested them, what work is planned, or when it will happen. If you want details, contact your local 811 or one-call service, or the utility named on a flag. LG&E and KU specifically advise residents who are unsure why marks appeared to contact 811.
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Sources: Montana811’s locate-request and marking guidance; LG&E and KU’s 811 information.
What to do before digging
Do not treat existing flags as permission to dig. If you plan to excavate, contact the one-call service for your location and follow its instructions. The APWA guide states: “The One-Call damage prevention system shall be contacted prior to excavation.”
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- Contact your local one-call service before excavation. Find the correct service and follow its local process and timing requirements.
- Wait for the required responses and markings. Notice periods vary by location. Montana811, for example, tells callers in Montana to request a locate two full business days before digging; that timing should not be assumed to apply elsewhere.
- Keep the marks visible. Avoid moving flags or covering paint. Montana811 warns that obscured or displaced markings can contribute to accidental damage.
Sources: APWA temporary marking guide; Montana811 homeowner guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you remove the flags?
There is no single removal deadline established for every location. Leave the flags in place while the associated work may still be active, and ask the utility or one-call service if you are uncertain. The Village of Oregon, Wisconsin, asks residents to leave locate flags for at least 10 days unless they know the associated work is complete; that is local guidance, not a nationwide rule.
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Source: Village of Oregon, Wisconsin, FAQ.
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