Call Colorado 811 Before You Demolish or Dig

Underground utilities such as gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines run under almost every Denver property. Hitting one during demolition or excavation can cause injuries, outages and expensive repairs. Colorado 811, the Utility Notification Center of Colorado, is the free service that helps member utilities mark the approximate location of their buried lines before digging begins.

When to call

Contact Colorado 811 before any excavation, which includes digging out foundations, removing slabs that sit over buried lines, trenching, and grading that goes below the surface. Colorado law sets notice requirements and the time utilities have to respond, so check the current rules and submit your request in advance of your planned start date.

What locates do and do not cover

• They mark member utilities: Participating utilities mark the approximate path of their buried lines, typically using paint or flags with a color code.
• They are approximate: Marks indicate approximate location, and the law generally calls for care when working near them, such as hand-digging within a tolerance zone.
• They may not cover private lines: Lines on the property that belong to the owner, such as some irrigation, lighting or private service lines, may not be marked by member utilities. Ask your contractor how those will be found.

811 is not the same as disconnecting service

A locate tells you where lines are. It does not shut off service to the building you are demolishing. Gas, electric, water and sewer connections to the structure must be disconnected and capped through the utility providers, and that work can take time. Many demolition delays come from skipping or starting these requests late.

A simple checklist

• Request the locate well before excavation.
• Arrange service disconnects for the building separately.
• Keep marks visible and re-request if they fade or the job is delayed.
• Walk the site with your contractor and discuss private lines.

Denver Demolition Co includes utility coordination in demolition planning. Call (714) 333-0178 and we will confirm what your site needs.