Do not remove the flags, stakes or paint marks until you have finished . Some may notify you ahead of time, while most companies wont. Digging works could involve installation, repair,and maintenance of underground lines. Chinese Breaker Box (240v split-phase?) The red flag indicates Electric power lines, lighting cables, and conduit cable lines. Can I Remove Utility Flags In My Yard: Is this Illegal? They usually have a validity of 30 calendar days. But the fact is, utility companies often do just that. In certain cases, temporary repairs will be made to avoid disruption in your mail delivery. 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. If my crew shows up to a site that is marked, they are instructed to get a close as possible, but in no way disturb the flags or markings in anyway at all. Blue Water, slurry, and irrigation lines. This is especially true if the utility company or the subcontractors didnt acknowledge the damage. Neighbors Keep on Putting Trash in My Garbage Can: What to Do? Known as "locate flags," the person who called for their placement is responsible for removing them when the job is complete. Children may also accidentally take those flags out. Be mindful of these flags; you may not like seeing green flags on your yard but dont consider removing them. Understanding your rights as a landowner is important so youll have knowledge on how to approach this issue, especially if you feel like your privacy has been violated. They should be able to provide the contact name and number for the individual who called in the dig request. We will label this asEOI(End of Information). By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. While you cant really prevent a utility company from coming on your property, its good to know what theyre doing when they are there. Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Never heard what happened. The yellow flags will help identify contractors that a gas line is on that spot. If a gas main or service line is exposed during digging, call Greater Dickson Gas Authority. 8 Ponder upsets No. The other reason why there are flags on your lawn is that there is a bigger excavation project planned in your area. 1. 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! In instances where youve seen the flag on your yard for 14 days without someone doing any work, you can remove them. DIG CAREFULLY. Can I remove the flags in my yard? I understand your perspective..but tell me this if you cannot disturb flags for a certain period of time, why does the utility not come and gather up the flags when that period is over? The question of legality and the right to remove utility flags from your lawn or property can be tricky. How do I get utility lines marked on my property? At the same time, the flags on private property would be removed by the property owners. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Clear skies. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Doing so is illegal and you could pay a fine. They mark these existing utilities with painted lines and flags to help our crew determine where they'll bury the new cable. Utility companies are not the only ones that can own easement to your property. The colors of the flags and their symbolism are listed below: A white flag, which usually has a shovel symbol, indicates a proposed excavation. and our In fact, most homes have utility easements running through the yards, both front and back. The most common reason for utility flags in a yard is to mark the location of underground utility lines. If a utility does not mark its underground utility facilities or contact the excavator within that time, the utility is deemed to have given notice that it does not have any facilities at the excavation site. Question: is it my responsibility to remove the flags? pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com. A utility company can dig in your yard without permission. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? Flags protect you and your community. You may have removed it before realizing its purpose. This is because they are placed on public right of way. Excavation, according to the law, means anything that moves, removes or displaces earth rock or other material in or on . A: Yes, and it doesn't matter how deep you are digging. Utility flags are placed to prevent any disturbances or accidents in the area as utility work is being carried out. Is someone ever going to come? But this authority only takes place after the initial need for the flags is completed. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Step one: Call either 811 or 1-800-632-4949 or submit your utility locate request on nc811.org using Single Address Ticket or Remote Ticket Entry. This utility line work may involve excavation and digging. Engineers will request to have utilities marked out so that they can design new utility systems around the old ones. I've started a nice collection of them in the back of my truck. Success! The green flag has a sinkhole cover plate symbol; the flag indicates sewage and drain lines which are also very important. Having a decent security system like aRing Video DoorbellorOutdoor Security Cameras(both on Amazon) is a smart thing to do in this situation so that you can prove your case. Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not it's safe to remove them. Its vital to avoid the spot marked with the yellow flags. You can get more details as to who requested the placement by calling the hotline. PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881 and via Twitter at @phwolfeDRC. