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Critical 811 Limitation

Does 811 Mark Private Utility Lines?

The short answer is no — and this surprises a lot of homeowners. Understanding what 811 doesn't cover could save you from a very expensive and dangerous mistake.

⚠ Bottom Line 811 only locates utility lines that belong to a regulated utility company and run up to your meter or service connection. Everything on your side of that meter — or anything you installed yourself — is a private line and is NOT covered by the 811 locate process.

What 811 Actually Locates

When you call or submit a ticket through 811, you're triggering the notification of member utility companies — your electric provider, gas company, cable provider, telecom company, and water/sewer utility. Each company then sends a locator (or contracts one) to physically mark where their underground infrastructure runs on your property.

Critically, those locators only mark lines belonging to their company. That means:

  • The gas main running down your street ✅
  • The electric feed from the transformer to your meter ✅
  • The municipal water main connection up to your water meter ✅
  • The cable/fiber/telephone line from the street to your house ✅

Once the line crosses the meter or your property boundary and becomes yours, 811 coverage stops.

What 811 Does NOT Mark — Common Private Lines

These are the lines that catch homeowners off guard. They exist in almost every yard, they're almost never mapped, and 811 locators will not mark them:

🌿 Irrigation & Sprinkler Systems The most common surprise. Your underground irrigation lines — the lateral pipes running to each zone, the mainline from the backflow preventer, all of it — are private. They're yours. 811 has no information about them and will not mark them. Depths vary wildly: some are 6 inches down, some are 12–18 inches. A post-hole digger or trenching machine can cut through them easily.
💡 Landscape & Outdoor Lighting Low-voltage landscape lighting wire runs are private. Even if an electrician installed them, they don't appear in any utility database. These lines are often only 4–6 inches deep — barely below grade in many installs. They're easy to cut and surprisingly costly to repair (tracing damaged low-voltage wire can take hours).
🐾 Invisible Dog Fence (Pet Containment) The wire loop for an underground dog fence is private property. It's typically buried only 1–3 inches deep in soft soil or even laid under lawn edging. A shovel will cut it in seconds. Many homeowners don't remember where they installed it years ago, making this a hidden hazard.
🔥 Private LP/Propane Lines If you have a propane tank on your property, the gas line running from that tank to your house is a private line. The utility company's coverage ends at the street main or, in rural areas, doesn't exist at all. Your propane supplier may or may not have records of their installation.
🏊 Pool Equipment Lines Electrical conduit running from your panel to pool pumps, lights, and heaters is private. Gas lines to pool heaters are private. These are often 18–24 inches deep but can be shallower in warm climates where frost depth isn't a concern.
🔌 Outbuilding / Detached Garage Power The conduit or direct-burial cable feeding power to a detached garage, workshop, barn, or shed is private. You own it; you installed it (or had it installed). 811 knows nothing about it. Depth varies from 6 inches (low-voltage, NM-B) to 24 inches (conduit per NEC).
💧 Well Pump Wiring & Lines If your property has a private well, the electrical conduit running to the well pump and the water line from the wellhead are private. These are also not in any utility database.
🌐 Private Fiber / Network Conduit Some properties have conduit runs for ethernet, security cameras, or audio/video — especially on larger or custom-built homes. None of this appears in utility records.

The Special Case: Gas Lines from Tank to House

This one matters because natural gas is involved. In many rural areas, homes use liquid propane (LP) stored in a tank on the property rather than natural gas from a street main. The line from that tank to the house is entirely private — your propane supplier installed it, it doesn't appear in the 811 system, and the locators who respond to your ticket have no knowledge of it.

If you're digging anywhere near a propane tank, contact your propane supplier directly before you start. Most suppliers will mark the line for free — they have strong safety incentives to do so.

ℹ️ Helpful Detail Natural gas utility lines (from a municipal main) ARE covered by 811. The distinction is: municipal/utility-owned gas lines run to your meter and are marked. Private propane lines from a tank on your lot are not.

How Deep Are Private Lines? Why It Matters

Utility companies (the ones covered by 811) are required to install their lines at minimum depths. Electric, gas, and water mains are typically 24–48 inches deep. This is why a standard shovel or post-hole digger is less likely to hit them.

Private lines have no such requirement in most jurisdictions, or requirements are significantly shallower. Here's the practical reality:

Private Line TypeCommon Depth RangeRisk Level
Irrigation mainline8–18 inchesModerate
Irrigation laterals4–10 inchesHigh
Landscape lighting wire3–6 inchesHigh
Invisible dog fence1–4 inchesHigh
Low-voltage outdoor audio3–8 inchesHigh
Outbuilding power (conduit)18–24 inchesModerate
Outbuilding power (direct burial)12–18 inchesModerate
Pool electrical18–24 inchesModerate
Private propane line12–24 inchesHigh
Well pump wiring18–36 inchesModerate

How to Locate Private Lines Before Digging

Since 811 won't help with private lines, you have several options depending on the type of line:

  1. Check your records and original installation paperwork

    Irrigation systems, pool electrical, and outbuilding wiring often came with as-built drawings or were noted on a home inspection report. Check your home purchase file, your HOA paperwork, and any records from previous contractors.

