If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The colors follow the Uniform Color Code set by the American Public Works Association. When you see flags, you not only tend to question what it is and what purpose it serves but also what the different colors are. Red -it is the most common color and its used to mark electric utilities or power lines Marking an area with red will help to avoid a power outage that can affect the whole neighborhood. This center will take care of communicating with your local utilities, who will send their people out to mark line locations. Its even more frustrating to see people come to your yard and put up flags without permission. Each excavator is required to place their own locate request. Or maybe a utility company decided to pay my property a visit without my knowledge and started digging in my backyard. The locators will mark your yard with paint or flags in various colors that indicate where utility lines are . (Answer Inside), Does Windex or Fabuloso Kill Roaches? I then called the number on this power box thing that is located on my front yard.. but I don't exactly know who I called it just said "before digging call ###-###-####" so I called them, and they also couldn't tell me who put the flags there or whether I can or cannot remove them. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. The American Public Works Association (APWA) has developed a color code for marking underground utilities, so it's easy to immediately identify any utilities in the proposed excavation area. If the line is damaged, the neighborhood could experience a flood or that water will not be safe for drinking for days. A utility easement gives utility companies the right to access any area in your property for work on gas, electric, sewer, telephone, and water lines. How do I align things in the following tabular environment? We won't share it with anyone else. A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. The flags and paint marks may be an annoyance, but they are crucial for the safety of construction workers and others near a work site. How To Remove An Easement From Your Property The Right Way, Can You Get Street Lights Turned Off? 2. If youre having trouble contacting the company or if you feel they are not attending to your concern, you have two ways to approach this: Is it possible to sue your utility company? More importantly, its your responsibility to follow-up so dont be shy about it. This repair in such situations involves sections of the utility line that pass through your yard. Those are utility location flags. The flag colors come in the uniform color code for general designation and use. As a result, Verizon or the utility company damaged my driveway. mine haven't leaked in years. The utility flags installed in properties are to be left in place for a minimum of 6 months before they can be removed, while other states have laws that do not allow the removal of utility flags. Mow your yard. At the same time, the flags on private property would be removed by the property owners. And at highway speeds, that is dangerous. ROUTINE: A regular locate. Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If you discover utility lines put up in your garden, some repair or maintenance works will be carried on the utility lines in the area. Can I Have an Electric Fence Around My Property Legally? Cannot fix sidewall punctures, its either a new tire or a tube. This purpose should be explained clearly on the easement. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? once the construction is done, i will resume normal mowing. Can I Remove Utility Flags In My Yard: Is this Illegal? WHEN will someone come to do something about them? Also, most flags bear the name of the company that placed them, so you should be able to see the contact information. If locate flags are in place for more than 14 days without any activity, the property owner can remove them because they are no longer valid at that point. It can be very tempting to play with them or even remove them. To children, those colorful flags could be very attractive. Do not remove the flags, stakes or paint marks until you have finished . A standing flag symbol is drawn on the pink utility flag. I've mowed twice with my flags in the ground. The yellow flags will help identify contractors that a gas line is on that spot. When your installation is underground a crew chosen by your fiber provider will dig a small trench on your property to bury the line that comes from the street. About seven to eight utility companies are typically contacted. Worse, you could end up in court. Generally, flags should not be taken off. Yellow locator flags are crucial for avoiding damaging gas lines. The colors are as follows are noted in this handy chart. We would advise that you do not remove the markings or flags. In most cases, it is illegal to tamper with these markings. Utility lines are a matter of public or state-owned facilities that are meant to serve the public. If the species is a foreign one, it likely escaped captivity, or the owner let it out, and it might threaten those species in your region. Utility companies are not the only ones that can own easement to your property. These will help workers locate important marked spots. To take matters to court, you must be ready with proof that the utility company has been negligent with their task. The hidden costs of underground utility damage. (The Official Answer)Continue, Seeing furniture on the side of the street is common and sometimes even a little exciting if youre looking, Read More Is It Illegal to Leave Furniture on the Street? Generally, flags should not