Planning to Dig? Call
811 First — It’s Free and It’s the Law.
Before beginning any
digging project, Oregon law requires property owners, residents, contractors,
and utilities to contact the Utility Notification Center (Oregon 811) to
request that underground utilities be located and marked.
Buried utilities such as
water, sewer, gas, electric, communications, and other lines may be located
beneath sidewalks, streets, or even within private yards. Contacting Oregon 811
helps prevent injuries, service disruptions, and costly damage to underground
infrastructure.
Call at least 2–5
business days before digging.
·
Dial 811 or
1-800-332-2344
·
Submit a request
online through Oregon 811
·
Service is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
There is no cost to
have public utility lines located.
Who Must Call?
Anyone planning to dig
must request a utility locate, including:
·
Homeowners
·
Property owners
or tenants
·
Contractors
·
Landscapers
·
Fence installers
·
Anyone performing
excavation work
Even small projects such
as planting trees, installing fences, building decks, or digging post holes
require a locate request.
Information You Will
Need
When submitting a locate
request, be prepared to provide:
Contact Information
·
Your name
·
Phone number
·
Mailing address
·
Alternate contact
person and phone number
·
Company name (if
applicable)
Location Information
·
Street address of
the work site
·
City and county
·
Nearest
intersecting street
·
Distance and
direction from the intersection
·
Township, range,
and section (if known)
Work Details
·
Type of work
being performed (fence installation, landscaping, trenching, etc.)
·
How the work will
be completed
·
Who the work is
being performed for
·
Whether work will
occur within 10 feet of overhead power lines
Dig Area Description
·
The specific
location on the property where digging will occur
·
Any special
instructions for marking
Before You Call: Mark
Your Dig Area
Before submitting your
request, pre-mark the area where you plan to dig using:
·
White spray paint
·
White flags
·
White stakes
This helps locators
identify the exact area where utility markings are needed.
What Happens After You
Call
After submitting a locate
request:
1.
Oregon 811 will
notify utility companies that have facilities in the area.
2.
Utility locators
will visit the site to mark underground lines.
3.
You will receive:
o A ticket number for your records
o A list of utilities notified
o A timeframe when markings will be completed
Keep your ticket number
for reference in case questions arise.
Questions? Forgotten
ticket number? Unknown markings in the street?
View the National Ticket Management
Service (NTMS) website to find
this information.
Understanding Utility
Markings
Utility locators use the
American Public Works Association (APWA) Uniform Color Code to mark underground
facilities. These temporary markings indicate the approximate location of
underground lines.
Always dig carefully
around marked utilities.
Why It Matters
Calling before you dig
helps:
·
Prevent injuries
and accidents
·
Avoid damage to
underground utilities
·
Prevent service
outages
·
Protect critical
public infrastructure
·
Save time and
repair costs
