Call 811 Before You Dig is necessary to prevent damages and injuries! Just CLICK OR CALL 811, wait the required two full business days for facility owners to mark their facilities. Respect and maintain the marks, then dig with care to avoid damage. The service is provided free to the excavator and Washington law requires that underground utilities be located prior to digging.
If an underground utility is hit while digging, it can cause serious injuries, lead to utility outages that disrupt service to entire neighborhoods, and can potentially result in fines and costly repairs.
To comply with Washington's Dig Law, RCW 19.122, and begin the locating and marking process, call 811 or click digsafewashington.com at least two business days before you dig (excluding Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays).
Your Responsibilities
If you are an excavator
Under the dig law, excavators must:
- Give two to ten day notice before excavation.
- Give two to ten full business days notice before the scheduled work-to-begin date before beginning excavation.
- Mark the excavation area with white lining.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2026, an excavator may not begin excavation until they receive a positive response from all operators with underground facilities in the area identified in the notice.
- Hold construction until all known facilities are marked or you are provided information regarding unlocatable underground facilities.
- Communicate with the facility operator if you are involved with a large project or have multiple sites.
- Maintain your marks for 45 days or until the project is complete, whichever is shorter. If your project continues past 45 days, you must call for a new locate.
If you are installing signs
- When installing any type of sign, including those used for real estate or political signs, a locate must be requested.
- Residential yards and right-of-way, have numerous underground utility lines that can be damaged when installing a sign.
- Give two to ten full business days notice before the scheduled work-to-begin date before beginning excavation.
- Mark the excavation area with white lining.
- Not only is damaging an underground utility costly, it’s a safety hazard.
If you are a facility operator
Under the dig law, facility operators must:
- Respond to requests for locates prior to the work-to-begin date.
- Mark locatable facilities within the public right-of-way and marked excavation area.
- Provide information about the presence of unlocatable facilities.
- Once marking is complete, provide positive response to the one number locator service.
If you are a government entity
Contact the pipeline company of the scheduled commencement of work when planning construction or excavation within 100 feet, or greater distance if required by local ordinance, of right-of-way or utility easement containing a transmission pipeline.
If you are a permit issuer
If you are a permit issuer under RCW 19.27, notify the pipeline company of the permitted activity when issuing a permit for construction or excavation within 100 feet, or greater distance if required by local ordinance, of right-of-way or utility easement of a transmission pipeline; or
Require, as a condition of issuing the permit, the applicant consult with the pipeline company.