be taken off. They are there for a purpose, which is to protect underground lines that may be damaged during digging. (Check for This First), Can I Put a Pool in My Front Yard? In NJ, that is 10 days. White flags usually mark the area where there is a proposed excavation. It signifies electric utilities, such as cables and power lines. One thing to note is that utility companies do have the right to come onto your property, even without permission. The circuit was out for 3 hours. If you are not able to get any information from your States Call 811 Center, you can try to call the utility company that placed the flag. The flags are red (electric), orange (telecommunication) and yellow (gas). There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. Utility flags are meant to protect these utility lines when future homeowners or landscapers plan on digging. The Yellow flag utility has an oil drop symbol in it. Accidental removal of the flags is inevitable. Staff Writer Its vital to avoid the spot marked with the yellow flags. For instance, a water company may ask to have that area marked with yellow flags so that when there is an installation, repair, or maintenance on the water lines, the marked spot wont be touched. Each color of paint/flag represents a unique type of underground utility. No person shall intentionally remove or tamper with a marking provided for under this act.. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Clear skies. The purple flag indicates another set of utilities that should not be tampered with. Yard Blogger is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not its safe to remove them. While the purpose of easements are to mainly allow utility companies to access your area for work, your neighbor may also own easements. "They can tell you whether a utility flag has outstayed its 30-day limit, at which point you can remove it.". Although we cant specifically answer your question here, we can help shed some light on a few of the possibilities about what is happening. This year they pulled into the drive and drove their trucks and equipment across the lawn at a angle to get to the NW corner. At Utility Locator, our company uses our own flag (see example) to delineate the lines we have marked out. When you see a pink flag utility flag on your yard, then you should not worry at the moment because there would not be heavy equipment moving, digging, or excavating. To children, those colorful flags could be very attractive. Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. The first one is that there will be an excavation project planned in the spot where the flags are. This would help you know what kind of possible disruption the repair would cause to help you plan accordingly. This gives utility companies the legal right to be on your property to fix any broken lines or install new utility lines, even if it means making changes to your yard. After a few passes, something catches my eye: a wire staff flag which was laying in the lawn, managed to implant itself in the sidewall of the back right tire of my VRide! The APWA color code guide can tell you which colors indicate which type of utility. Why are there utility flags in my yard? The only person who should be removing them is the one responsible for the placement of the flags. You may have no idea what it is and you just see it as something that ruins the overall aesthetics of your yard. The symbols also help to pass the information on the purpose of the flag even without any writing inscriptions made on the flags. These mark the power lines that connect to a neighbor's power grid. For red flags, try to call your Electric Company. The operator should be able to provide the name of the company or individual who requested the dig and their contact information. Had to make a run to get a tube installed in a BRAND NEW TIRE! I've started a nice collection of them in the back of my truck. The markings are valid per their rules for 30 days. Neighbor Keeps Hitting Balls in My Yard: What To Do? Its worth noting that each state has different laws when it comes to this situation. Lacks Neutral Wires and Grounding Bus. If you have blue flags, you can call the water company, and so on. While you cant really prevent utility companies from doing their jobs, its good to know who is setting foot on your property and what theyre doing. Can I Remove Utility Flags In My Yard: Is this Illegal? Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. Manage Settings This means that you can only remove flags 30 days after placing them with no work done. ; Yellow Lines used for natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, as well as other gaseous or flammable materials. Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! They usually have a validity of 30 calendar days. The question of legality and the right to remove utility flags from your lawn or property can be tricky. This will likely bump your concern to the top of their list. They should be able to let you know the best times for them to make the repair. We've been plugging sidewalls on mowers for years. Before you blow your stack, relax a little bit. The flags help utility workers locate the lines . Never fear, because in this article, were going to go over what utility flags are, what the different color utility flags mean, as well as what you can do as the property owner. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. At the same time, if your property is the only area neighbors can access to get to another street, that means you cant block the way or you cant even stop them from crossing your yard. If a gas main or service line is exposed during digging, call Greater Dickson Gas Authority. If youre going this route, make sure you work with a lawyer that has experience in dealing with utility concerns. Doing so is illegal and you could pay a fine. