To reply to the question of the illegality of removing utility flags, yes, it is illegal to remove them. 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. You may be so tempted to remove utility color flags from your yard. As a result, Verizon or the utility company damaged my driveway. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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!). 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. If you are unable to gather the information from the state 811, you can simply refer to the color of the flag. In some states, the law stipulates that utility flags have a 30 days duration time without any work going on before they can be removed. (Is This Illegal to Do? For more information, visit California811. For most homeowners, your insurance policies will likely not cover the damages that arise from what the Utility Commission will classify as negligence. You can get more details as to who requested the placement by calling the hotline. But keep in mind that removing these flags are a big no-no. nitrosomonas converts I'll chat with them today. A utility company can dig in your yard without permission. Denton city spokeswoman Jessica Rogers recommends that a property owner concerned about lingering flags call 811 to get more information about who called in and requested utility locations. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. You're better off leaving them where they're. 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. 8 Ponder upsets No. Email your question for Insight Denton to pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com. This will likely bump your concern to the top of their list. Why are there miss dig flags in my yard? As a result, they will give an estimate, which includes your property. The circuit was out for 3 hours. This means they can step on your yard and not be considered trespassing, as long as they use this access for a specific purpose. The APWA color code guide can tell you which colors indicate which type of utility. It can be very tempting to play with them or even remove them. Utility color flags help workers who carry out the digging identify which utility line is running under the marked spots. A right of way is a type of easement or agreement that grants a utility the right to use, access or transit a piece of property. These markings should not be tampered with by unauthorized parties for community safety. Note that if you see any white paint or flags, this is typically marking the route of the proposed excavation. 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. Mow around them for two weeks then they come out. Do not work off someone else's marks or ticket. Seeing colorful flags in your yard can be surprising and maybe at times, frustrating, especially if you like to maintain a beautiful, pristine yard. The question of legality and the right to remove utility flags from your lawn or property can be tricky. Even neighbors can have easement over your property, giving them access to your land. Follow this procedure: 1. They should leave the yard in substantially the same condition they found it. That way, contractors will not dig it up. Do not remove the flags, stakes or paint marks until you have finished . Just purchased my first house and I'm shocked at the little things that I just never knew or understood about daily life. But, they will almost certainly remove the flags upon work completion. 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. But keep in mind that removing these flags are a big no-no. 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. 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. Since they are placed to mark gas lines, removing them will defeat the purpose of protecting the lines. Press J to jump to the feed. ALWAYS LEAVE IMMEDIATELY then. Utilities will send out locators who will come and mark the approximate location of buried utilities . ; Green Sewer and drain lines. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Privacy Policy | Powered by UtilitySmarts. How are we as lawn people supposed to know how long the flags have been there?? Short story taking place on a toroidal planet or moon involving flying, Recovering from a blunder I made while emailing a professor, Calculating probabilities from d6 dice pool (Degenesis rules for botches and triggers). Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? So far, i've mowed and trimmed around them to the best of my ability. Rutted up the lawn to the point you could forget about mowing it. 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 have utility location done well in advance of a fence project? These will help workers locate important marked spots. If they damage your property and try to make you pay for the damages, its just going to be your word versus theirs. If not, they will inform you when they will be able to send over a check to cover the damage. (Yes. We will label this, When hiring a privateunderground utility locating company, you expect that they will find all of the underground utilities present within the project or location that, The release of last months Common Ground Alliance 2016 DIRT Report is a sobering reminder about how important it is to excavate safely around underground, Let's Discuss Your Project. 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? In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. A: Yes, and it doesn't matter how deep you are digging. Can I Remove Utility Flags In My Yard: Is this Illegal? This is because the removal of utility flags can land you in trouble with the states authorities. In some states, property owners are the ones that have the responsibility of removing locate flags. In fact, most homes have utility easements running through the yards, both front and back. Utility Locator, LLC is a division of Trinity Subsurface Engineering, LLC and specializes in locating underground utilities on private campuses and other properties where most of the underground utilities are privately owned. What do you want to know? The blue flag marking indicates portable water lines and is not to be tampered with for any reason. Use Marking Flags for Safety and Many Other Purposes Marking flags offer a way to clearly identify underground electric lines or mark construction borders. 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. