Homeowners FAQs

Yes! You must contact Indiana 811 for all digging projects, such as installing mailboxes, fences or landscaping.

You must contact 811 at least two full working days prior to excavation to give the member utilities enough time to mark the approximate location of their underground utilities on your property. “Working day” means every day except Saturday, Sunday, and state and national legal holidays.

No. Using Indiana 811’s services is always free.

Your contractor is responsible for contacting 811. Before any excavation takes place, you should confirm that they have contacted 811 and any non-member utilities to request that the approximate location of the buried utilities be marked with flags or paint.

If you’re only digging on a portion of your property, be sure to outline the area where you plan to dig in white paint or white flags.

Each color of paint/flag represents a unique type of underground utility. The APWA color code guide can tell you which colors indicate which type of utility. Avoid digging near buried utilities if possible. If you must dig within 24” of utility marks/flags, be sure to dig with care.

Yes, you need to submit a new ticket each time you want to dig. Factors like erosion and plant growth can alter the location of buried facility lines. It is also possible that utility companies have added new lines since your property was last marked.

Now that the utility lines are marked, or you’ve been notified that they aren’t in conflict, you can begin digging with care. Indiana state law mandates a two-foot tolerance zone on either side of the marks. In the tolerance zone, only certain types of excavation are allowed, such as only being permitted to dig with hand tools. The size of the tolerance zone will depend on the size of the underground facility, which is sometimes noted by the utility locating technicians.

For example, if a water line is marked as six inches wide, the tolerance zone on either side of the line is two feet three inches from the mark. You will only want to use mechanical equipment outside of the zone after you have exposed the line(s) by safely digging with hand tools. Learn more by reading the Indiana Dig Law.

Stop digging immediately. Step away from the area and call 911 if the damage results in the escape of flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid, or if danger is present. After calling 911, notify the affected utility. Lastly, inform Indiana 811 of the incident.

Yes. To set up your mobile device for Exactix, please see our Mobile Access Instructions.

Some underground utilities on your property will NOT be marked by Indiana 811 Members because they are not owned by Indiana 811 Members. Examples of private facilities include electric or water lines to your pool, lines to septic tanks, electric lines to sheds or landscape lighting, lawn sprinkler systems, invisible pet fencing, and more.

A good general rule of thumb is if the utility runs from the street to the meter, it will be marked. If the utility is installed from the meter to another location on your property, it will not be marked.

Since Member utilities are not responsible for marking private facilities, it is the property owner’s responsibility to contact a private locating company. Visit https://indiana811.org/myutilities/ for more information regarding private facilities and companies that will locate them for you for a fee.

“Positive Response” is when the utility provides communication of the status (“Marked,” “Clear,” etc.) of a locate request back to the excavator after they determine if their underground facilities are close to the excavation site – or not. “Through the One Call System” means the status is communicated to Indiana 811 instead of directly to the excavator.

“Through the One Call System” has advantages to both the utility company and excavator. The benefits of a utility providing Positive Response to the One Call Center are:

• A record of the response at the One Call Center. This is helpful when there are questions about a response, especially during a dispute.
• Turning the Positive Response communication into a safety checklist at the excavation site. “Marked” with no corresponding color coded paint, flags or chalk can indicate that investigation is warranted before excavation begins.

Although Indiana 811 law does not mandate Positive Response Through the One Call Center, it is supported by Indiana 811 with Exactix.

• To check Indiana 811’s Positive Response system:
  • If you have an Exactix Pro account, log in to see the status of your requests from the Responses tab from within the ticket (see screenshot below).
  • If you do not have an Exactix Pro account but want to see the status of a request, enter the ticket number and phone number using this tool then click on the Responses tab from within the ticket (see screenshot below).

• Some members may not communicate with Indiana 811 the status of the locate request, they may use their own system to offer updates on the marking status.
• Call Indiana 811 at 811, or 800-382-5544, if you have any questions about utility response.

Exactix supports the following response codes:

1  Marked – Underground facilities in the proposed excavation area have been marked.

1A Marked with Exceptions – Do Not Excavate, High-Profile Utility – Do not excavate. A high-profile utility is in the area of the proposed excavation; the utility owner WILL attempt to contact you to schedule surveillance.

1B Marked with Exceptions – High-Profile Utility – A high-profile utility is in the area of the proposed excavation; the utility owner MAY attempt to contact you to schedule surveillance.

2 Clear – No underground facilities are in the proposed excavation or design area.

3A Unmarked – Could Not Gain Access to Property – Do not excavate until resolved. The locate technician could not gain access to property; the excavator must provide access and submit a new ticket.

3B Unmarked – Incorrect Address Information –Do not excavate until resolved. Incorrect address information.  Contact Indiana 811.

3C Unmarked – Marking Delay Requested with Excavator – Do not excavate until resolved. Marking delay requested. Excavation site is unmarked. The locate technician cannot mark within two full working days. Per Indiana Law, the operator shall notify the excavator responsible of their determination and shall provide additional information.

3D Unmarked – Marking Instructions are Unclear – Do not excavate until resolved. The locate instructions are unclear.  Contact Indiana 811. 

3E Unmarked – Excavation Already Performed – The excavator has performed the excavation prior to the locators’ arrival.

3F Unmarked – Line is untonable – Do not excavate until resolved. The line is untonable and the utility has been notified to resolve the issue. Per Indiana Law, the operator shall notify the excavator responsible of their determination and shall provide additional information.

4 Private Line – This is a private line and it is not the responsibility of the members of Indiana 811 to locate private facilities. For more information, please visit https://indiana811.org/myutilities.

5A Design Notice – Documents Provided – Design Notice – Installation records, maps, or other documents have been provided.

5B Design Notice – Marked – Design Notice – Underground facilities have been marked.