Planning to install a fence, plant a tree, replace a mailbox, build a patio, or start another project that breaks the ground? Contact 811 before digging. The free service notifies participating utility operators so they can mark or clear their underground facilities.
Nevada quick answer: Premark the proposed excavation area in white, then contact 811 at least two working days before work begins. Do not include the day you submit the request.
Do not dig until every utility operator listed on your ticket has responded. A response may be painted marks, flags, location information, or confirmation that the operator has no conflict in the work area.
Call: 811 or (800) 642-2444
Why You Must Contact 811 Before Digging
Buried electric, natural-gas, water, sewer, and communications facilities may be much shallower than expected. Even a small project can damage a line, interrupt service, cause expensive repairs, or seriously injure someone.
Under Nevada’s excavation law, a person generally may not begin excavation in an area known or reasonably expected to contain a subsurface installation without first providing the required notice and cooperating with utility operators. A construction permit does not ordinarily replace the 811 requirement.
Contacting 811 is free. It is for homeowners, renters with permission to perform work, landscapers, contractors, and anyone else responsible for excavation. The person or company actually performing the excavation should have a ticket issued in its own name.
Seven Steps for Safe Digging in Nevada
- Plan the project. Identify the exact area where digging will occur, the type of work, the planned start date, and who will perform it.
- Premark the excavation area in white. Use white paint, flags, stakes, whiskers, chalk, or flour to show locators where you intend to dig.
- Contact 811 at least two working days in advance. Dial 811, call (800) 642-2444, or use USA North 811. Nevada defines working days as 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state or federal holidays.
- Save the ticket number. Review the address, work area, start time, expiration information, and list of notified utility operators.
- Wait for every operator to respond. Do not begin simply because the legal start time has arrived. If an operator has not responded, contact 811 and report the no-response condition.
- Protect the marks. Keep paint and flags visible throughout the work. Request a remark or ticket update if marks are missing, disturbed, or no longer clear.
- Dig carefully. Treat the marks as an approximate horizontal location. Within the tolerance zone—24 inches on either side of the marked facility’s outside diameter, or its center line when no diameter is shown—use only human-powered hand tools to expose the facility safely.
Timing note: Nevada law requires notice at least two working days but not more than 28 calendar days before excavation is scheduled to start. Follow the legal start time and expiration information printed on your actual ticket. Renew or update the request when required.
What the Utility Marking Colors Mean
| Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| White | Proposed excavation area |
| Pink | Temporary survey markings |
| Red | Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables |
| Yellow | Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous materials |
| Orange | Communications, alarm, signal lines, cables, or conduit |
| Blue | Potable water |
| Purple | Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines |
| Green | Sewer and drain lines |
Paint and flags indicate an approximate location, not the depth of a facility. Never assume a line runs straight or remains at a consistent depth.
811 May Not Mark Privately Owned Lines
Participating utility operators generally mark facilities they own and operate. Private lines beyond a utility’s ownership point may not be included. Examples can include:
- Irrigation and sprinkler systems
- Landscape-lighting wiring
- Electrical service to a detached garage, shed, pool, or gate
- Gas piping to a barbecue, pool heater, or fire feature
- Private water or sewer laterals
If private facilities may cross the work area, review property records and consider hiring a qualified private utility locator. An 811 ticket does not guarantee that every underground object on private property will be marked.
What to Do If You Hit or Damage a Utility Line
Stop work immediately. Treat breaks, leaks, nicks, dents, gouges, damaged coatings, and exposed lines as damage. Do not attempt to repair, pinch, squeeze, cover, or rebury the facility.
If there is a threat to life, health, or public safety, evacuate the site to a safe location upwind and call 911. USA North 811 advises moving 300 feet or more upwind when a damaged facility presents such a threat.
- Keep people away from the area.
- Do not operate switches, vehicles, phones, flames, or equipment near a suspected gas leak or electrical hazard.
- Call 911 from a safe location when emergency conditions exist.
- Immediately report the damage to the affected utility operator. Contact 811 if you need the operator’s emergency information.
- Do not resume excavation until the utility has completed necessary repairs and says the area is safe.
For a suspected NV Energy natural-gas leak, evacuate immediately and follow NV Energy’s gas-leak instructions.
Call Before You Dig FAQ
Do I need to contact 811 for a shallow hole?
Yes. Utility lines can be close to the surface, and depth can change because of grading, erosion, or earlier construction. Contact 811 for every digging project.
Does 811 charge for utility marking?
No. Submitting the ticket and receiving responses from participating utility operators are free.
Does an old ticket cover a new project?
Do not reuse a ticket for a different excavator, location, scope, or work period. Check the dates and instructions on the ticket and submit a new or updated request when required.
Can I dig after two working days if one utility has not responded?
No. Wait until every listed utility operator has responded. Contact 811 to report a no-response condition.
Will 811 tell me how deep a utility is?
No. Marks show an approximate horizontal location. They do not guarantee depth. Use hand tools within the tolerance zone to expose the facility carefully.
Who submits the ticket when I hire a contractor?
The person or company performing the excavation should submit and maintain its own ticket. Confirm this responsibility before work begins.
Official Nevada 811 Resources
- USA North 811
- USA North 811 Homeowner Guide
- Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 455
- NV Energy: Call Before You Dig
- National 811 Information
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