What Is 811?
811, also known as the 'Call Before You Dig' system, is a federally-supported one-call notification service that allows excavators to notify public utility operators before breaking ground. When you call 811, participating utility companies are notified and send locators to mark their lines in your excavation area — typically within a few business days. Calling 811 is required by law in all 50 states before any excavation.
What 811 Does NOT Cover
Here's where most contractors get into trouble: 811 only marks utilities that are registered with the state one-call system and owned by public utility providers. It does not cover private utilities on private property, utility service laterals between the main and a building, utilities installed before record-keeping requirements, lines owned by private companies or individuals, or utilities that have been incorrectly registered. On most project sites in Florida, 40–60% of buried utilities fall into one of these categories — meaning 811 leaves a significant portion of underground infrastructure unmarked.
What Is Private Utility Locating?
Private utility locating is the professional detection and marking of underground utilities that are not covered by 811. Using electromagnetic (EM) locating equipment and ground penetrating radar (GPR), certified utility locating technicians identify and mark every buried utility on a site — regardless of whether it's registered with 811 or owned by a public utility company. Private utility locating fills the gaps that 811 leaves behind.
Why Both Are Necessary
The safest approach before any excavation is to call 811 and hire a private utility locating company. 811 handles public utility notification as required by law, and private utility locating ensures you find everything else. Together, these two steps give you the most complete picture of what's buried beneath your project site — dramatically reducing the risk of utility strikes, worker injuries, and costly project delays.
When Is Private Locating Most Critical?
Private utility locating is especially critical for sites with older infrastructure, commercial and industrial properties with complex utility networks, sites that have undergone significant development over the years, anywhere near or on private property, and for any project where the consequences of a utility strike are severe — gas lines, high-voltage electrical, large water mains, or telecom infrastructure.
Florida-Specific Considerations
In Florida, the combination of rapid development, aging utility systems, and complex private utility networks makes private locating particularly important. Florida's one-call law (Chapter 556, Florida Statutes) requires excavators to comply with notification and locate requirements — but compliance with 811 alone does not protect you from private utility liability. Professional private utility locating is the industry standard for any serious contractor working in Florida.
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