Call Before You Dig Oklahoma: Who to Call and When
Who Do You Call Before You Dig in Oklahoma? OKIE811, Utility Locates, and What to Do Before Dirt Work Starts
If you are planning to dig in Oklahoma, the number to call is 811, which connects you to OKIE811. Contacting OKIE811 is free, and homeowners should do it at least three business days before digging starts. That applies whether you are setting a fence post, planting a tree, or having a crew grade a lot. This guide explains what happens after you call, what the marks mean, and what 811 may not cover.
Who Do You Call Before You Dig in Oklahoma?
You call OKIE811 by dialing 811. OKIE811 is the one-call service that notifies the utility companies (the facility operators) with lines near your dig site, so they can come out and mark where those lines run. Instead of phoning the gas, electric, water, and communications companies one by one, you make a single request.
A few basics worth knowing
For the official process and current details, OKIE811 publishes guidance for both homeowners and excavators on okie811.org.
When Should You Call, and How Far Ahead?
Plan for at least three business days between your request and the day digging begins. Count only weekdays that are not holidays. If you want to dig on a Thursday, the request should be in well before the start of that week, not on Monday evening.
This lead time is easy to underestimate when a project is tied to weather. Oklahoma has a short window of workable ground between soggy spring clay and hard, dry summer stretches. If you are hoping to start the first dry week, make the locate request early so the paperwork does not hold up the schedule.
Do not start early: if the marks are not there yet, wait. Digging before the utilities have been located is exactly what the call is meant to prevent.
What Happens After You Make the Request?
After your request, the utility operators with lines near the site are notified. They respond by marking the approximate location of their underground lines, usually with paint or flags. Different colors are used for different types of utilities, so the marks tell you what is underneath, not just that something is.
Your request is tracked with a ticket, and the ticket lists the facility operators who were notified. Before anyone digs, confirm that every operator on the ticket has responded. A missing response means one of the lines near your site may not have been marked yet, and that is a reason to pause rather than guess.
What does the 24-inch tolerance zone mean?
Locate marks show the approximate path of a line, not its exact position. For that reason, digging within 24 inches of the marks should be done by hand, not with a machine. Hand-digging inside that zone lets you find the actual line before a bucket or blade does.
What If a Contractor Is Doing the Digging?
When you hire a contractor for excavation, grading, or other digging work, notifying 811 is the contractor's responsibility. Excavators submit their locate requests at least three business days before work begins, again excluding weekends and holidays.
You are still allowed, and encouraged, to ask about it. A simple question to put to any contractor before work starts is: "Can I have the locate ticket number?" A contractor who has made the request will have one, and it lets you confirm that the request exists and that the operators have responded.
What Will 811 Not Mark?
This is the part many homeowners miss. OKIE811 notifies utility operators, and those operators mark the lines they own. Private utilities on your property may not be marked. Examples include:
- Private sewer lines
- Private lighting
- Sprinkler and irrigation lines
- Septic systems
- Secondary lines
If your project is near any of these, do not assume a clear locate means a clear site. Think about where these systems were installed, check any property records or as-built drawings you have, and ask whoever installed them if you can. Hand-dig carefully near anything you suspect is there.
What Is a Quick Checklist Before Dirt Work Starts?
Whether you are digging yourself or hiring it out, run through this list:
Contact OKIE811 (811)
Do it at least three business days before the work begins, or confirm your contractor has.
Get the ticket number
Keep it where you can find it.
Wait for the marks
Confirm that every facility operator on the ticket has responded.
Walk the site
Look at the marks, flags, and paint so you know what runs where.
Think about private lines
Sprinklers, septic, private lighting, and sewer lines may not be marked.
Hand-dig within 24 inches
Do this near any marked line.
Mark your own work area
Everyone on site should know where digging is planned.
This kind of planning is also the sensible first step for larger jobs. Land preparation, grading, trenching, and drainage work all involve moving soil, and each one starts with knowing what is already in the ground.
How Does This Fit Into Site Preparation and Excavation?
405 Dirt Services is based in Cashion and provides site preparation and excavation throughout the Oklahoma City metro, including Oklahoma City, Edmond, Guthrie, Yukon, Mustang, Piedmont, Moore, Kingfisher, Cashion, Deer Creek, and El Reno. If you are planning a project that involves moving dirt, the free walkthrough is a good time to talk through the site, including what you know about utilities, sprinklers, septic systems, and anything else buried on the property.
Site Preparation and Excavation Across the Oklahoma City Metro
405 Dirt Services is based in Cashion and provides site preparation and excavation throughout the metro, including Oklahoma City, Edmond, Guthrie, Yukon, Mustang, Piedmont, Moore, Kingfisher, Cashion, Deer Creek, and El Reno.
- Oklahoma City
- Edmond
- Guthrie
- Yukon
- Mustang
- Piedmont
- Moore
- Kingfisher
- Cashion
- Deer Creek
- El Reno
This article is general safety guidance based on OKIE811's published homeowner and excavator information. For your specific situation, OKIE811 is the source to confirm requirements with.
Calling Before You Dig in Oklahoma, Answered
Who do I call in Oklahoma before I dig?
Call 811 to reach OKIE811, Oklahoma's one-call service for utility locates. Contacting OKIE811 is free, and homeowners should do it at least three business days before digging.
How many days before digging do I need to call 811 in Oklahoma?
At least three business days before you dig. Business days do not include weekends or holidays, so build in extra time if a weekend or holiday falls inside that window.
Is calling 811 free?
Yes. Contacting OKIE811 does not cost the homeowner anything.
If I hire a contractor, do I still need to call 811?
When a contractor is hired, notifying 811 is the contractor's responsibility. You can ask the contractor for the locate ticket number to confirm the request was made and that the utility operators have responded.
Will 811 mark my sprinkler lines, septic system, or private sewer line?
Not necessarily. Private utilities such as sewer lines, private lighting, sprinklers, septic systems, and secondary lines may not be marked. Plan for them separately and hand-dig carefully near anything you suspect is buried.
Does 405 Dirt Services provide site preparation and excavation in my area?
Yes, if you are in the Oklahoma City metro. 405 Dirt Services is based in Cashion and provides site preparation and excavation throughout the metro, including Oklahoma City, Edmond, Guthrie, Yukon, Mustang, Piedmont, Moore, Kingfisher, Cashion, Deer Creek, and El Reno.
Related Reading
Planning dirt work and want to talk it through?
Request a free estimate from 405 Dirt Services. Call (405) 645-3478 or request your free estimate online.