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! They are provided for informational purposes only. At Utility Locator, our company uses our own flag (see example) to delineate the lines we have marked out. Asked 8 years, 9 months ago. A tip from many homeowners is to bug the company about your concern. An easement is typically granted by property owners to an electric utility for the purpose of constructing and maintaining power lines and other equipment. But just because there are flags on your lawn it doesnt always mean the utility company is going to start digging up your yard. Instead, call 811 dig hotline, report what happened, and request for them to mark the utility lines again. They usually have a validity of 30 calendar days. Never heard what happened. (Highly Deer Resistant). (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? Proper attention to pipe that has been exposed will prevent problems later. Utility companies usually place flags to mark underground facilities for projects like repair and maintenance. An orange flag marks the location of underground telecommunications lines near the curb. Water gas phone sewer.They flag the entire 1/4 mile rd frontage to work in 1 little stop grrrrr. In cases where you wont, its best to work with a lawyer. The color of the utility flag placed on your lawn or neighborhood would help you determine the type of utility line there and, in times of repair, what kind of repair work would be done. Underground Utility Lines. Removing Utility Flags. one of them has like 10 plugs crammed into the same big hole. Typically they will replace the pole in the exact same location of the existing pole, or within a few feet, but regardless they always seem to call in way more than they need. Power, telephone, gas, and water lines are buried underground, likely on your property. If the marks are past the row remove and mow. (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? If damages have been done to your property, its best to notify the company. The operator should be able to provide the name of the company or individual who requested the dig and their contact information. In cases where you accidentally removed it, its best to call 811 for help. Call the . Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! Try to avoid digging on top of or within 18-24" on all sides of utility marks, which may mean moving your project to another part of your yard less congested with buried lines. Invalid password or account does not exist. A shed can add a wonderful charm to your property and provide ample storage space if you are running, Read More Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shed? 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 Chinese Breaker Box (240v split-phase?) 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. In cases where you accidentally removed it, its best to call 811 for help. If youre dealing with this problem, you should probably stick around and read the rest of this blog post. Has nothing to do with speed. So, if you have been considering digging a, Read More Can I Dig a Well on My Property? WHEN will someone come to do something about them? One thing to note is that utility companies do have the right to come onto your property, even without permission. I've read that it's illegal to remove them, and I should call 811 to find out more. Mailboxes that have been directly hit by a snowplow will be repaired at the City's expense as soon as time and weather permit. If you see plenty of white flags wrapped around an area, that should give you an idea of how big the project is. Keep in mind that even if you have not given any approval, utility companies can dig in your yard because of easements. Sewer lines need to be preserved if there are in-ground projects. (Quick Answer), Will a Porch Light Keep Raccoons Away? An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Neighbors Keep on Putting Trash in My Garbage Can: What to Do? 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. Yard Blogger provides practical tips and friendly expert advice on everything relating to your home and yard. Should I expect them to pay for the damages? When calling for locates, please have the following information ready: Who the work is being done for (general contractor or project) Type . (Do This Before Digging)Continue. We will see if they are there next week. Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not it's safe to remove them. you can plug sidewalls. Cannot fix sidewall punctures, its either a new tire or a tube. Depending on the state youre in, there should be a law that prohibits any person from removing or tampering with utility flags. These utility contractors are also responsible for removing locate flags and any other utility flags installed when necessary. A: After our Consumers Energy team has completed the pipe replacement work in front of your home, the flags can be removed. The red flag utility marking is probably one of the most important ones that should be tampered with for any reason. There are a few utility flags that you may remove, but you need to contact the utility company handling your area to do that. About seven to eight utility companies are typically contacted. The flags wont be there for long. Digging on a spot without knowing beforehand the location of underground utility lines can be risky. Utility flags have been in use for as long as they can be remembered. Also, most flags bear the name of the company that placed them, so you should be able to see the contact information. A utility company working on power lines, telephone lines, and what-not, are doing their job and its a necessity. 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. JavaScript is disabled. Automatic Can Seamer Its even more frustrating to see people come to your yard and put up flags without permission. . 4. Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. Choose wisely! Talk to an Expert Today | Weekdays 6AM - 6PM. You can guess at what company placed what flags based on you local utility providers. In NJ, that is 10 days. We work with local utility companies to identify gas, electric, and water lines that are already in your yard. 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. Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. If youre unsure, a more helpful way to deal with this is to call 811. Is it Illegal to Remove Utility Flags? rev2023.3.3.43278. Last month a dozen utility flags appeared on my front lawn, my neighbors front lawn and along our property line. 