Florida's One-Call Law: The Basics
Florida Statutes Chapter 556 — the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act — requires all excavators to notify the Sunshine 811 system at least two full business days (but no more than five business days) before beginning any excavation. This applies to all excavation types, including digging, trenching, boring, and backfilling. Failure to notify 811 creates legal liability for any damage to underground facilities.
The 811 Process in Florida
Calling 811 (or submitting online at Florida811.org) starts the notification process. You'll need to provide your excavation location, the nature of your work, and your contact information. Florida 811 will notify all member utility operators in your area, who then have two business days to locate and mark their facilities. Wait for all marks to be placed before excavating — and keep in mind that 811 marks are typically valid for 30 days.
Why 811 Is Only Part of the Answer
811 covers publicly-owned and registered utility lines — but private utilities are not included in the system. On most project sites in Florida, the majority of buried utilities are private: service laterals between public mains and buildings, utilities on private property, older utility systems installed before comprehensive record-keeping, and private infrastructure like irrigation, site lighting, and telecommunications. None of these are marked by 811 — and striking any of them creates significant liability for the excavating contractor.
What to Expect From a Professional Utility Locate
When you hire a private utility locating company, a certified technician will come to your site before excavation begins, conduct a thorough electromagnetic (EM) sweep to trace conductive utilities, use ground penetrating radar (GPR) to detect non-conductive utilities, mark all located utilities with paint or flags, and provide written documentation of the locate for your records. The entire process typically takes 2–4 hours for a standard residential site and up to a full day for larger commercial projects.
When You Need More Than a Locate
For high-risk excavations — work near gas mains, high-voltage electrical, large water mains, or any critical utility crossing — consider adding utility potholing to your pre-excavation process. Potholing uses vacuum excavation to physically expose utilities and verify their exact depth and condition. It's the only way to achieve SUE Level A quality data, and for critical crossings, it's often required by project engineers or risk management teams.
Documentation and Record Keeping
Keep copies of your 811 notification confirmation, your 811 utility marks (photo documentation is best), your private utility locate report, and any potholing or SUE reports for your project. In the event of a utility conflict or regulatory inquiry, this documentation demonstrates that you followed all required pre-excavation procedures — which is essential for protecting your company from liability.
Florida Contractor Summary: Before You Dig Checklist
Call or submit online to Florida 811 at least two business days before excavating. Wait for all public utility marks to be placed. Hire a certified private utility locating company to find all private utilities. Consider potholing for critical crossings or high-risk excavation areas. Document everything — 811 confirmation, locate reports, and photographic records. Proceed with excavation only when all utility marking and documentation is complete.
Need Professional Utility Locating?
Our certified team serves contractors throughout Florida. Call for a free quote.
(954) 204-9815