Information For
Homeowners
Miss Utility is your partner when it comes to safe digging! Having a variety of utility services could mean you have lines and pipes running underground – do you know where they are? If you plan on any type of excavation or digging on your property, Miss Utility can help.
How it Works
What exactly does Miss Utility Do?
Miss Utility is the official one-call notification center for Maryland, Washington, DC, and Delaware. The law in these states requires prior notice to all utility operators of any proposed excavation or demolition so that they can mark the locations of any underground infrastructure they have that may be affected by your project. The Miss Utility Call Center does not perform locating or marking services. We inform subscribing facility/utility owners of proposed excavation so you don’t have to call them each individually. They, in turn, will locate (mark your dig site or verify the site is clear). Whether you plan to install a new mailbox or plant a garden, contact the Miss Utility Call Center before you put that shovel in the ground.
Homeowner Guide (English | Spanish) | Damage Prevention Guide (English | Spanish)
The Process
Call or Click Before you Dig
Underground lines are continually being installed. It is important that each time you plan on digging, you process a locate request regardless of excavation depth, by either using ITIC Lite online or contacting the call center for your region.
- In Maryland, contact Miss Utility no sooner than 3 business days but no later than 12 business days ahead of planned excavation or demolition.
- In D.C., contact Miss Utility at least 96 hours but no more than 10 days ahead of planned excavation or demolition.
- In Delaware, contact Miss Utility not less than 2 working days, but no more than 10 working days ahead of planned excavation or demolition.
Once you have submitted a locate request, owner-members need time to respond to your ticket. The laws that govern how long they have to do that vary by state, but can be found in the FAQ section below. You may also use our free Search & Status® feature to view and print the status of your locate request.
The owner members suggest that the dig site be identified using white paint or stakes. This will not only save locating time, it may also prevent unnecessary property markings.
Once your dig site has been marked or cleared by the member-owners, you may carefully “hand” dig around the marked lines. Do not use mechanized/electric/power equipment within:
