09/29/2026
📢 How a 3-Day Locate Process Works
🤳 The Worker or Homeowner submits a locate request by calling 811 or using the TENN811 online system.
🔔 Tennessee 811 notifies all Utility providers in the dig area.
🗓 Each Utility has 3 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) to mark their underground lines with paint or flags.
🚱 Utilities may respond with "No Conflict" meaning they have no lines in the dig zone.
⛏ Digging may begin only after the 3-Day window has passed and all utilities have either marked or cleared the area.
🔵 Marks must be protected and remain visible. They are generally valid for 15 calendar days.
🟥 Electric Lines 🟨 Natural Gas 🟦 Water 🟩 Wasterwater
🟧 Communications 🟪 Reclaimed Water ⬜️ Proposed Dig Area
👥 Who must Call 811 Before You Dig The legal responsibility belongs to the individual or company performing the excavation. Professional Contractors, Homeowners, Utility Repair Crews, and Anyone else operating equipment for digging. If a homeowner hires a contractor, the contractor must make the call. Ownership of property does NOT change responsibility.
🚨 Emergency locates are reserved for situations that present immediate danger to life, health, property, or essential services. Examples are Gas leaks, Broken water mains causing flooding, Downed power lines posing hazards, and any situation where delay increases risk of injury or property loss.
❌ Non-Emergency examples: Contractor running behind schedule, Homeowner wanting work done sooner, Project deadlines without safety risks.
🛑 The utility will only mark what they have installed such as Gas and Water Lines from the road to the meter. They cannot mark the lines for your service. If you have a septic tank, dog fence, or other buried services on your property the owner is responsible for marking those.
If you have questions, you can call our office at (731) 968-5213