811 in Florida: Complete Homeowner Guide

About Sunshine 811

Florida's Sunshine 811 is one of the most active one-call centers in the country, processing millions of tickets annually. Florida's warm climate means year-round digging — and year-round utility strike risk.

The one-call center for all of Florida is Sunshine 811. You can reach them by dialing 811 from any phone, or by submitting a ticket directly through their online portal at https://www.sunshine811.com.

Required Wait Period

Florida requires a minimum of 2 full business days notice before any excavation. 'Full business days' means if you call at 3pm on Monday, the clock starts Tuesday morning — you can dig on Thursday morning at the earliest.

Use the Wait Time Calculator to get your exact earliest legal dig date — it accounts for weekends, Florida state holidays, and federal holidays automatically.

Ticket Validity and Re-Notify Rules

Florida's 30-day ticket window is among the most generous in the Southeast. For projects running longer than 30 days, you must re-notify before the ticket expires. Online re-notification through the Sunshine 811 portal is quick and available 24/7.

For the complete re-notify process and a comparison of all states' validity windows, see the Re-Notify Rules guide.

Private Lines in Florida

Florida has a high concentration of irrigation systems, reclaimed water lines (marked in purple), and private well infrastructure — especially in Central and South Florida. None of these are covered by 811. Always assess private lines separately before any project.

For a complete guide to locating private lines before digging, see What 811 Does NOT Cover.

How to Submit an 811 Ticket in Florida

1. Pre-mark your excavation area in white

   Mark each planned dig location with white paint, flags, or stakes before submitting your ticket.

2. Submit online or call 811

   Visit https://www.sunshine811.com or dial 811. Provide your address, work description, planned start date, and dig dimensions.

3. Save your ticket confirmation number

   You'll receive a confirmation number immediately. Use it to track utility responses in the Sunshine 811 portal.

4. Wait 2 full business days

   Do not dig until the wait period has elapsed AND all utilities have responded to your ticket.

5. Verify all responses before digging

   Log in with your ticket number and confirm every utility shows as "marked" or "clear." Never dig with pending responses.

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