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shed? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. How 811 works. But keep in mind that removing these flags are a big no-no. What do normal homeowner's do about utility flags/markings? The standard utility service paint or flags colors are: Red: Electric; Orange . The reason flags are put in your yard is to notify you of repair work on utility lines or the installation of a new utility line passing through your yard. The six months minimum time to remove flags applies after the required work is done. PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881 and via Twitter at @phwolfeDRC. I know he was mad I know they fixed it and put sod down. Depending on the state youre in, there should be a law that prohibits any person from removing or tampering with utility flags. JavaScript is disabled. In most states, it is illegal to tamper with any underground utility markings that were placed in accordance with your states Call 811 dig laws. Ive had to go back to the property owner a couple times over utility company's mess. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If you need or want to remove the flags, our suggestion is that you call your local state-run dig center by simply dialing 811 . The question of permission and the legality of you removing utility flags will be discussed in this article.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yardpit_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Utility flags are the small, mostly orange reflective markers that are used to indicate underground utility lines. You cannot legally work from someone else's request. Utility color flags help workers who carry out the digging identify which utility line is running under the marked spots. State law requires contractors, utilities or individuals who plan to dig even a homeowner planting a tree to call 811 to come locate underground utilities in the work area. There wont be any excavating in the near future, for a while anyways. you can plug sidewalls. Contact the state agency that supervises all public utilities. The only person who should be removing them is the one responsible for the placement of the flags. These flags aside, the color comes with symbols. But it does not call for removal. Utility operators mark any underground line that is directly in the way of construction, or even near it. You may be wondering at this point: Can a utility company dig in my yard without permission? Have you ever wondered about orange flags? Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not its safe to remove them. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. Knowing the different flag colors representation helps you know what plans to make, and the kind of excavation or utility work would be done in your neighborhood. Lets say you wanted to build a deck over a certain area in your property other people can legally access. (Do This First)Continue, Well water offers many positive advantages, most importantly, fewer utility bills! jfields@dentonrc.com, A long time coming: No. Allowing others to use a portion of your, Read More How To Remove An Easement From Your Property The Right WayContinue, A street light shining into your yard can be maddeningespecially if its hindering your attempts to observe the night, Read More Can You Get Street Lights Turned Off? Removing the marks and flags put them at risk. I mow a storage facility that's on a main state road with city roads on 3 sides. As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. Accidental removal of the flags is inevitable. The orange flag indicates communication lines, alarm lines, traffic loops, cables or conduit lines, and signal lines. Where does this (supposedly) Gibson quote come from? "The contractor needs to know the location of the lines in the area in which they are digging in order to stay . The APWA color code guide can tell you which colors indicate which type of utility. There were 2 supermarkets on that circuit as well as many other business's. The lawsuits from just the two supermarkets was over $800,000 in lost perishables. Stop mower. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. The color codes are as follows: Proposed excavation will be marked in white, power lines will mark in red, gas lines will mark in yellow, all communication lines will mark in orange, water marks in blue, sewer marks in green and Purple is for Reclaimed Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines. juan.betancourt@dentonrc.com, Beth Maries has churned up a new flavor, North of Ordinary, to represent Denton, By John Fields Other states place a validity of the flags for 30 calendar days. As someone who places these flags for a living, leave them there for as long as you can or until you're 100% sure the work is completed. You can then speak with this person to see if they have completed the work or if the flags are even needed in your yard. Moving or removing flags and paint markings will ultimately make you liable for any damage that occurs to that utility, and trust us those can be expensive. Can I remove the MISS DIG flags in my yard? Digging on a spot without knowing beforehand the location of underground utility lines can be risky. That way, contractors will not dig it up. If you must remove the utility flags in your lawn or backyard, make sure you call the utility company in charge of the utility lines of your area or street to ensure it is safe to remove any utility flag. You may also see a marking in the street or near a pole or structure with an arrow that says Call 811, Miss Utility, One Call, Dig Safe, UFPO, etc. If the line is damaged, the neighborhood could experience a flood or that water will not be safe for drinking for days. How to follow the signal when reading the schematic? Plastic Antioxidants Use Marking Flags for Safety and Many Other Purposes Marking flags offer a way to clearly identify underground electric lines or mark construction borders. They should be able to provide the contact name and number for the individual who called in the dig request. Your electric power company, for example, usually has an easement to use the portion of your land on which its towers and lines sit. