In cases where you wont, its best to work with a lawyer. Digging works could involve installation, repair,and maintenance of underground lines. 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. The blue utility flag has a water drop symbol on it. Sometimes calls come in for landscaping and these flags need to be placed, or sometimes it's a year long project that needs a long time to plan. You can get more details as to who requested the placement by calling the hotline. This is because the removal of utility flags can land you in trouble with the states authorities. ; Orange Telecommunication systems, alarm and signal lines, as well as cables or conduits. In this case, you may see your neighbors passing through your yard just to access a street. 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. Staff Writer Please let us know if that helps answer your . This will likely bump your concern to the top of their list. 1 Madison in playoff rematch, Police: Mans car shot at as he sat in driveway in far west Denton, Purple-and-Gold powerlifters to compete at regionals, Tornado damage surveys for 3/2 and 3/3/2023. Refresh Marks requests may be submitted via our online, self-service option know as REV or by calling 8-1-1 or 800-892-0123. 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!). 0. Flags protect you and your community. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. One way to do this is to call them three times a day. Call the . High around 75F. 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. No person shall intentionally remove or tamper with a marking provided for under this act.. 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. )Continue, If youre in the mood to spice up your yard, a pond can be a great idea. White flags usually mark the area where there is a proposed excavation. If youre dealing with this problem, you should probably stick around and read the rest of this blog post. If you have blue flags, you can call the water company, and so on. I've had sidewall plugs hold the life of the tire. It could be that individuals or companies calling in the dig request cant provide the exact location to mark. The first one is that there will be an excavation project planned in the spot where the flags are. You still get to retain the title and you are the owner but someone who owns easement to your property has the right to use your property. What is utility easement anyway? Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Once mower is stopped, walk over and move the flags out of the way. I'm assuming the work hasn't been completed yet since the flags haven't been removed from their yard. :laugh: when a construction site pops up on my properties, i will mow around the junk and tools, no trimming, i didnt quote all the debris in the mowing price. Usually, this involves potable water. The blue flag marking indicates portable water lines and is not to be tampered with for any reason. In most cases, the utility company will be held liable for the damages to your property. Follow this procedure: 1. Make sure you're prepared with the Denton Record-Chronicle's coverage of Denton County's key races, and the candidates in the running for them. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. This purpose should be explained clearly on the easement. The removal usually happens when the job is done. They were here today.They marked with both spraypaint and flags. If the line is damaged, the neighborhood could experience a flood or that water will not be safe for drinking for days. If the damage has not been compensated despite several attempts of reaching out to them, whether directly or via proper channels, you might consider hiring a lawyer. Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. JavaScript is disabled. Just purchased my first house and I'm shocked at the little things that I just never knew or understood about daily life. You have permission to edit this article. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. (We Checked), Can You Demo a House With a Mortgage? If a gas main or service line is exposed during digging, call Greater Dickson Gas Authority. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. 2. Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not it's safe to remove them. More importantly, its your responsibility to follow-up so dont be shy about it. In fact, most homes have utility easements running through the yards, both front and back. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. (Is This Illegal to Do? The other reason why there are flags on your lawn is that there is a bigger excavation project planned in your area. Utility companies usually place flags to mark . At this point you might start to wonder, Can I remove utility flags in my yard?. Refresh Marks requests can only be submitted for excavation projects that were started within 14 calendar days of the initial locate requests. After 10 days, we can remove the markings. At the same time, the flags on private property would be removed by the property owners. There was an error processing your request. If the line is damaged, the neighborhood could experience a flood or that water will not be safe for drinking for days. If you have these flags and paint in your yard, it means that someone in the area is planning to dig and they did the responsible thing and called 811 . So, if you have been considering digging a, Read More Can I Dig a Well on My Property? (Answer Inside), Does Windex or Fabuloso Kill Roaches? 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. But if it happens to you, you should know that it means someone is planning to turn it into an excavation site. The green flag has a sinkhole cover plate symbol; the flag indicates sewage and drain lines which are also very important. Before they do this, they'll mark and protect any other buried utility lines in your yard by working with 811 Call Before You Dig. Usually, the property deed comes with a utility easement, so that it remains valid and does not change even when the property has been sold or transferred. If you must dig within 24" of utility marks/flags, be sure to dig with care. You're better off leaving them where they're. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Instead, they will call in several properties for one small excavation just to make sure that the locators have marked the proposed work area. As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. A utility company can dig in your yard without permission. Error! In most cases, you find flags in your yard on the occasion of a repair or maintenance going on in your neighborhood. It can be very tempting to play with them or even remove them. Utility flags are meant to protect these utility lines when future homeowners or landscapers plan on digging. I've had others leak and need another plug. Avoid digging near buried utilities if possible. