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Call before you dig in Michigan

MISS DIG 811

Before a shovel, an auger or an excavator goes into Michigan ground, MISS DIG 811 tells the utilities, and they come out and mark their buried lines for you.

  1. Day 1 Call 811 or file a ticket online with the address, where on the lot you will dig and what the work is.
  2. 3 working days Utilities have three full working days, not counting weekends and holidays, to mark their lines.
  3. Before you dig Check the marks and the ticket's positive response so you know every utility answered.
  4. While you dig Within 48 inches of a mark, dig by hand or with soft excavation until the line is exposed.

How to reach MISS DIG

Dial from any phone
811
Serves
All of Michigan
Law
The MISS DIG Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, Public Act 174 of 2013
Long number
(800) 482-7171, for phones that cannot reach 811
Notice
At least three full working days before digging
Caution zone
48 inches on either side of a mark
Colors
Red electric, yellow gas and oil, orange communications, blue water, green sewer, white proposed digging

Programs

  • Dig tickets Homeowners and contractors give notice by phone at 811 or online, at no charge to them; MISS DIG passes it to every member utility with lines in the area.
  • Positive response Each utility answers the ticket, saying it marked its lines or has none there, so the digger can check before starting.
  • Emergency tickets Work that cannot wait, such as a water main break, can be called in as an emergency so utilities respond right away.
  • Design tickets Engineers and planners can ask where lines run before a project is drawn.

How to get started

  1. 1 Plan where you will dig Mark the area with white paint or flags if you can, so the locators know exactly where to look.
  2. 2 Call 811 or file online Do it at least three working days before you start.
  3. 3 Wait for the marks Paint and flags show the lines by color: red electric, yellow gas, orange communications, blue water, green sewer.
  4. 4 Dig with care Hand dig within 48 inches of a mark, and call 911 and the utility right away if you hit a gas line.

Where to go next

Questions people ask

Do I need to call MISS DIG to plant a tree or set a fence post?

Yes. Michigan law asks anyone who moves earth with tools or machines to give notice first, and a fence post or a tree is exactly the kind of digging that hits gas and electric lines.

How long do I wait after calling 811?

At least three full working days, not counting weekends and holidays, before you start digging.

What do the paint colors mean?

Red is electric, yellow is gas or oil, orange is communications such as cable and phone, blue is drinking water, green is sewer and white is where you plan to dig.

What if I hit a line?

Stop. If it is gas, leave the area and call 911 and the gas company from a safe place. For any other line, call the utility and MISS DIG.

Sources

Other offices Detroiters call