Ohio 811 and Private Utility Guide

Before You Dig in Ohio: OUPS 811 Tickets and Private Utility Locating

Planning a fence, septic repair, water line, gas line, drainage project, trench, driveway, barn service, or excavation work? Start with Ohio 811/OUPS for public utility notification, then make sure the private lines on your property are accounted for before equipment moves in.

OUPS ticketPublic marksPrivate linesHB 227Excavation planning
Notify OHIO811 Ask BE Ohio Send job details
Public ticket first. Private lines next. OUPS helps notify participating facility owners. BE Ohio helps plan the actual dig when private utilities, septic, water, gas, drainage, or excavation risk is still on the property.
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What to Have Ready Before You Contact OUPS

Property and work details
  • Exact address, nearest cross street, township or city, and county.
  • Type of work: septic, sewer, water line, gas line, drainage, culvert, grading, fence, trench, driveway, pole barn, landscaping, or repair.
  • Where the work area is on the property: front yard, rear yard, driveway side, road frontage, tank area, barn run, ditch line, or another clear location.
  • Approximate depth and whether machines, trenchers, augers, hand digging, or boring will be used.
What makes the ticket clearer
  • White paint, flags, stakes, or a clear description of the proposed dig area.
  • Photos of the work area if the layout is hard to describe.
  • Known private utilities: septic lines, private gas, private electric, irrigation, downspouts, sump discharge, wells, propane, or lines to outbuildings.
  • Old records, permit drawings, repair notes, or owner knowledge that may explain buried lines.

Public Utility Marking vs Private Utility Locating

Public utility notificationOUPS/OHIO811 notifies participating facility owners so they can respond for underground facilities they own or operate. Private-line planningBE Ohio helps when the dig area may still contain private utilities, owner-installed lines, or undocumented property-side routes. Send the job detailsPhotos, records, and a simple description help sort whether you need a locate discussion, a service estimate, or an excavation plan.

Field rule: a cleared public locate does not prove every private, abandoned, owner-installed, or undocumented line is absent. It means the public notification step has moved forward.

Private Lines That Can Still Be in the Dig Area

Common private utility concerns
  • Private electric to garages, barns, sheds, pumps, gates, lighting, docks, or outbuildings.
  • Private gas or propane lines to generators, pools, heaters, grills, shops, barns, or outdoor appliances.
  • Fiber, camera, low-voltage, invisible fence, owner-installed communication, or old abandoned utilities.
BE Ohio service-area concerns
  • Sewer laterals, septic tank lines, pump lines, drip lines, spray lines, curtain drains, and discharge lines.
  • Water service repairs, yard hydrants, well lines, pressure lines, irrigation, sump discharge, and downspout drains.
  • Culverts, swales, storm drains, old repairs, buried cleanouts, and utility routes around driveways or ditches.

House Bill 227 Changed Ohio 811 Rules in 2026

1Notice timingORC 3781.28 requires notice at least two working days before excavation, excluding the day notice is given.
2Start windowOHIO811 says excavation must begin within sixteen calendar days of the 811 notice.
3Damage reportingOHIO811 says HB 227 requires underground utility damage to be reported to OHIO811.
4Training contextORC 3781.261 covers documented training for people with responsibility in the 811 process.

Read the official OHIO811 HB 227 law update and ORC 3781.28 before relying on timing for a specific project. This page is education, not legal advice.

BE Ohio Is an OUPS Excavator Member

OHIO811 lists Building and Excavating Ohio, LLC on its Excavator Member List. Membership does not make BE Ohio the public notification center, and it does not mean OHIO811 endorses our services. It means BE Ohio is tied into the safe-digging process and treats utility coordination as part of responsible field work.

When This Becomes a BE Ohio Job

Excavation servicesTrenching, grading, access, backfill, and restoration with utility-aware planning. Water line repairService routes, curb stops, meter pits, and underground supply lines. Gas line servicesPrivate gas piping and appliance feeds near the planned work area. Septic tank replacementTanks, laterals, pump lines, discharge lines, and drain-field access. Storm water managementCulverts, downspouts, storm drains, swales, and drainage corrections. Drain and sewer workBuried pipe location, camera inspection, cleaning access, and repair planning.

Common OUPS and Private Locate Questions

Should I contact OUPS before small digging projects?

Yes, when the work is excavation under Ohio's utility protection laws. Fences, posts, trenches, drainage work, septic work, water lines, gas lines, and landscaping can still hit buried utilities.

Can BE Ohio submit my OUPS ticket?

For BE Ohio-managed work, utility notification is part of responsible project planning when required. If you are doing your own work, use OHIO811 directly and keep your ticket information available.

What if OUPS says the public utilities are clear?

That is good, but it is not the same as private utility clearance. Septic lines, private gas, private electric, drainage, irrigation, and owner-installed lines can still be present.

What should I send BE Ohio before a private locate or excavation visit?

Send the property address, photos of the work area, OUPS ticket information if you have it, known utility routes, old septic or plumbing records, and what you are trying to install or repair.

Official Sources Used

OHIO811 online requestsOfficial starting point for public excavation notifications. OHIO811 Excavator Member ListPublic member list that includes Building and Excavating Ohio, LLC. OHIO811 HB 227 updateOfficial OHIO811 summary of the June 9, 2026 law changes. ORC 3781.28Current Ohio Revised Code language for notice before excavation.

Need Help Before You Dig?

If you need the official public utility notification, start with OHIO811. If you need private-line awareness, excavation planning, septic, water, gas, sewer, drainage, or storm water help, send BE Ohio the job details.

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