General FAQ’s
You can submit a ticket by phone, by dialing 811, or online.
Once you have confirmed all the utilities at your worksite have marked, and the two business days have passed.
No, you have to ensure the two business days have passed, and all of the utility companies at your worksite have marked.
The Portal is a way to submit tickets online.
If you do not contact 811 before digging, it is quite possible that you will dig into a buried underground utility and potentially create a life-threatening situation, you can be fined, or even cause an outage to an essential utility service. Even if you have used the service before and you think you know where the underground utilities are, you need to contact 811 before every digging project to protect yourself. Remember, it is a free service!
Getting the underground utilities marked is a FREE service.
Contact Texas811 at least two business days before digging. This does not include holidays, so please ensure you take that into account when scheduling your project.
To receive a copy of your ticket, and for utility companies to contact you in case they have any questions.
Yes. Your ticket number is helpful to have if you need to update your ticket, or make any changes, and it also serves as proof that you called Texas811.
You can go to our online Portal, enter your ticket number, and print a copy.
If you do not have your ticket number. You can contact us by dialing 811, and we can search for tickets that were processed no longer than 30 days ago.
You can contact us by dialing 811, but there will be a fee for any tickets processed more than 31 days ago.
If you have your ticket number you can print a free copy on our online Portal. If you don’t have your ticket number, you can contact us by dialing 811, but there will be a fee for any tickets processed more than 31 days ago.
Utility companies have two business days to mark, but this does not include holidays. Depending on the utility companies’ workload they may call to arrange a later date, if possible.
Each utility company notified on a ticket sends their own locators (in-house/third party) to mark their underground utilities in the area where digging will take place.
Yes. Click HERE to view it.
Outline the area you will be working on in white paint, or white flags.
It is helpful to the utility companies, especially if the worksite is big, and digging will only be taking place in a small portion of the location. Marking your work area in white helps when the work location cannot be accurately described on a ticket.
You may see paint/flags, but you should check the utilities notified on the ticket, and ensure all utilities marked or provided a Positive Response.
Click HERE to see the color code.
Positive Response is how member utility companies communicate with excavators about the status of the ticket. It lets the excavator know if an underground utility is marked, unmarked, not in conflict (clear, or high priority). A Positive Response may include one or more of the following: markings or documentation left at the job site, callback, fax, or an automated response system. A positive response allows the excavator to know whether all facility owners/operators have marked the requested area prior to the beginning of the excavation.
-Confirm the information on the ticket is correct, and that the utility companies were not given a different location.
-Confirm if any of the responses were clear. This means the utility company did not have direct conflict with your worksite, and did not need to put physical markings on the ground.
No, pipeline markers indicate the general location of pipelines, not their exact location.
Pipeline markers can be used in addition to the markings to ensure safe digging, but they should not be used as indication of an underground utility location on their own.
Check The Portal for Positive Response (you will need your ticket number). If there is no Positive Response, contact Texas811 to process a No Response to notify utility companies to locate their underground utilities ASAP.
This means the utility company does not have any underground utilities in the area where you plan to dig that are in direct conflict with your digging.
Contact Texas811, by dialing 811, and we will review the information on the ticket to ensure everything is correct (you will need your ticket number). If necessary, we can process a Recall ticket to notify utility companies to go out and mark the correct area.
Check The Portal (you will need your ticket number) for Positive Response. If there is no Positive Response, contact Texas811, by dialing 811, to process a No Response to notify utility companies to locate their underground utilities ASAP. Some underground utilities may not be marked because they are private.
Private utilities are lines not owned by utility companies. They are usually between the meter and the building. If you have a curbside meter your property may not get marked by utility companies. Other underground utilities that generally are not marked in include, but may not be limited to: sewer lines, private lighting, sprinklers, fire mains, secondary electric lines to detached garages, pools, and septic lines.
There are fees for private locates. The underground utilities are owned by you, and it’s the owner’s responsibility to cover the cost to protect private underground utilities. Most plumbing companies locate private utilities upon request as well. You can also Google search private locating companies near you.
This varies. Erosion, digging projects, or uneven surfaces can alter the depth or location of underground utilities. This is why you should request a ticket no matter how deep you think the utilities may be.
A utility operator/municipality who uses the 811 system to protect their underground facilities when someone is digging near their lines.
o Update tickets are requested for two reasons: To extend the life of the ticket to stay in compliance withTexas Administrative Code Chapter 18, which regulates Oil & Gas members or the locators’ marks are no longer visible and need to be remarked.
o Both tickets go out as an Update ticket type, however, the remarks of the tickets are slightly different.
o When a request is made for the lines to be remarked, we save the ticket with the following verbiage:Update & Remark – (previous ticket number).
o When a request is made only extend the life of a ticket without having the lines remarks, we save the ticket with the following verbiage: Update – (previous ticket number).
You can update a ticket by phone, by dialing 811, or online by logging into The Portal (you will need your ticket number) and processing an update ticket.
