Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by Umar Farooq
Call 811 before digging, every time, even for a small paver patio. It is free, it sends utility locators to mark their buried lines, and you wait until every utility has answered before the first shovel goes in. Call or file online a few days ahead (the wait is set by your state, commonly two working days), outline the dig in white, and hand-dig near the marks. A patio dig is shallow, but it usually sits beside the house, where service lines come in.
I read four 811 pages from national, regional and state centers. They agree on the process and differ on the numbers, so I will say where.
The five steps, in the order 811 centers give them
- Pre-mark. Outline the dig area with white paint or flags.
- Notify. Dial 811 or file online, and keep the ticket number.
- Wait. Locators mark their lines with paint or flags, or tell you they have none there.
- Confirm. Check that every utility on the ticket has responded, and call 811 again if one has not. 811 Before You Dig says an average of 7 to 8 operators are notified per request, so one answer is not all of them.
- Dig carefully. Use the marks as a guide, and hand-dig near them.
How early to call depends on your state
| Source | Timing |
|---|---|
| Kansas 811 | At least two full working days, not counting the day you call, weekends or holidays |
| USA North 811 | At least two working days |
| New York 811 | At least 48 hours but no more than 10 working days |
| 811 Before You Dig | "A few days"; check your state |
So a Friday call for a Monday dig does not work in Kansas, and in New York you cannot call a month early and forget it. Because the dig cannot start until the marks are in, this is the first date on your schedule (see how long does it take to install pavers for the rest).
Call 811 before digging a patio, a post hole or a drain trench
Kansas 811 says every digging job needs a call, even planting a shrub. New York 811's examples include landscaping, fence post holes, deck supports, retaining walls and driving landscaping stakes. For a paver job, that means:
- The excavation and sod removal.
- Pergola or gazebo post holes, which go deeper than the patio (paver patio with pergola).
- Drain trenches and lighting cable runs.
- Edge restraint spikes, under the "driving stakes" wording.
Describe each on the ticket, because the locators mark the area you tell them about.
Dig by hand inside the tolerance zone
Marks are approximate. New York 811 says to allow at least a 24 inch tolerance zone on either side of a marked line, and 811 Before You Dig says to avoid digging within 18 to 24 inches on all sides. Inside that band, use a hand shovel, and keep the plate compactor and sod cutter off the line. Leave the flags and paint in place until you finish.
A marked line still is not a safe one. The NTSB report on the 2005 Bergenfield, New Jersey explosion is the case I keep returning to: a gas service line had been marked twice, a trench about 2 feet from it was left open overnight, the soil slumped, the pipe pulled apart at a fitting and three residents died (NTSB PAB-07/01). The report notes that New Jersey One Call covers homeowners as well as commercial work. A patio dig is far smaller, but the marks tell you where the line is, not that digging beside it is safe.
What the free call does not find
Public utilities do not mark private lines. Kansas 811 lists pool heater lines, electricity for outbuildings, invisible fences, septic systems, sprinkler systems and satellite dishes, and suggests a private locator if you suspect any. Sprinkler pipes are the likeliest to get cut, and pavers over irrigation lines covers how to map them.
Hiring a contractor? Ask for the ticket number
USA North 811 suggests three questions: did you contact 811, what is the ticket number, and have all utilities responded? New York 811 says a hired excavator, not the homeowner, is responsible for the call. Ask anyway.
Marks do not last forever
Kansas 811 says erosion or root growth can shift lines, so call again for each job. If the dig runs past the request's expiration (it varies by state), 811 Before You Dig says to ask for a re-mark. If a weekend project turns into a month, call again.
Colors, per USA North 811's APWA list: red electric, yellow gas and oil, orange communications, blue water, green sewer, purple reclaimed water and irrigation, pink survey marks, white proposed dig. If you hit a line, New York 811 says to call the utility and 811 at once even if nothing looks damaged. If gas is escaping, walk away, call 9-1-1 and avoid anything that can spark, including a cell phone.
One free call, then a hand shovel
811 costs nothing and takes a few minutes, and everything bad about skipping it is on the other side of that trade. Call a few days ahead, outline in white, wait for every utility, hand-dig inside 24 inches of a mark, and remember the sprinklers are your problem. Then rent the plate compactor and enjoy the one task in this project that does not start with a phone call.
FAQ
Do I need to call 811 for a small patio?
Yes. Kansas 811 says every digging job needs a call, and New York 811 lists landscaping, post holes and driving stakes. A patio sits near the house, where service lines come in.
How far in advance should I call 811?
Commonly at least two working days, but it varies by state. New York 811 says at least 48 hours and no more than 10 working days.
Is calling 811 free?
Yes. USA North 811 says the service, including the locators' visit, is free of charge. A private locator, hired for lines 811 does not cover, is not.
Will 811 find my sprinkler pipes?
No. Public utilities do not mark private lines. Kansas 811 lists sprinkler systems, septic systems and outbuilding electric as private and suggests hiring a private locator.
How close can I dig to the marks?
New York 811 says allow at least 24 inches on either side of a marked line. 811 Before You Dig says avoid digging within 18 to 24 inches. Hand-dig inside that band.
What if a utility has not responded?
Do not dig. Check the ticket for each utility's response and call 811 again if any are missing.