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. It will be about 2 weeks before I can get the landscaping work done. Power, telephone, gas, and water lines are buried underground, likely on your property. Can I Have a Sheep in My Backyard? There are a few important reasons why there are flags on your lawn. They were here today.They marked with both spraypaint and flags. You may have removed it before realizing its purpose. It only takes a minute to sign up. Just purchased my first house and I'm shocked at the little things that I just never knew or understood about daily life. Staff Writer This color is used for communication systems, TV cables and alarm lines. But this authority only takes place after the initial need for the flags is completed. and our Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. No such luck. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. athermalized lenses In such places, the state is responsible for removing locate flags that are on the streets and public places. Known as "locate flags," the person who called for their placement is responsible for removing them when the job is complete. This practice is often refereed to as Subsurface Utility Engineering. The purple flag indicates Reclaimed water lines, irrigation lines, and slurry lines. Owner Rights (The Official Answer), Is It Illegal to Leave Furniture on the Street? . When you see flags, you not only tend to question what it is and what purpose it serves but also what the different colors are. They are provided for informational purposes only. But just because there are flags on your lawn it doesnt always mean the utility company is going to start digging up your yard. For instance, it is not that uncommon for an electric company to call in a 150 radius of a utility pole that is going to be replaced. The colors of the flags and their symbolism are listed below: A white flag, which usually has a shovel symbol, indicates a proposed excavation. If you are unable to gather the information from the state 811, you can simply refer to the color of the flag. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Avoid digging near buried utilities if possible. If you found blue flags, you can try your water company. In cases where you accidentally removed it, its best to call 811 for help. For most homeowners, your insurance policies will likely not cover the damages that arise from what the Utility Commission will classify as negligence. Utility companies usually place flags to mark . While you cant really prevent utility companies from doing their jobs, its good to know who is setting foot on your property and what theyre doing. I've had decent luck with plugs in mower tires. There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. She often shares practical tips and friendly expert advice on everything relating to home and yard on this blog. But if it happens to you, you should know that it means someone is planning to turn it into an excavation site. Image Credit: Rick Beauregard, Shutterstock. To put it simply, an easement gives a company or individuals the right to legally use a landowners property for a specific purpose. 811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Its expected of a property owner to be bothered by the sight of colorful flags in their yard. Wait two full business days before beginning the digging. OK, so today I am on my virtually new VRide cutting an apartment complex which has some marking flags in the lawn. For more information, visit California811. The American Public Works Association (APWA) has color-coded all utilities so it's easy for those in the industry to immediately identify what utility is running where. You would be really upset if you lived in my area, we also spray paint on the ground above the utility path. This means they can step on your yard and not be considered trespassing, as long as they use this access for a specific purpose. This approval must come from the relevant state laws and the government-assigned contractor or utility company in charge of the utilities in your neighborhood. But when I called 811 they directed me to the seller's listing agent before the home was sold, and she was at a loss as to what to tell me and told me to just remove them. When they dig the holes do their work and leave. If youre unsure, a more helpful way to deal with this is to call 811. An easement is typically granted by property owners to an electric utility for the purpose of constructing and maintaining power lines and other equipment. The state requires utility companies and their subcontractors to locate and mark where underground lines are buried. They are there for a purpose, which is to protect underground lines that may be damaged during digging. (Highly Deer Resistant). When calling for locates, please have the following information ready: Who the work is being done for (general contractor or project) Type .