You can request to refresh your utility markings by phone, by dialing 811, or online by logging into The Portal(you will need your ticket number) and processing an Update and Remark ticket. **Please note the ticket type will be update, but the verbiage in the remarks will reflect update & remark. Ultimately, you are responsible for knowing the condition of the worksite and when the marks are no longer visible or moved and need to be refreshed.
An emergency has to pose a threat to life, health, or property, but you can process a Non-Compliant ticket. Although, it is recommended to process a Normal ticket to ensure all utility companies are given time to mark to guarantee the safest digging environment possible.
Contact Texas811 by dialing 811 to report it, and we will process a DigUp ticket.
As described in Texas Administrative Code 18.2 (21), a tolerance zone is half the nominal diameter of the underground pipeline plus a minimum of 18 inches on either side of the outside edge of the underground pipeline on a horizontal plane.
Texas Administrative Code 18.10 - Excavation within Tolerance Zone
(a) An excavator shall comply with the requirements of Texas Health & Safety Code, Subchapter H, relating to Construction Affecting Pipeline Easements and Rights-of-Way.
(b) When excavation is to take place within the specified tolerance zone, an excavator shall exercise such reasonable care as may be necessary to prevent damage to any underground pipeline in or near the excavation area. Methods to consider, based on certain climate or geographical conditions, include hand digging when practical, soft digging, vacuum excavation methods, pneumatic hand tools. Other mechanical methods or other technical methods that may be developed may be used with the approval of the underground pipeline operator. Hand digging and non-invasive methods are not required for pavement removal.
Click HERE to order Texas811 promotional materials.
Please visit https://texas811enespanol.org/ for information in Spanish.
Safe Digging
Yes, the depth of pipelines and other utilities can change due to erosion, digging projects or uneven surfaces. We’d rather you be safe than sorry.
Yes. You should always contact Texas811, no matter how large or small your project or how deep you are digging. Whether you're planning a backyard project or a professional excavation— contacting Texas811 is always the safest option.
It is your responsibility to avoid damaging marked underground utilities and no specific tolerance zone/margin is specified in the Texas One-Call law. However, APWA and several industry accepted best practices set 18 inches on either side of the marked utility as a reasonable tolerance zone. Within that zone it is recommended that digging with hand tools or another acceptable method be used to locate the exact location of the utility before more extensive excavation is started.
As described in Texas Administrative Code 18.2 (21), a tolerance zone is half the nominal diameter of the underground pipeline plus a minimum of 18 inches on either side of the outside edge of the underground pipeline on a horizontal plane.
Texas Administrative Code 18.10 - Excavation within Tolerance Zone
(a) An excavator shall comply with the requirements of Texas Health & Safety Code, Subchapter H, relating to Construction Affecting Pipeline Easements and Rights-of-Way.
(b) When excavation is to take place within the specified tolerance zone, an excavator shall exercise such reasonable care as may be necessary to prevent damage to any underground pipeline in or near the excavation area. Methods to consider, based on certain climate or geographical conditions, include hand digging when practical, soft digging, vacuum excavation methods, pneumatic hand tools. Other mechanical methods or other technical methods that may be developed may be used with the approval of the underground pipeline operator. Hand digging and non-invasive methods are not required for pavement removal.
Once you have confirmed all the utilities at your worksite have marked, and the two business days have passed.
No. You have to ensure the two business days have passed, and all of the utilities at your worksite have marked.
No. Pipeline markers indicate the general location of pipelines, not their exact location.
Pipeline markers can be used in addition to the markings to ensure safe digging, but they should not be used as indication of an underground utility location on their own.
It is your responsibility to avoid damaging marked underground utilities and no specific tolerance zone/margin is specified in the Texas One-Call law. However, APWA and several industry accepted best practices set 18 inches on either side of the marked utility as a reasonable tolerance zone. Within that zone it is recommended that digging with hand tools or another acceptable method be used to locate the exact location of the utility before more extensive excavation is started.
Stop digging and notify Texas811 immediately to process a DigUp ticket. If it is a gas pipeline, call 911.
Yes. Erosion, digging projects or uneven surfaces can alter the depth or location of underground utilities, or your utility companies may have completed work on their utilities since the last time you dug – so you must contact Texas811 before you dig, each and every time.
DIYer
If you are hiring a contractor to do the work for you, it is the contractor’s responsibility to contact Texas811 two business days prior to digging. You may want to make sure your contractor has notified Texas811 before the work begins by requesting the ticket number.
Sometimes there may be contractors doing work around your property who may have called in a ticket. Contact Texas811 by completing our Property Markings Form and we can investigate this for you. Please click HERE to see what the color of the markings means.
The utilities notified will be listed on your ticket.
Any underground utilities owned by public utility companies, that are notified on your ticket, will be marked. If you know of any utilities that are not on your ticket you must notify those utilities directly. Public utility companies may not mark utilities that run from the meter onto private property or to the house. It is the owner of the private utilities, the excavator’s (property owner’s) responsibility to get the utilities marked before digging.
