Call 811 Statewide
Homeowners and contractors use the same number in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Apache Junction. Arizona 811 also accepts online locate requests.
Guides
What Number Should I Call Before Digging in Arizona?
Mesa Excavation Co. starts excavation planning in Mesa with a call to 811, Arizona's free utility notification service. Call before digging so member utilities can identify buried lines and you can address private lines before equipment arrives. A struck gas or communication line can endanger people, interrupt service, and stop the job.
Quick Summary
- Dial 811 before digging anywhere in Arizona. The call connects you with the statewide notification center, which alerts member utilities to your planned excavation.
- For a standard locate request, allow at least two full working days after the day you call. Wait for every affected utility to confirm that marking is complete or unnecessary before digging.
- The 811 request is free, but it does not cover every buried line. Arrange separate locating for privately owned irrigation, landscape lighting, and old pool equipment lines.
- Keep your ticket number, check that the marks cover your entire dig area, and protect them throughout the work. Contact 811 about missing, unclear, or washed-out marks before proceeding.
Before You Dig in Arizona
Separate Public and Private Lines
Member utilities mark the facilities they are responsible for. Customer-owned lines may need a private locator, even when public utility marks are already visible.
Check Every Utility Response
Review the responses for your ticket before equipment arrives. No paint on the ground does not establish that the area is clear; follow up on any missing or delayed response.
Recognizing Your Dig Area and Utilities
White Paint Outlining a Mesa Excavation Area
White paint or flags identify the proposed excavation boundary. A clear outline helps locators understand the area described in your request.
Private Irrigation Lines Beside a Home
Buried irrigation can cross the same yard as utility-owned facilities. Include these private runs in the locating plan before trenching or pool removal.
Hand Exposure Beside a Marked Utility Line
Surface marks indicate the general route of a buried facility. Careful hand exposure establishes its actual location, and the exposed facility must remain supported and protected.
Your Pre-Dig Checklist
Plan the Waiting Period
Exclude the request day, weekends, and applicable nonworking holidays when scheduling the locate wait. Confirm the start date and all utility responses before mobilizing.
Check Marking Expiration
Arizona markings are valid for 15 working days from the marking date. If work will continue longer, request renewal at least two working days before that period ends.
Respect the Tolerance Zone
The tolerance zone includes the facility width plus 24 inches on each side. Arizona requires careful hand exposure within that zone; paint is not permission to excavate with a bucket.
Keep Private Lines on the Checklist
Flag concerns about meter-to-house runs, low-voltage lighting, and old pool conduits. Confirm which facilities the utility marks cover and arrange private locating for the rest.
Who to Contact Before Excavation
| Digging situation | Who to contact | Before work proceeds |
|---|---|---|
| A new trench, pool, or foundation excavation | Arizona 811 | Describe the full dig area, allow the required notice period, and confirm completed utility responses. |
| Irrigation, landscape lighting, or old pool lines | A private utility locator | Identify customer-owned facilities that the member utility locate does not cover. |
| Missing responses or unclear paint marks | Arizona 811 or the affected facility operator | Resolve the missing information or arrange remarking before digging. |
| Excavation close to a marked facility | The facility operator and excavation crew | Confirm protective measures and carefully expose the facility with hand tools. |
| Work continuing beyond the marking period | Arizona 811 | Arrange renewal before the existing marks expire. |
What an 811 Ticket Does
Have the property address, parcel details, and a clear description of the digging area ready when you contact Arizona 811. The center passes your request to member facility operators, which mark their lines or respond that their facilities do not conflict with the work. Those facilities can include gas, electricity, water, sewer, and communications. A ticket helps coordinate those responses; it does not locate every private pipe or cable. Keep the ticket and photographs of the marks with the project records, and confirm the planned excavation stays within the area requested.
Site Conditions That Need Extra Care
East Valley caliche can complicate excavation, while monsoon rain can erase surface paint. If marks become unclear, pause work and request assistance; photographs do not replace usable markings. Older properties and pool remodels may have undocumented private lines that need separate investigation, including ground-penetrating radar or careful exposure. Trench protection is a separate requirement from utility locating: OSHA generally requires a protective system at depths of 5 feet or more unless the excavation is entirely in stable rock. Shallower trenches also need protection when a competent person identifies a cave-in hazard.
Common Follow-Up Questions
Do small projects need a call? Contact 811 before a fence-post hole or shallow trench as well as a foundation excavation; shallow digging can still encounter utilities. Does Mesa use a different number? No, 811 serves the entire state, including Maricopa County. Does it cost anything? The 811 request is free; private locating is a separate service. What happens if you skip it? A utility strike can cause injuries, outages, repair liability, and potential penalties. Are marks exact? Treat them as location guidance and confirm the facility through careful exposure before working close to it.
Excavation Planning
Plan Your Mesa Excavation
Planning a pool removal, utility trench, foundation, or drainage project? Share the address, proposed dig area, and any known private lines with Mesa Excavation Co. We can coordinate or verify private locating as part of the excavation plan. Submit the utility locate request through Arizona 811 and allow for completed responses before digging.