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 yellow flags will help identify contractors that a gas line is on that spot. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address. (And Wind Chimes). If the flags are removed before work is done, buried utility lines could be damaged and workers could be injured. If youre going this route, make sure you work with a lawyer that has experience in dealing with utility concerns. White flags usually mark the area where there is a proposed excavation. Green flags are put up to mark drain lines and sewers. In addition, when work is being done in the city's right of way, a public works inspector will also verify that the flags were removed at final inspection, Rogers said. First, we can help answer they Why part of the equation. The first one is that there will be an excavation project planned in the spot where the flags are. Wait two full business days before beginning the digging. Its vital to avoid the spot marked with the yellow flags. )Continue, If youre in the mood to spice up your yard, a pond can be a great idea. This will result in everyday inconveniences that can affect not only you but also other people in the community. Utility flags can help prevent damage to expensive underground wires or stop gas leaks before they become possible catastrophes. You cannot legally work from someone else's request. 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. We won't share it with anyone else. In the sections below, were going to provide you with tips on what you can do as a homeowner. Instead, they will call in several properties for one small excavation just to make sure that the locators have marked the proposed work area. By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe To children, those colorful flags could be very attractive. It can be very tempting to play with them or even remove them. Green flags are put up to mark drain lines and sewers. Low around 50F. 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. Thanks for the insight - I'll leave all the flags where they are and hope they're gone in time for spring cleanup around the yard. A surveyor places survey markers to label major points on the land's surface. But even if thats the case, you, as the landowner, may still face restrictions when using a part of your land that is covered by the easement. Wholesale Work Gloves Technically, you shouldnt be removing flags the moment you see them. 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. PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881 and via Twitter at @phwolfeDRC. 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. The symbols also help to pass the information on the purpose of the flag even without any writing inscriptions made on the flags. When they could have accessed the area by driving over a curb from the highway. Maybe try searching. If you have future plans to modify your yard or any area in your property, then you need to learn more about the easement. So leave it and let it lay its eggs; they cause no harm. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. I know he was mad I know they fixed it and put sod down. Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. No person shall intentionally remove or tamper with a marking provided for under this act.. The 811 call centers also serve an educational purpose. This repair in such situations involves sections of the utility line that pass through your yard. I was likeman I hope it didn't go all the way in. (Is This Illegal to Do? Be mindful of these flags; you may not like seeing green flags on your yard but dont consider removing them. Do not disturb the markings enough to make them disappear. Its worth noting that each state has different laws when it comes to this situation. (Answer Inside), Does Windex or Fabuloso Kill Roaches? Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. (Somewhat Deer Resistant), Do Deer Eat Hellebores? The 8 Likely Reasons There Are Utility Flags in Your Yard. Utility flags are placed to prevent any disturbances or accidents in the area as utility work is being carried out. At this point you might start to wonder, Can I remove utility flags in my yard?. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Different colored flags signal the different utilities: blue for water, yellow for oil and gas, orange for telecommunications, green for sewer and drain lines, red for electric, white for excavation and pink for temporary survey. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. "The contractor needs to know the location of the lines in the area in which they are digging in order to stay . 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This year alone they have flagged it 4 times.From the flags I can tell you there is 4 utility's running alone the state road. Ive had to go back to the property owner a couple times over utility company's mess. Can I remove utility flags in my yard? I'm assuming my neighbor needed to dig and had the lines flagged. The orange flag has a traffic light-like symbol on it. Cookie Notice Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. High End Residential work. As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. If there are flags or markings in or on your yard or near your yard, it means somebody - a neighbor or someone planning to do construction work near your yard - has called Missouri One Call Systems to have all nearby utilities located. Plastic Antioxidants Why are there flags and paint in my yard? Doing so could result in fines. Sure you can.on mowers, just not on a vehicle that will maintain highway speeds. Its vital to avoid the spot marked with the yellow flags. This happens all the time due to the use of easements. Damaging this line could release poisonous gases and may cause a flood in the neighborhood. What do normal homeowner's do about utility flags/markings? 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. This purpose should be explained clearly on the easement. The operator should be able to provide the name of the company or individual who requested the dig and their contact information. If the line is damaged, the neighborhood could experience a flood or that water will not be safe for drinking for days. Lets say you wanted to build a deck over a certain area in your property other people can legally access. No such luck. The following facility members will mark their lines in either water soluble paint or flags.