Before any digging in Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia, whoever does the digging has to notify the state's 811 center first: at least two working days ahead in Ohio, at least three business days ahead in Pennsylvania, and at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays, in West Virginia. Utilities then mark their lines, but private lines you own, like a feed to a barn or a shop, may not be marked, so point those out before the machine starts.
Who places the ticket
The rule in all three states follows the shovel, not the deed. OHIO811 says the person performing the excavation is legally responsible for notifying it, and that this includes digging by hand. Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission puts it plainly: if a homeowner is doing the work, the homeowner contacts PA One Call, and if a contractor was hired, the contractor does. West Virginia's law puts the notice on any person who intends to perform excavation. On our jobs, who places the notice gets settled when Jeff looks at the site, and the digging waits for the marks either way.
Need a trench, a footer, a pond or a culvert dug? Jeff handles excavation across northeastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania and the West Virginia panhandle, and the 811 step is part of how every dig starts.
Ohio: OHIO811
Ohio Revised Code section 3781.28 says an excavator has to give notice at least two working days before digging, not counting the day of the notice, and not more than sixteen calendar days before. OHIO811 also asks for a new notice if marks are destroyed or can no longer be seen. Once lines are marked, Ohio uses a tolerance zone of 18 inches on either side of the line plus the width of the line itself. Inside that zone, digging is done by hand or other soft methods, not with a bucket.
Pennsylvania: PA One Call
Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission says homeowners and contractors must call 811 at least three business days before starting any digging or excavation, and Pennsylvania 811 asks for the notice no more than ten business days out. A business day there means any day but a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. The PUC also warns that location marks can land 18 to 24 inches from the actual line, which is one more reason the bucket stays back from the paint. In a place like Washington, PA or Pittsburgh, where lines run under old streets and new subdivisions alike, that margin matters.
West Virginia: WV811
West Virginia Code section 24C-1-5 requires notice not less than 48 hours before excavation, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and not more than ten work days before the work begins. That is about two business days at the short end. In older river towns like Wheeling and Weirton, lines have been laid over many generations, and the marks are the only map most people have.
The lines nobody will mark
Here is the part that surprises people. OHIO811 says unregistered lines, including some service lines and privately owned lines, may not be marked, and that privately owned lines are the property owner's responsibility. Think about what runs across your own ground: power or gas to a garage, barn or shop, a line to a well or a pump, a septic line, an invisible dog fence, a sprinkler system, old field tile. The utility will not mark those. A private locating company can, or you can show us where they run. Tell Jeff about anything you know of before the estimate.
Jobs that move dirt
Footers, utility trenches, ponds, French drains, culverts and pulling stumps all put a bucket in the ground. So do fence posts and building pads that need a cut. If you are unsure whether a job counts, ask the 811 center in your state. Asking takes a phone call. A cut gas line takes a lot more. On a utility trenching job, the marks also tell us where the new line can safely run.
Ready to dig? Call Jeff with the address and what needs to go in the ground. He will look at the site, sort out the 811 notice with you and give you a free estimate.
Common Questions
How many days before digging do I have to call 811 in Ohio?
Ohio law says at least two working days before digging, not counting the day you give notice, and not more than sixteen calendar days before. Weekends and legal holidays are not working days. Call 811 or file online with OHIO811, wait for the marks, and keep hand tools within 18 inches of a marked line.
Do I have to call PA One Call if I hired a contractor to dig?
No, the contractor does. Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission says that when a homeowner hires a contractor, the contractor is required to contact PA One Call, and when the homeowner digs, the homeowner calls. Either way the notice goes in at least three business days before digging starts.
Will 811 mark the electric line from my house to my barn?
Often not. OHIO811 says privately owned lines and some service lines may not be marked, and privately owned lines are the owner's responsibility. A line you or a past owner ran to a barn, shop or well usually falls in that group. Hire a private locator or show the crew where it runs before any digging.
What to Do Next
Call us with the job, and we will sort out the notice together. Jeff will look at your site and give you a free estimate at (330) 625-5754. See our excavation services, pond digging or French drains.