Landscaping and Digging Safety
Use Caution Around Service Lines
- Call before you dig! By law, you must call the utility locating service in your state to identify any gas, electric, telephone and other underground utility facilities before you dig.
- Excavators need to plan approximately three to ten working days in advance for the underground utilities to be marked.
- The locations of underground utilities are marked with color painted lines or flags. The colors follow the American Public Works Association (APWA) Uniform Color Codes.
- Whether you are planting a tree, building a fence or laying foundation, contacting a line with a shovel, pick or other piece of equipment can result in injury or death. Do not start any digging without first calling 811.
