Become a Missouri 811 Utility Member
Missouri law requires qualifying underground facility owners to participate in the state’s one-call notification system. Missouri 811 provides the centralized process for notifying utilities of planned excavation so underground facilities can be properly located and marked.
If your organization owns or operates underground facilities in Missouri, this page outlines your legal obligations and the step-by-step process to become a utility member.
What Is Missouri 811?
Missouri 811 (Missouri One Call System, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization established to serve as the single point of contact for excavation notifications across the state.
When an excavator or homeowner submits a locate request, Missouri 811 notifies underground facility owners in the affected area. Utility members are then responsible for locating and marking their facilities to prevent damage.
OPERATIONAL HOURS
The notification center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
This service is funded by participating utility members and is provided at no cost to excavators.
Who Is Required to Become a Utility Member?
Participation requirements are defined under the Underground Facility Safety and Damage Prevention Act (RSMo Chapter 319).
Participation Requirement Under Missouri Law
Any person or entity that installs, owns, or operates an underground facility in Missouri must participate in a notification center upon acquiring or operating that facility and must maintain participation for the duration of ownership.
What Qualifies as an Underground Facility?
An underground facility includes buried infrastructure used for the storage or conveyance of:
Water, Storm Drainage, Sewage, Telecommunications services, Cable television services, Electricity, Gas, Oil, Hazardous liquids, Other similar substances.
This includes pipes, cables, conduits, vaults, wires, valves, manholes, and related underground structures located within public rights-of-way or recorded utility easements.
Certain privately owned service lines located entirely on private property may be excluded as defined by statute.
If your infrastructure meets this definition, you are legally required to participate.
Benefits of becoming a member
Reduced risk of accidents, injury, environmental or facility damage and downtime, as well as improved safety and lower litigation and compensation costs.
The opportunity to standardize methods and procedures with respect to information required from the excavator, field markings of locations, control zones, locate slips and damage report forms resulting in a reduction to the facility owner’s clerical costs for obtaining information from excavators.
Advance notice of planned excavation activity allowing facility owners sufficient time to efficiently schedule locators, to make arrangements to have locates completed or drawings sent and gives the excavator a better idea of when the locates will be completed.
Providing facility owners with the opportunity to come together to increase the effectiveness of public awareness and advertising programs thereby increasing public awareness of the inherent dangers of disturbing the ground.
Improved relationships between the digging community and the owners and operators of buried facilities.
Co-operation among the various owners and operators of buried facilities as they work towards the achievement of common goals.
How to Become a Missouri 811 Utility Member
The membership process consists of six structured steps.
Step 1: Contact the Membership Administrator
Call 573-556-8117 to initiate membership. You will be asked questions about your underground facilities and receive login instructions for the Utility Member portal.
Step 2: Complete Your Membership Information Online
After contacting Missouri 811, you will receive credentials for the Utility Member web portal. This portal is used to enter and manage your membership information.
You will be required to provide the following:
Primary Point of Contact (PPOC)
The PPOC is the authorized representative for your membership. This individual:
- Approves changes to membership information
- Receives official correspondence
- Receives the annual proxy ballot for Board elections
- Ensures information is distributed internally
Avoid listing elected officials whenever possible.
Billing Information
Provide the contact information that should appear on invoices. You may also include:
- Purchase order numbers
- Invoice identifiers
- Preferred delivery method (email, fax, or mail)
Mapping/GIS Contact
This contact:
- Manages mapping-related matters
- Oversees IMAP access
- May authorize updates if the PPOC is unavailable
Ticket Receiving Method
Select how you will receive locate notifications:
- FTP
- SFTP
- Text
- Locator Ticket Management (LTM) System
You must also provide contact information for transmission failure alerts.
Optional settings include backup messages for high-priority tickets and secondary receiving locations.
General Utility Information
You must enter:
- Utility types owned or operated
- Business hours and days of operation
- Recognized holidays
Anything outside your declared business hours is considered after-hours.
Step 3: Establish Your Mapping Coverage in IMAP
Once your membership information is submitted, the Mapping Department will create your mapping database.
Your Mapping/GIS Contact will receive access to IMAP, the online mapping application used to define your service area.
You must create one or more coverage polygons identifying the geographic areas where your underground facilities are located. Missouri 811 uses these polygons to determine when to send you locate notifications.
Step 4: Set Your Activation Date
After your mapping coverage is completed, you may set your membership activation date within IMAP.
Step 5: Begin Receiving Locate Notifications
Once activated, you will begin receiving locate notifications when excavation activity is planned within your defined coverage area.
Step 6: Locate and Respond to Each Ticket
Utility members are legally required to respond to every locate notification. Unless otherwise specified by ticket type, utilities must respond within two working days, beginning at 12:00 midnight following receipt of the notification.
1. Mark the approximate location of your underground facilities
2. Request additional information if necessary
3. Or Notify the excavator if your facilities are clear or not in conflict
After completing your field response, you are required to status the ticket using the Locator Ticket Management (LTM) System.
Failure to respond or status a ticket before the listed start date and time may result in a billable No Response notification.
Ongoing Legal Responsibility
Participation in Missouri 811 is mandatory for qualifying underground facility owners. Membership ensures your facilities are included in excavation notifications and that your organization remains compliant with Missouri law.