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🔌 Utilities & 811 Rules
One-call center requirements, notice periods, tolerance zones, and utility depth clearances for all 50 states.
Advisory Reference Only — Not Legal Advice
This information is provided for general reference purposes only. Laws, regulations, and code requirements change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the applicable state agency, and consult a licensed attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before making legal or compliance decisions. J. Worden & Sons makes no representations regarding accuracy or completeness.
APWA Utility Marking Color Code
Red
Electric power, cables, conduit
Yellow
Gas, oil, steam, petroleum
Orange
Telecom, alarm, signal, data
Blue
Potable water
Green
Sewer & drain lines
Purple
Reclaimed water, irrigation
Pink
Temporary survey markings
White
Proposed excavation area
J. Worden & Sons Legal Advisory Board
811 One-Call Rules — All 50 States
For reference only — not legal advice · Verify with applicable state agency · 4/29/2026
811 One-Call Rules by State
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| State | 811 Center | Notice (hrs) | Tolerance Zone | White-Line | Civil Penalty | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Alaska | Alaska 811 (AK DIG) | 48h | ±24" | ✅ Yes | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Arizona | Arizona 811 | 48h | ±18" | ✅ Yes | Up to $10,000 per violation; enhanced penalties for repeat violations | |
| Arkansas | Arkansas 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| California | DigAlert (Southern CA) / USA North 811 (Northern CA) | 48h | ±24" | ✅ Yes | Up to $50,000 per violation; enhanced for repeat violators | |
| Colorado | Colorado 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Connecticut | Call Before You Dig / DigSafe | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $2,500 per violation | |
| Delaware | Miss Utility | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation; up to $10,000 for subsequent violations | |
| Florida | Sunshine 811 | 48h | ±18" | ✅ Yes | Up to $500 per violation; up to $5,000 per violation for repeated violations | |
| Georgia | Georgia 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $25,000 per violation for operator non-compliance | |
| Hawaii | Hawaii 811 (Underground Service Alert - Hawaii) | 72h | ±24" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Idaho | Idaho 811 | 48h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Illinois | JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) | 48h | ±18" | ✅ Yes | Up to $50,000 per violation; up to $100,000 for willful or knowing violations | |
| Indiana | Indiana 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $25,000 per violation; treble damages for willful violations | |
| Iowa | Iowa One Call | 48h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Kansas | Kansas 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Kentucky | Kentucky 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $25,000 per violation; enhanced penalties for willful violations | |
| Louisiana | Louisiana One Call | 72h | ±24" | ✅ Yes | Up to $50,000 per violation; treble damages for willful violations | |
| Maine | Dig Safe (New England) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Maryland | Miss Utility | 72h | ±18" | ✅ Yes | Up to $50,000 per violation for operators; excavator fines up to $25,000 | |
| Massachusetts | Dig Safe (New England) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $100,000 per violation for willful or knowing violations | |
| Michigan | Michigan 811 (MISS DIG System) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation; up to $10,000 for subsequent violations | |
| Minnesota | Gopher State One Call | 48h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $25,000 per violation | |
| Mississippi | Mississippi 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Missouri | Missouri One Call System (MOCS) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $15,000 per violation | |
| Montana | Montana 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Nebraska | Nebraska 811 (Diggers Hotline of Nebraska) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Nevada | Nevada 811 (Underground Service Alert Nevada) | 48h | ±24" | ✅ Yes | Up to $25,000 per violation; up to $100,000 for willful violations | |
| New Hampshire | Dig Safe (New England) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| New Jersey | New Jersey One Call / NJ 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation; up to $10,000 for subsequent violations | |
| New Mexico | New Mexico 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| New York | Dig Safely New York | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| North Carolina | NC 811 (North Carolina One Call Center) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Civil penalties for non-compliance | |
| North Dakota | North Dakota One Call | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Ohio | Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) | 48h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation; up to $25,000 per incident | |
| Oklahoma | Okie 811 | 48h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Oregon | Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC) | 48h | ±24" | ✅ Yes | Up to $100,000 per violation for willful violations | |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania One Call System (PA 811 / POCS) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation; enhanced for repeat violations | |
| Rhode Island | Dig Safe (New England) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| South Carolina | SC 811 (South Carolina 811) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $2,500 per violation | |
| South Dakota | South Dakota One Call | 48h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Tennessee | Tennessee 811 | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation; enhanced for willful violations | |
| Texas | Texas 811 (DigTess) | 48h | ±24" | ✅ Yes | Up to $10,000 per violation; up to $25,000 per incident for multiple violations | |
| Utah | Blue Stakes of Utah 811 | 72h | ±24" | ❌ No | Up to $10,000 per violation | |
| Vermont | Dig Safe (New England) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Virginia | Miss Utility | 72h | ±18" | ✅ Yes | Up to $25,000 per violation; enhanced penalties for repeat violators | |
| Washington | Washington 811 (WA One-Call Notification Center) | 48h | ±24" | ✅ Yes | Up to $50,000 per violation; up to $500,000 for willful violations | |
| West Virginia | Miss Utility of West Virginia | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Wisconsin | Diggers Hotline (Wisconsin 811) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation | |
| Wyoming | Wyoming 811 (One-Call of Wyoming) | 72h | ±18" | ❌ No | Up to $5,000 per violation |
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J. Worden & Sons Legal Advisory Board
Utility Depth Clearances — All 50 States
For reference only — not legal advice · Verify with applicable state agency · 4/29/2026
Minimum Utility Burial Depths by State
Depths are in inches and represent minimum burial depth in normal conditions (not under roads or waterways). Federal PHMSA § 192.327 governs gas; NEC Article 300 governs electric. Always verify with state DOT for road crossings.