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. Can I remove the MISS DIG flags in my yard? Other utility flags cannot be removed for any reason because of the utility lines they represent. Many times, the individuals or companies who call in the Call 811 Ticket request to dig does not have all of the information needed to pin-point the locate technicians to the exact spot of the work. That said, If you are the subsequent owner of the property or if you are planning to buy a house in general, it helps to know the easements of your chosen property before sealing the deal. How can I explain to my manager that a project he wishes to undertake cannot be performed by the team? Power, telephone, gas, and water lines are buried underground, likely on your property. Obviously the safety factor is greater if you're trusting a plug in a sidewall of a vehicle at highway speeds, they also don't externally plug vehicle tires in the tread either, they come from the inside which requires removal of the tire. A utility company working on power lines, telephone lines, and what-not, are doing their job and its a necessity. You can also make requests by calling 8-1-1 or 800-922-1987. The purple flag indicates another set of utilities that should not be tampered with. Have you ever wondered about orange flags? Why are there flags and paint in my yard? Green flags are put up to mark drain lines and sewers. This means they can step on your yard and not be considered trespassing, as long as they use this access for a specific purpose. If you or someone you've hired is going to install an irrigation system, plant a tree or do anything else that requires digging, be sure to call 811 at least two business days before starting the project. Antioxidants Utility companies usually place flags to mark underground facilities for projects like repair and maintenance. If you are unable to gather the information from the state 811, you can simply refer to the color of the flag. 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 do I align things in the following tabular environment? These markings should not be tampered with by unauthorized parties for community safety. Instead, they will call in several properties for one small excavation just to make sure that the locators have marked the proposed work area. If youve called them and did a follow-up on your concern several times but to no avail, you can move to the next step by taking the issue to court. This means Yard Blogger may earn a commission should you make a purchase using any of our links. You may have no idea what it is and you just see it as something that ruins the overall aesthetics of your yard. Mow around them for two weeks then they come out. Ask the title company, attorney or your real estate agent to retain all documents . Theyre eye-catching,, Read More Do You Need a Permit to Dig a Pond? 2. I know he was mad I know they fixed it and put sod down. Then, plan accordingly when you're ready to plant so that there's ample space between the plant and utility line. You can then call the person or company and ask about the status of the project or if the flags are still necessary. 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. Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not it's safe to remove them. Fully Licensed and Insured. As a result, Verizon or the utility company damaged my driveway. The blue utility flag has a water drop symbol on it. (We Checked)Continue, Deciding to demolish a house may save you from some expensive renovations that seem too much to take on, Read More Can You Demo a House With a Mortgage? 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. In this case, you may see your neighbors passing through your yard just to access a street. A: After our Consumers Energy team has completed the pipe replacement work in front of your home, the flags can be removed. Seeing a utility flag on your lawn or elsewhere around your apartment calls for concern. According to Krueger, once a project is completed, it's the responsibility of the contractor to remove the flags. This does not necessarily mean that the work to be done would involve your lawn or house. It only takes a minute to sign up. The red flag comes with a bulb symbol in it. 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 (just like 911 but replace the 9 with an 8!). ; Yellow Lines used for natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, as well as other gaseous or flammable materials. Once you see little flags in your yard, you can start digging. In most cases, you find flags in your yard on the occasion of a repair or maintenance going on in your neighborhood. The first one is that there will be an excavation project planned in the spot where the flags are. plug them and put some tire slime in the tire. Children may also accidentally take those flags out. More people now want to invest, Read More Can I Have a Shipping Container in My Backyard Legally?Continue, A pergola is a great way to add some extra shade to your yard or garden, and it can, Read More Can a Pergola Have a Solid Roof? What do you want to know? 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. Wholesale Work Gloves Use Marking Flags for Safety and Many Other Purposes Marking flags offer a way to clearly identify underground electric lines or mark construction borders. Its expected of a property owner to be bothered by the sight of colorful flags in their yard. 175. Should I expect them to pay for the damages? We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Other states place a validity of the flags for 30 calendar days. Utility companies usually place flags to mark . Has nothing to do with speed. 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. Also, most flags bear the name of the company that placed them, so you should be able to see the contact information. You would be really upset if you lived in my area, we also spray paint on the ground above the utility path. To children, those colorful flags could be very attractive. (The Official Answer), Is It Illegal to Leave Furniture on the Street? When calling for locates, please have the following information ready: Who the work is being done for (general contractor or project) Type . The yellow flags will help identify contractors that a gas line is on that spot. White flags usually mark the area where there is a proposed excavation. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. "They can tell you whether a utility flag has outstayed its 30-day limit, at which point you can remove it.". So, if you have been considering digging a, Read More Can I Dig a Well on My Property? Inline Figure Skate Frames Ok rant off "Every step we take towards making the State the Caretaker of our lives, Eh, I've tried to plug mower tires before most of the time they don't take too soft of rubber. They Do), Do Moths Come From Caterpillars? If the utility flags on your lawn do not have our logo imprinted on them, then we did not mark that utility and will not be able to provide any information regarding the flags or proposed work. They should be able to let you know the best times for them to make the repair. 