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Yard Blogger provides practical tips and friendly expert advice on everything relating to your home and yard. They usually have a validity of 30 calendar days. Part of their maintenance program is to mark their lines whenever someone places a "notice" or "ticket" with the Virginia 811 center. Viewed 4k times. In such places, the state is responsible for removing locate flags that are on the streets and public places. 811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Here's a key to the utility colors: It's crucial to preserve and maintain the location of flags and paint. Can I remove utility flags in my yard? Utility companies usually place flags to mark underground facilities for projects like repair and maintenance. About seven to eight utility companies are typically contacted. An easement is typically granted by property owners to an electric utility for the purpose of constructing and maintaining power lines and other equipment. For more information, please see our 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. Depending on the state youre in, there should be a law that prohibits any person from removing or tampering with utility flags. It will be about 2 weeks before I can get the landscaping work done. (Highly Deer Resistant). As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. If this happens, do not plant the flags to the ground as you may not know where they were exactly located. Did any DOS compatibility layers exist for any UNIX-like systems before DOS started to become outmoded? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Use Marking Flags for Safety and Many Other Purposes Marking flags offer a way to clearly identify underground electric lines or mark construction borders. Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not its safe to remove them. The operator should be able to provide the name of the company or individual who requested the dig and their contact information. There wont be any excavating in the near future, for a while anyways. Some may notify you ahead of time, while most companies wont. To children, those colorful flags could be very attractive. Blue Water, slurry, and irrigation lines. 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. SECTION 10. Wait two full business days before beginning the digging. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shed? Gunbuilder is right, they are good for 10 days to 2 weeks before requiring a relocate. (We Checked With the USPS). ), Do You Need a Permit to Dig a Pond? Have you talked to your neighbor to make sure they've had the work done already? 5. Can I Have a Shipping Container in My Backyard Legally? We'll come out and mark the underground lines for free. You can get more details as to who requested the placement by calling the hotline. Marking power lines connecting to a grid can eliminate the risk of a wide power outage or electrocution. Its vital to avoid the spot marked with the yellow flags. Instead, call 811 dig hotline, report what happened, and request for them to mark the utility lines again. For red flags, try to call your Electric Company. Good point! This post contains affiliate links. These markings should not be tampered with by unauthorized parties for community safety. The question of legality and the right to remove utility flags from your lawn or property can be tricky. I've yet to . Utility color flags help workers who carry out the digging identify which utility line is running under the marked spots. Before a power line is built, Duke Energy acquires easements . The red flag indicates Electric power lines, lighting cables, and conduit cable lines. Does a Propane Fire Pit Keep Mosquitoes Away? 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 After calling 811: The One Call Center will contact the appropriate utility companies, and a trained technician will mark the location of underground facilities with colored flags, stakes or paint at no cost to you. Green flags are put up to mark drain lines and sewers. If you have blue flags, you can call the water company, and so on. If the species is a foreign one, it likely escaped captivity, or the owner let it out, and it might threaten those species in your region. No problem, I just weave around them. Known as "locate flags," the person who called for their placement is responsible for removing them when the job is complete. You can speak with the operator at 811 and ask for the details about the project in your area. In instances where youve seen the flag on your yard for 14 days without someone doing any work, you can remove them. Though, if the flag has been there for nearly a month without any activity carried out, the property . The 8 Likely Reasons There Are Utility Flags in Your Yard. 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. But keep in mind that removing these flags are a big no-no. In the mean time is it OK to mow the . Every morning, get a link to our newly redesigned e-Edition and the top Denton headlines you need to start your day. For orange flags, you could try to call your telephone or Cable TV company. In most cases, it is illegal to tamper with these markings. Step two: Wait the required time . A standing flag symbol is drawn on the pink utility flag. Other states place a validity of the flags for 30 calendar days. We will label this asEOI(End of Information). You would be really upset if you lived in my area, we also spray paint on the ground above the utility path. They are there for a purpose, which is to protect underground lines that may be damaged during digging. If a utility does not mark its underground utility facilities or contact the excavator within that time, the utility is deemed to have given notice that it does not have any facilities at the excavation site. Where does this (supposedly) Gibson quote come from? Although we cant specifically answer your question here, we can help shed some light on a few of the possibilities about what is happening. Has nothing to do with speed. How To Remove An Easement From Your Property The Right Way, Can You Get Street Lights Turned Off? According to Krueger, once a project is completed, it's the responsibility of the contractor to remove the flags. Anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to their state 811 center's website a few business days before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don't unintentionally dig into an underground utility line. Excavation, according to the law, means anything that moves, removes or displaces earth rock or other material in or on . When calling for locates, please have the following information ready: Who the work is being done for (general contractor or project) Type . THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Maybe try searching. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The six months minimum time to remove flags applies after the required work is done. You should always consult with an attorney or legal professional before taking any action. