Community & Safety

Call Before You Dig

When to Use Iowa One Call:

  • Putting up a fence or clothes line
  • Pounding stakes or posts into the ground
  • Planting trees or shrubs
  • Building a patio, home addition, deck or foundation
  • Replacing or putting in a new driveway or sidewalk
  • Terracing or landscaping
  • Installing a septic system or water drainage system
  • While normal residential gardening does not require prior notification, notify Iowa One Call before installing a new garden or using power equipment such as garden tillers.

When you call 811, your underground electric facilities will be marked with paint and/or flags. Placing this call also notifies other utilities that may have buried services on your property. Iowa law applies to professional contractors as well as homeowners.

Never assume the location or depth of underground utility lines. If you hit an underground utility line while digging, you can harm yourself, disrupt service, and potentially be responsible for fines and repair costs.

To request a locate call 811 or visit www.iowaonecall.com to start an online locate request.