Fence contractors · Dallas field guide
Texas 811 before fence-post digging in Dallas
Every post hole is excavation. A familiar backyard is not a utility map.
Direct answer
Contact Texas 811 at least two business days before digging, excluding weekends and holidays. Fence installation is covered excavation. Confirm in writing who creates and maintains the ticket, wait for operator responses, preserve the marks and separately address private utilities that public operators do not mark.
Put one party in charge of the ticket
Homeowners and contractors sometimes each assume the other submitted the request. The contract should name the responsible party and require the ticket number before excavation. If the route, start date or excavation area changes, check whether the ticket needs to be updated rather than stretching the original request beyond its scope.
The excavator must pay attention to the responses, not just the paint on the ground. Operators can clear an area without marking, report a conflict or provide instructions. Keep the positive-response record with the job file.
Public locates do not find every buried line
Lines owned by the property owner may not be marked by public utilities. Common examples include irrigation, landscape lighting, pool equipment, detached-building power and a gas line installed after the utility meter. Ask about those systems during the site walk and use a qualified private locator when the route is uncertain.
- Mark the full excavation area in white before the request when required.
- Photograph paint and flags before work begins.
- Use tolerance-zone digging practices around marked facilities.
- Stop and contact the operator if a line is exposed or damaged.
Protect the marks during the project
Rain, mowing, material staging and demolition can erase markings. If marks are no longer usable or the ticket expires, pause and refresh the locate. A schedule delay is cheaper than turning an avoidable line strike into an emergency.
Primary sources and references
- I Want to Dig
Texas 811
Official instructions for free utility-locate requests before digging fence-post holes.
- Texas 811 FAQs
Texas 811
Timing, marking and ticket-responsibility guidance for excavators and property owners.
Sources were checked on the page’s modified date. Rules and business details can change; confirm project-specific facts before signing.
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