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| State | Gas (in) | Electric (in) | Water (in) | Sewer (in) | Telecom (in) | Frost Line (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 24" | 24" | 36" | 24" | 24" | 6" |
| Alaska | 36" | 36" | 84" | 84" | 36" | 84" |
| Arizona | 24" | 24" | 18" | 24" | 24" | 12" |
| Arkansas | 24" | 24" | 36" | 24" | 24" | 12" |
| California | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 12" |
| Colorado | 24" | 24" | 60" | 48" | 24" | 36" |
| Connecticut | 24" | 24" | 54" | 42" | 24" | 42" |
| Delaware | 24" | 24" | 42" | 36" | 24" | 30" |
| Florida | 24" | 24" | 18" | 24" | 24" | 0" |
| Georgia | 24" | 24" | 18" | 24" | 24" | 6" |
| Hawaii | 24" | 24" | 18" | 24" | 24" | 0" |
| Idaho | 24" | 24" | 42" | 36" | 24" | 30" |
| Illinois | 24" | 24" | 54" | 48" | 24" | 42" |
| Indiana | 24" | 24" | 54" | 48" | 24" | 42" |
| Iowa | 24" | 24" | 72" | 60" | 24" | 60" |
| Kansas | 24" | 24" | 48" | 42" | 24" | 36" |
| Kentucky | 24" | 24" | 30" | 24" | 24" | 18" |
| Louisiana | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 6" |
| Maine | 24" | 24" | 72" | 60" | 24" | 60" |
| Maryland | 24" | 24" | 42" | 36" | 24" | 30" |
| Massachusetts | 24" | 24" | 60" | 48" | 24" | 48" |
| Michigan | 24" | 24" | 54" | 48" | 24" | 42" |
| Minnesota | 24" | 24" | 72" | 60" | 24" | 60" |
| Mississippi | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 6" |
| Missouri | 24" | 24" | 42" | 36" | 24" | 30" |
| Montana | 24" | 24" | 60" | 48" | 24" | 48" |
| Nebraska | 24" | 24" | 54" | 48" | 24" | 42" |
| Nevada | 24" | 24" | 36" | 30" | 24" | 24" |
| New Hampshire | 24" | 24" | 66" | 54" | 24" | 54" |
| New Jersey | 24" | 24" | 48" | 42" | 24" | 36" |
| New Mexico | 24" | 24" | 30" | 24" | 24" | 18" |
| New York | 24" | 24" | 60" | 48" | 24" | 48" |
| North Carolina | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 12" |
| North Dakota | 24" | 24" | 72" | 60" | 24" | 60" |
| Ohio | 24" | 24" | 48" | 42" | 24" | 36" |
| Oklahoma | 24" | 24" | 30" | 24" | 24" | 18" |
| Oregon | 24" | 24" | 30" | 24" | 24" | 18" |
| Pennsylvania | 24" | 24" | 48" | 42" | 24" | 36" |
| Rhode Island | 24" | 24" | 54" | 42" | 24" | 42" |
| South Carolina | 24" | 24" | 18" | 24" | 24" | 6" |
| South Dakota | 24" | 24" | 60" | 48" | 24" | 48" |
| Tennessee | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 24" | 12" |
| Texas | 24" | 24" | 18" | 24" | 24" | 6" |
| Utah | 24" | 24" | 42" | 36" | 24" | 30" |
| Vermont | 24" | 24" | 72" | 60" | 24" | 60" |
| Virginia | 24" | 24" | 30" | 24" | 24" | 18" |
| Washington | 24" | 24" | 36" | 30" | 24" | 24" |
| West Virginia | 24" | 24" | 42" | 36" | 24" | 30" |
| Wisconsin | 24" | 24" | 66" | 54" | 24" | 54" |
| Wyoming | 24" | 24" | 60" | 48" | 24" | 48" |
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