Your backyard is your sanctuary. It’s where you plan to plant beautiful shrubs, build a deck for summer barbecues, or finally install that fence for the new puppy. Before your shovel ever breaks ground, it’s worth thinking about the complex, hidden world that lies just beneath the surface.
Beneath every lawn, sidewalk, and driveway in our community runs a vital network—an invisible infrastructure of pipes, wires, and cables. This is the circulatory system of our modern lives, delivering the natural gas that heats your home, the electricity that powers your lights, the water for your morning shower, and the data that connects you to the world.
We all depend on this hidden network, and protecting it is a shared responsibility. That's why your most important tool for any outdoor project isn't a shovel or a post-hole digger; it's Dig Safe.
Your Free Key to Safe Digging: The 811 Process
The Dig Safe process is your free ticket to safely navigating the world beneath your yard. It’s a simple, no-cost service that prevents dangerous accidents, costly repairs, and neighborhood-wide outages. It’s also the law.
The process is straightforward:
- Plan & Mark: Before notifying Dig Safe, pre-mark your proposed project area with white paint or white flags.
- Notify: Notify Dig Safe by visiting digsafe.com or calling 811 at least 3 business days before digging. You’ll be prompted to provide simple information about your project's location and scope.
- Wait: Dig Safe notifies member utilities (like us!) with underground lines in your area. Within a few days, professional locators will visit your property to mark the approximate location of buried lines with colorful flags or paint.
- Respect the Marks & Dig with Care: Once the marks are down, you can begin your project. Respect the marked areas and dig carefully around them to protect the lines and yourself.
Pro-Tip: Hiring a Contractor?
Don't assume your contractor has made the call. Protect yourself and your property by asking a simple question before they begin: "Have you contacted Dig Safe for this project?" The responsibility ultimately lies with the property owner.
Learn more about the free DigSafe process here.
Decoding the Rainbow in Your Yard
Ever wondered what those colorful flags mean? Each color corresponds to a specific type of utility line, giving you a map of the hidden network.
- RED: Electric Power Lines, Cables, or Conduit
- YELLOW: Natural Gas, Oil, or Gaseous Materials
- ORANGE: Communication Lines (Cable TV, Alarm/Signal Lines, Fiber Optics)
- BLUE: Potable Water & Irrigation
- GREEN: Sewers & Drain Lines
Even Small Projects Count
You might think your project is too small to warrant Dig Safe, but even shallow digging can damage a utility line buried just a few inches deep. Notifying Dig Safe is essential for projects like:
- Planting a tree or shrub
- Installing a fence or mailbox
- Building a deck or patio
- Creating a new garden bed
- Installing an irrigation system
Taking a few minutes to notify Dig Safe protects you, your family, and your neighbors. It ensures that the vital, hidden world beneath our feet continues to safely and reliably power our community.
Key Takeaways
- A vital network of electric, gas, water, and communication lines runs just beneath your property, making safe digging practices essential for any project.
- By law, you must notify Dig Safe by visiting digsafe.com or calling 811 at least 3 business days before digging. This is a completely free service.
- The rule applies to all digging projects—from planting a shrub to building a deck—and it is the property owner's responsibility to ensure it's done, even when using a contractor.