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. First, we can help answer they "Why" part of the equation. Utility flags are meant to protect these utility lines when future homeowners or landscapers plan on digging. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. In the mean time is it OK to mow the spraypainted marks? Call the Utility Notification Center of Colorado at 1-800-922-1987. This repair in such situations involves sections of the utility line that pass through your yard. Automatic Can Seamer It would also help you know if you can request removal or need to wait a while before requesting one. 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. mine haven't leaked in years. 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.. Do Butterflies Like Hibiscus? However tempting it may be, one should not remove those flags. The other reason why there are flags on your lawn is that there is a bigger excavation project planned in your area. However, you may wonder why there are flags on your lawn without your permission or if it is allowed for utility companies to mount utility flags on your property without permission. Generally speaking, you should not remove utility flags from your yard because they are meant to avoid disturbances, damage to utility lines, ensure safety during any repairs to utility lines. Each utility company will send a locator to your property within a few days of your call to 811. For yellow flags, try to call your natural gas provider, and for green flags try to call your local sanitary sewer authority or DPW. It can be very tempting to play with them or even remove them. There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. In such places, the state is responsible for removing locate flags that are on the streets and public places. Survey Markers. She often shares practical tips and friendly expert advice on everything relating to home and yard on this blog. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. Utility flags are placed to prevent any disturbances or accidents in the area as utility work is being carried out. 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. To know the exact kind of utility work and what the work may entail, you would find out from the kind of utility flags put in your yard; the flags are differentiated with varying colors. You have permission to edit this article. 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. If the damage has not been compensated despite several attempts of reaching out to them, whether directly or via proper channels, you might consider hiring a lawyer. You may have removed it before realizing its purpose. Last month a dozen utility flags appeared on my front lawn, my neighbors front lawn and along our property line. Neighbor Keeps Hitting Balls in My Yard: What To Do? I'm assuming my neighbor needed to dig and had the lines flagged. A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. Rutted up the lawn to the point you could forget about mowing it. Talk to an Expert Today | Weekdays 6AM - 6PM. In some states, property owners are the ones that have the responsibility of removing locate flags. By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe You can then call the person or company and ask about the status of the project or if the flags are still necessary. The six months minimum time to remove flags applies after the required work is done. Sewer lines need to be preserved if there are in-ground projects. You might also enjoy our post on Can I Dig a Pond on My Property? Tennessee law imposes civil penalties up to $1,000 in addition to actual damages, including repair and lost gas, if someone damages underground utilities without calling first. Your state's 811 center will then contact your local utility companies. NO! If youre surprised by the sight of a trench dug on your yard by a utility company, its normal to be upset and wonder whether or not a utility company can dig in your yard without permission. All they do it dump and run. If you own property, it is in your best interest to know if any easements exist on your lot. Utilities will send out locators who will come and mark the approximate location of buried utilities . What are these capped, metal pipes in our yard? Each color of paint/flag represents a unique type of underground utility. nitrosomonas converts i have plugs in both of my mowers. In the mean time is it OK to mow the . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This center will take care of communicating with your local utilities, who will send their people out to mark line locations. The mess they leave. Removing Your Lawn. Sure you can.on mowers, just not on a vehicle that will maintain highway speeds. Unfortunately no. They should leave the yard in substantially the same condition they found it. Before you blow your stack, relax a little bit. For instance, she may place marks at the northeast and southwest corners of a piece of land to . once the construction is done, i will resume normal mowing. I was likeman I hope it didn't go all the way in. However tempting it may be, one should not remove those flags. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. In most cases, the utility company will be held liable for the damages to your property. These flags aside, the color comes with symbols. I had 811 mark my utility lines. Doing so could result in fines. Note that if you see any white paint or flags, this is typically marking the route of the proposed excavation. Technically, you shouldnt be removing flags the moment you see them. Generally, flags should not be taken off. Red utility flags are used to mark underground electric and cable lines. Removing these flags could disrupt any project planned in the area. So leave it and let it lay its eggs; they cause no harm. And as I said, I'd rather plug a sidewall than screw around with a leaking tube that has to have the bead broken, tire removed and the tube patched. bcolombo@dentonrc.com, Stranger walks into unlocked home in Denton; resident pushes him out, Denton man sentenced to life in prison for murder of 7-year-old boy, By Juan Betancourt Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. The state requires utility companies and their subcontractors to locate and mark where underground lines are buried. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. This purpose should be explained clearly on the easement. Though, if the flag has been there for nearly a month without any activity carried out, the property . (Highly Deer Resistant). Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? Refresh Marks requests may be submitted via our online, self-service option know as REV or by calling 8-1-1 or 800-892-0123. Good point! i will normally leave the flags for 1 to 2 visits, if they are still there after 2 weeks i pick them up. If this happens, do not plant the flags to the ground as you may not know where they were exactly located. If you have blue flags, you can call the water company, and so on. one of them has like 10 plugs crammed into the same big hole. :laugh: when a construction site pops up on my properties, i will mow around the junk and tools, no trimming, i didnt quote all the debris in the mowing price. Damages to your property resulting from negligence or accidents is inevitable, especially when a utility company digs in your yard. Utility contractors install utility locate flags across any city or state. The removal usually happens when the job is done. The only person who should be removing them is the one responsible for the placement of the flags. If you must dig near the marks or use machinery of any kind, visit the "DIG CAREFULLY" section of the contractor page, or contact your state's 811 . We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. These projects involve underground facilities that need to be protected. 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. The circuit was out for 3 hours. If damages have been done to your property, its best to notify the company. (Answered), Do Deer Eat Canna Lilies? If you see yellow flags across your yard, it means that there will be a planned work involving natural gas lines. If the utility flags are not in place, workers can just dig and end up damaging underground lines. Utility flags have been in use for as long as they can be remembered. Error! THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT LEGAL ADVICE. There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. (Try Doing This First)Continue, Are you looking for a way to add some personality to your mailbox? 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. 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. High End Residential work. Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. Its even more frustrating to see people come to your yard and put up flags without permission. You may have no idea what it is and you just see it as something that ruins the overall aesthetics of your yard. Mow your yard. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yardpit_com-box-4','ezslot_3',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-box-4-0'); The utility companies are given this right for the major purpose of public safety as these utility lines are placed underground. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. (We Checked With the USPS)Continue, Electric fences are an efficient way to keep critters or other unwanted visitors out of your yard. This is because they are placed on public right of way. However, an easement holder doesn't own the land. I've read that it's illegal to remove them, and I should call 811 to find out more. The APWA color code guide can tell you which colors indicate which type of utility. If there has been no action for more than 14 days, the property owner can delete the find flags because they are no longer valid. A property owner concerned about lingering flags could call 811 for more information about who called in and sought utility locations, according to Denton city spokesperson Jessica Rogers. Utility companies usually place flags to mark . It could be that individuals or companies calling in the dig request cant provide the exact location to mark. How 811 works. If youre unsure, a more helpful way to deal with this is to call 811. Had to make a run to get a tube installed in a BRAND NEW TIRE! There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. Those are the little white and yellow flags you . 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. 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? Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? Uniform Color Code set by the American Public Works Association. Doing so is illegal and you could pay a fine. Power, telephone, gas, and water lines are buried underground, likely on your property. For more information, please see our After calling 811: The One Call Center will contact the appropriate utility companies, and a trained technician will mark the location of underground facilities with colored flags, stakes or paint at no cost to you. Why are Suriname, Belize, and Guinea-Bissau classified as "Small Island Developing States"? Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not its safe to remove them. And a damaged gas line can cause soil contamination and even explosion. There are a few important reasons why there are flags on your lawn. I can just imagine the neighbors questioning what we're doing to the yard. The markings are valid per their rules for 30 days. At this point you might start to wonder, Can I remove utility flags in my yard?. Before they do this, they'll mark and protect any other buried utility lines in your yard by working with 811 Call Before You Dig. While tempting, you should never remove these flags, as doing so can cause serious damage that you may be responsible for. Refresh Marks requests can only be submitted for excavation projects that were started within 14 calendar days of the initial locate requests. Have you talked to your neighbor to make sure they've had the work done already?