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The markings are valid per their rules for 30 days. Do Butterflies Like Hibiscus? If there is an easement, they don't need your permission to run the cable. Call Now (888) 792-5353, Let's Discuss Your Project.Call Now (888) 792-5353. What do the different colors mean? 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). Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Usually, this involves potable water. Note that if you see any white paint or flags, this is typically marking the route of the proposed excavation. Always confirm the utility response by checking the status of the utility response before . You may panic as someone just came to your property to put up the marking flags. There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. 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. 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 . (Do This First), Can I Dig a Well on My Property? What do normal homeowner's do about utility flags/markings? Instead, call 811 dig hotline, report what happened, and request for them to mark the utility lines again. Why are there utility flags in my yard? It will be about 2 weeks before I can get the landscaping work done. ; Green Sewer and drain lines. Seeing a utility flag on your lawn or elsewhere around your apartment calls for concern. It would also help you know if you can request removal or need to wait a while before requesting one. We've been plugging sidewalls on mowers for years. If you see plenty of white flags wrapped around an area, that should give you an idea of how big the project is. Power, telephone, gas, and water lines are buried underground, likely on your property. There are a few utility flags that you may remove, but you need to contact the utility company handling your area to do that. jfields@dentonrc.com, A long time coming: No. Can I Have a Sheep in My Backyard? (Roofing Ideas & Options)Continue. Its even more frustrating to see people come to your yard and put up flags without permission. nitrosomonas converts Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. 4. Removing these flags could disrupt any project planned in the area. Owner Rights The removal usually happens when the job is done. To reply to the question of the illegality of removing utility flags, yes, it is illegal to remove them. For this, a professional may be called upon to handle it. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. While tempting, you should never remove these flags, as doing so can cause serious damage that you may be responsible for. Since they are placed to mark gas lines, removing them will defeat the purpose of protecting the lines. Just because the flags are in your lawn does not mean your lawn will be effected. 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. The first one is that there will be an excavation project planned in the spot where the flags are. I've got 2 properties that are peppered with these flags. Simply, an easement gives the right of usage for a specific purpose, not grant ownership of land to a person. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Since they are placed to mark gas lines, removing them will defeat the purpose of protecting the lines. Keep in mind that even if you have not given any approval, utility companies can dig in your yard because of easements. Known as "locate flags," the person who called for their placement is responsible for removing them when the job is complete. The flags wont be there for long. Yard Blogger provides practical tips and friendly expert advice on everything relating to your home and yard. 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. I was likeman I hope it didn't go all the way in. You may also see a marking in the street or near a pole or structure with an arrow that says Call 811, Miss Utility, One Call, Dig Safe, UFPO, etc. Your electric power company, for example, usually has an easement to use the portion of your land on which its towers and lines sit. one of them has like 10 plugs crammed into the same big hole. Small alcoves in exterior walls for utilities access? Inline Figure Skate Frames In most cases, it is illegal to tamper with these markings. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yardpit_com-box-4','ezslot_3',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-box-4-0'); The utility companies are given this right for the major purpose of public safety as these utility lines are placed underground. Modified 8 years, 9 months ago. Low around 50F. After a few passes, something catches my eye: a wire staff flag which was laying in the lawn, managed to implant itself in the sidewall of the back right tire of my VRide! Mr. Holder has over 15 years of subsurface utility engineering and utility locating experience on various engineering and construction phase projects across a variety of market sectors including DOT / Highway, Pharmaceutical, Energy, and Commercial / Industrial properties. This utility line work may involve excavation and digging. Comcast tore up my yard, but they brought in new patches of grass to replace the grass they removed. If your cable company ripped out grass or landscaping, they need to replace it. They are provided for informational purposes only. In some states, property owners are the ones that have the responsibility of removing locate flags. Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not it's safe to remove them. Once flags are moved out of the way, mow over area where flags were. For this very reason, it is vital to be in-the-know when it comes to an easement on a property youre eyeing before buying it. Last month a dozen utility flags appeared on my front lawn, my neighbors front lawn and along our property line. These projects involve underground facilities that need to be protected. This does not necessarily mean that the work to be done would involve your lawn or house. 1. 2. Question: is it my responsibility to remove the flags? Children may also accidentally take those flags out. In instances where youve seen the flag on your yard for 14 days without someone doing any work, you can remove them. Flags can be used to mark even simple digging projects like installing clothesline or repair and maintenance projects such as repairing the fire hydrant nearby. In addition, you will be held responsible for damages to the utility. Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? 99% of the time they do. The purple flag indicates another set of utilities that should not be tampered with. If you remove the flags before the plans are set in place, it could screw up the plans and the project as a whole. Can I Remove Utility Flags In My Yard: Is this Illegal? You may panic as someone just came to your property to put up the marking flags. Other states place a validity of the flags for 30 calendar days. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. In most cases, you will be given compensation.

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