Is it against the law to dig without calling 811 in Florida?
Is it against the law to dig without calling 811 in Florida?
The Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, Chapter 556, Florida Statutes, requires anyone who is digging or disturbing the ground to contact 811 and have underground facilities marked no less than two full business days before beginning any excavation or demolition.
How do you call 811 in Florida?
Call 811 or (800) 432-4770 and select one of the options below.
- Locates – Option 1.
- Positive Response – Option 5.
- ITE Support – Option 7.
- Member Services – Option 3.
- Law Enforcement – Option 8.
- Administrative Offices – Option 6 then:
What do Dig Safe markings mean?
“Pre-mark” where you plan to dig before making the call to 811. Pre-marking means to mark out the area on the ground where the work will take place, using white stakes, paint or flags. Note that pre-marking requirements vary slightly from state to state. Download Laws/Rules.
What is Call Before You Dig number Florida?
811
For digging projects large and small, Florida law states that property owners and excavators MUST call 811 or go to sunshine811.com at least two full business days prior to digging to get underground utility lines marked at the dig site.
How deep are gas lines buried in Florida?
three feet
Electrical lines, sewer lines, and water pipes are usually buried three feet in the ground—this is the standard depth. Gas lines do not have a standard depth.
How deep are utility lines buried in Florida?
two-feet deep
The trenches go two-feet deep to fit the PVC pipes full of wires. Many South Floridians consider underground power lines a panacea or a silver bullet-method for getting the lights to come on quickly after a hurricane.
What do the utility markings mean?
As a quick refresh, the APWA color code for utility marking is: Red: electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables. Orange: telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit. Yellow: natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum or other flammable. Green: sewers and drain lines.
What are the Dig Safe Colors?
APWA Uniform Color Codes.
How deep can you dig in Florida without a permit?
There is no legal minimum depth that you can dig before calling 811. This is due to the fact that environmental conditions such as ground settlement, rainfall, floods, surface runoff, soil erosion and deposits can change the depth of topsoil, reducing or increasing the cover for underground services.
How far can you dig under your house?
In the United States, you are legally allowed to dig hole in your backyard up to 5 feet deep. However, you must firstly call 811 to seek permission. Any hole deeper than this will require a special permit. It doesn’t matter where on your property you dig.
Why is there no natural gas in Florida?
Florida does not produce natural gas or have underground storage. Therefore, Florida relies on interstate transmission pipelines provided by 5 interstate gas operators to provide the gas for distribu- tion systems throughout the state.
How deep are sewer lines buried in Florida?
305.6 Freezing. Water service pipe shall be installed not less than 12 inches (305 mm) deep or less than 6 inches (152 mm) below the frost line.
Why are power lines above ground in Florida?
In general, outages happen less often underground than above ground but may last longer and take longer to repair and are more expensive to install. Overhead wires are more susceptible to high winds, falling trees and lightning but much easier to repair.
How do you read a utility marker?
As a quick refresh, the APWA color code for utility marking is:
- Red: electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables.
- Orange: telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit.
- Yellow: natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum or other flammable.
- Green: sewers and drain lines.
- Blue: potable drinking water.
Does DigAlert mark on private property?
Question: Why don’t they mark on private property? Answer: The California Government Code 4216 only requires them to mark the lines they own and/or maintain.
How do you mark an excavation site?
Delineate in white paint the proposed area of excavation using a continuous line, dots marking the radius or arcs, dashes marking the four corners of the project, or dashes outlining the excavation project.
What do the utility marking colors mean?
Can I dig my own well in Florida?
Yes, a well construction permit is required to construct a well. A Florida licensed water well contractor must apply for the permit before construction begins, and should provide the owner with a copy of the permit.
Is it illegal to drill your own well in Florida?
All wells must be constructed by a licensed water well contractor. The only exception to this law is for a water well two (2) inches or less in diameter constructed by an individual for his/ her own private use on his/her owned or leased property as specified in Section 373.326(2), Florida Statutes.
Should I call 811 before digging?
No matter how small the digging project, you MUST call 811 before you dig to avoid hitting underground utility lines—which are shallower than you may think. Don’t risk losing your utility services, injury or worse!
What happens if you hit a utility line while digging?
Hitting a buried line while digging can disrupt utility service, cost money to repair, or cause serious injury or death. Always contact your 811 center, wait the required time for utilities to respond to your request, and ensure that all utilities have responded to your request before putting a shovel in the ground. Do I need to contact 811?
How do you mark your yard for landscaping?
If you are only planning to dig in a small portion of your yard, you can outline the area in white paint or white flags available at home improvement stores to ensure that only the utilities in that part of your yard will be located and marked.
