An 811 ticket is a locate request you file before digging, grading, or excavating on your property

When you call 811 or file a request online, you are asking a utility locating service to mark the underground lines on your property — gas, electric, water, sewer, and telecommunications cables. The service is free. Within two to three business days, a technician arrives and marks the lines with paint or flags so you know where not to dig. The ticket is the record of your request and the authorization for that technician to enter your property.

The reason this matters is straightforward: hitting a buried gas line can cause an explosion. Hitting an electric line can kill you. Hitting a water or sewer line costs thousands to repair and can contaminate soil. Digging without calling 811 first is illegal in all 50 states, and you can be held liable for the cost of repairs if you damage a line.

You need an 811 ticket before any digging work — whether you are installing a fence, planting trees, laying a deck, running a drainage line, or having a contractor do it. The ticket protects you legally and physically.

Key Takeaways

  • Call 811 or use your state's online locate request system at least two to three business days before any digging, and the service marks underground utilities for free.
  • The technician marks gas, electric, water, sewer, and telecom lines with paint or flags so you can see exactly where they run.
  • Digging without an 811 ticket is illegal in all states and makes you liable for repair costs if you damage a utility line.
  • The ticket is valid for a set period — usually 28 to 30 days — so you must call again if your project is delayed.
  • If you are hiring a contractor, confirm they will call 811 themselves or ask you to call before work begins.

How to file an 811 ticket

The fastest way is to call 811 from any phone. A representative answers, takes your address and the type of work you plan to do, and files the request. You will be given a ticket number and a date range when the locating crew will arrive. The call takes about five minutes.

If you prefer not to call, most states also allow online requests through the 811 center's website. You enter your address, describe the work, and choose your preferred marking date. Online requests are processed the same way as phone calls and take the same two to three business days.

You do not need to be home when the locator arrives, but you should mark the area where you plan to dig so the technician knows where to focus. If you are not present and the technician cannot access the property, they will leave a notice and you will need to reschedule.

What happens after you file

The 811 center notifies all the utility companies that serve your address — typically the gas company, electric utility, water department, and telecommunications providers. Each company sends its own locator or a shared contractor to mark their lines. This is why you see different colored paint or flags: each utility uses a standard color code (red for electric, yellow for gas, blue for water, green for sewer, orange for telecom).

The locators mark the lines on the surface so you can see them. They also mark the ticket number on a nearby surface so you can confirm the work was done. If a utility cannot access your property or does not serve your address, they will mark that on the ticket.

The ticket is valid for 28 to 30 days depending on your state. If your project takes longer or you reschedule, you must call 811 again for a new ticket. Marks fade over time, and utilities are not responsible for damage if you dig outside the ticket window.

What to do if you hit a line

Stop digging when ready. Do not touch the damaged line or anything around it. Call 911 if the line is electric or gas, or call the utility company directly if it is water or sewer. Give them your address and describe what you hit. Stay away from the area until the utility crew arrives.

You are legally and financially responsible for the damage. Repair costs for a gas line can reach $10,000 or more. Even if you filed an 811 ticket, you are still liable if you dug outside the marked area or if the marks had faded and you did not request a new ticket.

When contractors should call 811

If you are hiring someone to do the work — a fence company, landscaper, or excavator — ask them directly whether they will call 811 or whether you need to call before they arrive. Some contractors always call themselves as part of their standard process. Others expect the property owner to have called first.

Do not assume the contractor will handle it. Confirm in writing before work begins. If the contractor damages a line, you may still be held liable even though they did the digging, so it is worth verifying that the ticket was filed and the marks are visible before the crew shows up.

State variations in 811 rules

All states require an 811 ticket before digging, but the details vary. Some states allow a longer window — up to 30 days — while others use 28 days. Some states require the ticket to be filed a certain number of days in advance; most ask for at least two business days but some allow next-day requests for an extra fee.

A few states have different names for the service — in some places it is called "Call Before You Dig" or the state's specific utility locating center name — but the process is the same. Your state's 811 center website lists the exact rules for your area, including the valid ticket window and any fees for expedited requests.

Common reasons 811 tickets are denied or incomplete

A ticket can be marked incomplete if the utility companies cannot access your property, if the address is unclear, or if the work description is too vague. If you describe your project as "general excavation" without saying where or how deep, the locators may not mark all the relevant lines.

Be specific: say "installing a 4-foot fence along the south property line" or "digging a trench 18 inches deep for drainage from the driveway to the street." The more detail you provide, the more accurately the utilities can mark their lines.

If a utility does not serve your address, they will note that on the ticket. This is normal and does not mean the ticket is invalid — it just means that company has no lines to mark.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am only digging a small hole for a plant or mailbox post?

You still need an 811 ticket. Even shallow digging can hit a line. A gas line might be only 18 inches deep, and a water line can be anywhere from 2 to 6 feet depending on your climate. Call 811 before any digging, no matter the size.

Can I mark the lines myself if I know where they are?

No. You need an official 811 ticket and marks from the utility locators. Your guess about where a line runs is not a legal substitute. If you dig and hit a line, you are liable even if you thought you knew where it was.

How much does an 811 ticket cost?

The basic ticket is free in all states. Some states charge a small fee — usually $5 to $15 — for expedited requests that are marked within 24 hours instead of the standard two to three business days. Standard requests have no charge.

What if the marks fade before I finish digging?

Call 811 again for a new ticket. The old ticket expires after 28 to 30 days, and the utility companies are not responsible for damage if you dig outside that window. If your project will take longer, plan to request a new ticket before the first one expires.

Do I need an 811 ticket if I am just removing a tree or stump?

Yes, if you are grinding the stump or digging out roots. If you are only cutting the tree down and leaving the stump, you may not need a ticket, but call 811 to confirm — roots can extend far and may be near a line. When in doubt, file a ticket.