  2. Call the original installer

    If you know who installed your irrigation system or ran power to your garage, call them. Reputable contractors often keep job records. Irrigation companies especially may have GPS or sketch maps of their installs.

  3. Use a private utility locator service

    Private locating companies use the same electromagnetic and ground-penetrating radar technology that public utility locators use. They charge for the service (typically $200–$600 depending on property size and complexity) but can locate most metallic lines and conduits. Look for companies that advertise "private utility locating" or "private locate services."

  4. Probe before you dig

    For shallow lines (irrigation, landscape lighting), a thin metal probe or flat-blade screwdriver pushed carefully into the soil can reveal lines without cutting them. Work slowly and methodically in a grid pattern before committing to digging.

  5. Hand dig the first 18 inches

    When in doubt — especially near known irrigation zones, outbuildings, or pool equipment — hand dig rather than using power equipment until you've confirmed what's there. It's slower but dramatically less likely to result in a costly break.

  6. Contact your propane supplier directly

    If there's a propane tank on the property, call your supplier before any excavation. They will typically mark their lines for free as a safety matter. This is separate from 811 and needs to be done independently.

How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Cut Private Line?

Private line repairs aren't cheap, and they're rarely covered by homeowner's insurance when the damage results from digging without proper precautions.

Line TypeTypical Repair CostNotes
Irrigation zone line (PVC)$75–$250Parts cheap, labor to find the break varies widely
Irrigation mainline (larger pipe)$150–$450Higher flow, more excavation often needed
Landscape lighting wire$100–$350Tracing a cut in a long run takes time
Invisible fence wire$80–$200Kit splices are often DIY-able
Outbuilding power (conduit)$400–$1,500+May require pulling new wire the full run
Private propane line$300–$1,200+Requires licensed gas fitter in most states

These figures assume you're dealing with a clean cut in an accessible location. If the break is under a patio, driveway, or landscaped area, costs increase substantially due to demolition and restoration work.

✓ The Right Process Call 811 for utility lines — then separately assess and locate all private lines on your property before you dig. They're two different steps, and both matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

My irrigation system was installed by a professional company. Shouldn't it be in the 811 system?
No. Even professionally installed irrigation systems are private utilities — they're your property, installed on your land, and maintained by you. Only public utility companies (electric, gas, water/sewer, telecom) are members of the state one-call center system that 811 triggers. Private contractors who install irrigation or landscape systems have no mechanism to register their work in 811's database.
I just moved into this house and have no idea what's buried in the yard. What should I do?
Start with 811 for the public utility lines — that's the baseline. Then gather any records from closing documents, home inspection reports, or seller disclosures that mention underground systems. Walk the property and look for sprinkler heads (which indicate irrigation lines), outdoor lighting fixtures, propane tanks, and outbuildings with power. Before any significant digging, consider hiring a private locator to do a full sweep. The cost is worth it on an unknown property.
Are private water lines (like from well to house) covered by 811?
No. A private well and the water line running from the wellhead to your house are entirely private. Municipal water lines (from the city main) are covered up to your water meter, but beyond that — including the service line from the meter to your house in many jurisdictions — it's private. When in doubt about where utility responsibility ends and yours begins, call your water provider directly and ask.
Can I hire someone to mark my private lines the same way 811 marks utility lines?
Yes. Private utility locating is a legitimate service industry. These companies use electromagnetic locating equipment and, for non-metallic pipes, ground-penetrating radar (GPR). They charge for the service, but they can locate most buried metallic infrastructure. Search for "private utility locating" or "subsurface utility locating" in your area. Make sure they can locate both metallic and non-metallic lines, as some equipment only detects metal.
What happens if I cut an irrigation line? Is it dangerous?
Cutting an irrigation line is typically not dangerous — it's water under relatively low pressure. You'll get wet, and you'll need to repair it, but it's not a safety emergency. Cutting a propane line is a very different story — that is a serious hazard. Cutting electrical conduit to an outbuilding or pool can cause electrocution risk depending on the line's condition and load. If you cut anything and are unsure what it is, stop work, step away, and call a licensed contractor before proceeding.
📋

Before You Dig Checklist (PDF)

A print-ready checklist covering 811 tickets, private line assessment, wait times, and documentation steps — everything before the first shovel goes in.

Download Free Checklist

Related Guides

⏱

Wait Times by State

How long you must wait after calling 811 before digging. Varies from 2–5 business days depending on your state.

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Color Code Guide

What the paint colors mean after a 811 locate: orange, yellow, red, blue, green, white, and pink.

🚧

Hit a Utility Line?

What to do immediately if you hit or damage a utility line during excavation — safety steps and who to call.

ℹ️ Informational Disclaimer This guide provides general educational information about the 811 locate process. Rules, coverage, and procedures vary by state and utility company. Always verify current requirements with your local one-call center and relevant utility providers before digging. This is not legal, engineering, or professional advice.