It is recommended that the excavator or person/company requesting the marks removes the markings when the work is complete.
If you feel like this is a public owned utility you may have to call in a Texas811 No Response ticket, but usually the primary reason may be that some public utility companies may not mark utilities that run from the meter onto private property or to the house. It is the owner of the private utilities or the excavator’s (property owner’s) responsibility to get the utilities marked before digging.
No. You do not have to be home, but please be sure all pets are put away, and ensure the utility companies have access to the property to mark the area where digging will take place. It also helps to mark the proposed worksite in white.
Yes. Remove and/or safely contain dogs and other pets. Even if a pet looks friendly, locators may not enter the yard.
The Homeowner Portal is a way for homeowners or DIYers to submit a single address locate request online.
Click HERE to sign up for The Portal.
Professional Excavators
Yes. You need your own ticket. There is no such thing as a blanket ticket provided to a general contractor. The ticket processed by the general contractor does not cover subcontractors. If you are a subcontractor and you are excavating, protect yourself and your company by contacting Texas811, by phone by dialing 811, or on The Portal to get a ticket. The general contractor's ticket does not apply to anyone except them.
It is helpful to the locators, especially if the worksite is large, and digging will only take place in a small portion of the location. Marking the proposed worksite in white helps when the work location cannot be accurately described on a ticket.
No. You do not need to be on-site, as long as the utility companies have access to the property.
Contact Texas811 and we will review the information on the ticket to ensure everything is correct. If necessary, we can process a Recall ticket to notify utility companies to go out and mark the correct area.
-Confirm the information on the ticket is correct, and that the utility companies were not given a different location.
-Confirm if any of the responses are clear. This means the utility company did not have direct conflict with your worksite, and did not need to put physical markings on the ground.
An emergency has to pose a threat to life, health, or property, but you can process a Non-Compliant locate request. Although, it is recommended to process a Normal ticket to ensure all utilities are given time to locate to guarantee the safest digging environment possible.
It is your responsibility to avoid damaging marked underground utilities and no specific tolerance zone/margin is specified in the Texas One-Call law. However, APWA and several industry accepted best practices set 18 inches on either side of the marked utility as a reasonable tolerance zone. Within that zone it is recommended that digging with hand tools or another acceptable method be used to locate the exact location of the utility before more extensive excavation is started.
It is your responsibility to avoid damaging marked underground utilities and no specific tolerance zone/margin is specified in the Texas One-Call law. However, APWA and several industry accepted best practices set 18 inches on either side of the marked utility as a reasonable tolerance zone. Within that zone it is recommended that digging with hand tools or another acceptable method be used to locate the exact location of the utility before more extensive excavation is started.
As described in Texas Administrative Code 18.2 (21), a tolerance zone is half the nominal diameter of the underground pipeline plus a minimum of 18 inches on either side of the outside edge of the underground pipeline on a horizontal plane.
Texas Administrative Code 18.10 - Excavation within Tolerance Zone
(a) An excavator shall comply with the requirements of Texas Health & Safety Code, Subchapter H, relating to Construction Affecting Pipeline Easements and Rights-of-Way.
(b) When excavation is to take place within the specified tolerance zone, an excavator shall exercise such reasonable care as may be necessary to prevent damage to any underground pipeline in or near the excavation area. Methods to consider, based on certain climate or geographical conditions, include hand digging when practical, soft digging, vacuum excavation methods, pneumatic hand tools. Other mechanical methods or other technical methods that may be developed may be used with the approval of the underground pipeline operator. Hand digging and non-invasive methods are not required for pavement removal.
Click HERE to view a list of the excavator’s responsibilities.
The Portal is a way to submit locates online.
You can sign up for The Portal HERE.
Email Training@Texas811.org
Login to your Portal account. Click Enter Tickets, and click Update Information to the left of the screen.
Facility Operators
A Texas811 member is a utility operator or municipality who chooses Texas811 to protect their underground facilities when someone is digging near their lines.
All utility operators and municipalities in Texas are eligible for membership with Texas811.
For information about what comes with a Texas811 membership click HERE. You may also contact Stakeholder Support for more information by:
Click HERE to complete a Texas811 Membership Application. You may also contact StakeholderSupport for more information by:
Click HERE to complete an Update Member Information Form.
To update or remove a current member code, click HERE to complete a Member Mapping Submission Form.
Yes. Click HERE to fill out an Add New Code Form.
Click HERE to complete an Update Member Information Form.
Click HERE to fill out a Locate Request Concern Form.
Click HERE to sign up for The Portal.
Login to your Portal account. Click Enter Tickets, and click Update Information to the left of the screen.
Login to your Portal account. Click on Find Tickets at the top left of yours screen. You can search tickets by date or date range, ticket number, or code.
Click HERE to pay your bill.
Click HERE to fill out a Positive Response Configuration Form.
Please visit the Customized Solutions webpage by clicking HERE for more information.
Email Solutions@Texas811.org
