The Process
Notify Missouri 811
Request a utility locate online or by phone at 811 at least three full working days prior to excavation.
Utilities Are Notified
Missouri 811 will notify any public utility companies within your dig site while you wait the required time.
Utilities Mark Their Lines
The utilities will locate and mark their lines, or provide an all clear notification.
Confirm the Marks
You confirm the marks and utility statuses.
Dig with Care!
Timeline
For digging projects big or small, you need to contact Missouri 811 at least 3 working days before you start digging.
Notify Missouri 811
This date does not count as a “working day.”
Waiting Period
Two working days waiting period for locates.
Dig With Care
Digging may begin if all utilities have responded. If all utilities have not responded, you may submit a “No Response” ticket.
Missouri law requires excavators to provide two working days’ notice, beginning at 12:00 a.m. the day after the locate request is submitted.
For clarity, Missouri 811 commonly refers to this as a 3 working day notification period.
Note: Working days do not include weekends or Missouri State holidays.
An excavation Ticket Life is valid for 21 consecutive calendar days from the start date and time listed on the locate request. If work must continue beyond the ticket expiration date, or the markings become unclear, a Renewal Ticket must be requested by the excavator.
What Information is Required to Place a Locate Request?
Who
Who the work is being done for – first and last name of the property owner
Your contact information
On-site contact information
When
Expected date of the project
Where
Address of the property – the county, city and nearest cross street to the dig site
Where on the property the underground utilities need to be located (example: front, rear, or sides of the property)
max depth
Estimated depth needed to dig
Type of work you will be doing
Fence, pool, landscaping, etc.
Method
Type of equipment you will be using
Excavating by hand or by machine
Will there be trenchless excavation or explosives involved?
Things to Remember
DOs
White line the dig site area to define your dig site. This will insure that the entire area of excavation is located properly.
Provide an accurate description of the dig site when placing your locate request.
Hand dig within the approximate location. There is a 2-foot hand dig zone on either side of the marked buried facility. Hand digging will allow you to determine the exact location and expose the facility. This is the safest way to make sure that you don’t damage the underground facility.
When hand digging, keep the blade of the shovel parallel to the marks.
Protect and support the facilities when exposed and backfill carefully to prevent damage to facilities and their coatings, and to provide support beneath to prevent the collapse or sagging of the facilities.
Submit a renewal when previously placed utility marks are no longer visible due to weather, construction activity, or when excavation has not been completed within the 21 consecutive calendar day Ticket Life.
Contact Missouri 811 to submit a “No Response” ticket if a utility has not responded to a locate request.
DON’Ts
Never allow anyone to dig on your property without contacting Missouri 811 first.
Do not work off someone else’s marks or ticket. Each excavator is required to place their own locate request. You cannot legally work from someone else’s request.
Always confirm the utility response by checking the status of the utility response before beginning excavation.
Don’t assume that facilities always run straight between markers.
Never assume the depth of a facility or that the depth will stay the same.
Don’t assume that an unmarked line is abandoned.
Don’t take for granted the exposed utility line is the only one there.
Do not use picks, mattocks, pry bars, or any other sharp tools when digging within the tolerance zone.
Do not remove the flags or paint marks until you are finished with your work.