What This Service Is
Public Locates Stop at the Meter. Private Locating Doesn't.
811/One-Call is a free public service that marks utilities owned by utility companies — up to the property line or meter, no further. Everything on the private side of that line — irrigation, propane, communications, security wiring, site electrical, storm and sanitary laterals — isn't covered. Private utility locating is the process of finding, marking, and documenting those lines using electromagnetic locating, GPR, and other subsurface methods, so property owners, contractors, and engineers have a complete picture before excavation starts.
Why It Matters
The Liability You Don't See Coming
A struck public utility is a rare, costly mistake. A struck private utility is a common one — because nobody located it. Private lines cause the majority of on-site utility strikes precisely because 811 never touches them.
811 legally covers public utilities only — private lines are excluded by definition
Most utility strikes happen on the private side of the property line
Contractors and owners carry the liability for unmarked private utilities, not the utility companies
Private lines are often undocumented, unpermitted, or installed off-plan
A private locate before excavation is far cheaper than a strike, an outage, or a claim
What You Get
Deliverables & Outcomes
How We Work
Our Process
Consultation
We review your site and identify what private utilities are likely present.
Assessment
We evaluate site conditions and select the right locating methods.
Field Work
We locate and mark private utilities with electromagnetic and GPR methods.
Documentation
You receive GPS-referenced markouts, as-built sketches, and a locate report.