can i remove utility flags in my yard

Yard Blogger is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ago. While most utility companies pay compensation to customers without any hesitation, others might put up a challenge. This does not mean that someone will be parking a huge excavator in front of your home and tearing up your entire lawn. Having a decent security system like a Ring Video Doorbell or Outdoor Security Cameras (both on Amazon) is a smart thing to do. The colored flags in your yard each have a meaning. In most cases, you find flags in your yard on the occasion of a repair or maintenance going on in your neighborhood. The answer is NO, you can't remove any utility flags place in your yard. Can I remove the flags in my yard? Can I Have an Electric Fence Around My Property Legally? Never heard what happened. You can get more details as to who requested the placement by calling the hotline. Unfortunately yes, they can. The APWA color code guide can tell you which colors indicate which type of utility. rev2023.3.3.43278. The flags are red (electric), orange (telecommunication) and yellow (gas). (Roofing Ideas & Options), and they can do so legally to gain access to pipelines and cables. If for instance you have built a structure or landscaped an area, which is over an easement, the company has the right to remove them to maintain that easement. Depending on the state youre in, there should be a law that prohibits any person from removing or tampering with utility flags. The first one is that there will be an excavation project planned in the spot where the flags are. A utility company can dig in your yard without permission. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Theyre eye-catching,, Read More Do You Need a Permit to Dig a Pond? The primary reason is because there is a planned excavation in the vicinity of your property. 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. They can also serve as safety flags to alert passersby to hazardous areas. Its worth noting that each state has different laws when it comes to this situation. (Yes. 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! Digging works could involve installation, repair,and maintenance of underground lines. Success! If you own property, it is in your best interest to know if any easements exist on your lot. If your lawn is marked and you didn't know about it, then either your neighbors are planning . Fully Licensed and Insured. The markings are valid per their rules for 30 days. Image Credit: Rick Beauregard, Shutterstock. If youre unsure, a more helpful way to deal with this is to call 811. At this point you might start to wonder, Can I remove utility flags in my yard?. This is because the removal of utility flags can land you in trouble with the states authorities. Question: is it my responsibility to remove the flags? (Answer Inside), Does Windex or Fabuloso Kill Roaches? Get answers directly from our subject matter experts.Never report a natural gas leak online. More importantly, its your responsibility to follow-up so dont be shy about it. In instances where youve seen the flag on your yard for 14 days without someone doing any work, you can remove them. They should be able to let you know the best times for them to make the repair. Unfortunately no. The answer to that question is yes, unfortunately. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. About half of the water we use at home is spent outdoors on landscaping. It's not a slalom course, just don't mow the block the are demarcating. You may have removed it before realizing its purpose. However tempting it may be, one should not remove those flags. If your cable company ripped out grass or landscaping, they need to replace it. You may have removed it before realizing its purpose. Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. NO! Legal Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only, and shouldnotbe interpreted aslegal advice or acted upon as such. This would help you know what kind of possible disruption the repair would cause to help you plan accordingly. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. In some, they are valid for only two weeks especially if you havent observed any activity. 811 just marked my utilities, can I mow my lawn? WHEN will someone come to do something about them? Continue with Recommended Cookies, Privacy Policy | Powered by UtilitySmarts. But if it happens to you, you should know that it means someone is planning to turn it into an excavation site. If you see plenty of white flags wrapped around an area, that should give you an idea of how big the project is. Stop mower. Where does this (supposedly) Gibson quote come from? In most states, it is illegal to tamper with any underground utility markings that were placed in accordance with your states Call 811 dig laws. The purple flag indicates another set of utilities that should not be tampered with. Digging on a spot without knowing beforehand the location of underground utility lines can be risky. You may panic as someone just came to your property to put up the marking flags. Though, if the flag has been there for nearly a month without any activity carried out, the property . There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. - Ohio Revised Code: 3781.29 (A) Manage Settings While you cant really prevent utility companies from doing their jobs, its good to know who is setting foot on your property and what theyre doing. Utilities companies are good at scattering the stupid things all over the lawn.but don't come back to clean up their mess. wholesale rapid test kit You can guess at what company placed what flags based on you local utility providers. THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT LEGAL ADVICE. The hidden costs of underground utility damage. How are we as lawn people supposed to know how long the flags have been there?? Typically they will replace the pole in the exact same location of the existing pole, or within a few feet, but regardless they always seem to call in way more than they need. Rutted up the lawn to the point you could forget about mowing it. Seeing the utility flag means some utility work is about to be done in the area. Sure you can.on mowers, just not on a vehicle that will maintain highway speeds. You might also enjoy our post on Can I Dig a Pond on My Property? Please let us know if that helps answer your . If you push through with this project, you may be forced to destroy the structure. Stay up to date with all of the sports news coming out of Denton-area high schools. As a result, they will give an estimate, which includes your property. 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 . You may have no idea what it is and you just see it as something that ruins the overall aesthetics of your yard. Then, plan accordingly when you're ready to plant so that there's ample space between the plant and utility line. Use Marking Flags for Safety and Many Other Purposes Marking flags offer a way to clearly identify underground electric lines or mark construction borders. (And Wind Chimes). Speak with the 811 operator and ask if they can provide any information about what is happening at your address. 175. Once you see little flags in your yard, you can start digging. I've had others leak and need another plug. For yellow flags, try to call your natural gas provider, and for green flags try to call your local sanitary sewer authority or DPW. Your electric power company, for example, usually has an easement to use the portion of your land on which its towers and lines sit. In NJ, that is 10 days. Utility flags can help prevent damage to expensive underground wires or stop gas leaks before they become possible catastrophes. (Do This First), Can I Dig a Well on My Property? Why are Suriname, Belize, and Guinea-Bissau classified as "Small Island Developing States"? Other states place a validity of the flags for 30 calendar days. The flag colors come in the uniform color code for general designation and use. custom marker flags But if it happens to you, you should know that it means someone is planning to turn it into an excavation site. Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. Email your question for Insight Denton to pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com. one of them has like 10 plugs crammed into the same big hole. Utility flags are meant to protect these utility lines when future homeowners or landscapers plan on digging. If the flags are removed before work is done, buried utility lines could be damaged and workers could be injured. Removing turf with water-efficient plants can be cost-effective, beautiful, and low-maintenance. 5. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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 . Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. Contact the state agency that supervises all public utilities. Be mindful of these flags; you may not like seeing green flags on your yard but dont consider removing them. Technically, you shouldnt be removing flags the moment you see them. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Known as "locate flags," the person who called for their placement is responsible for removing them when the job is complete. I sidewall cord separating at 5 MPH on a lawn isn't going to result in the same issue. There are a few important reasons why there are flags on your lawn. Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. At the same time, if your property is the only area neighbors can access to get to another street, that means you cant block the way or you cant even stop them from crossing your yard. White flags usually mark the area where there is a proposed excavation. This utility line work may involve excavation and digging. Each utility company will send a locator to your property within a few days of your call to 811. Children may also accidentally take those flags out. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. There are a few utility flags that you may remove, but you need to contact the utility company handling your area to do that. When I can remove them? 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. Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. Lacks Neutral Wires and Grounding Bus. But keep in mind that removing these flags are a big no-no. That way, contractors will not dig it up. These will help workers locate important marked spots. Good point! If the marks are past the row remove and mow. In certain cases, temporary repairs will be made to avoid disruption in your mail delivery. When she is not writing, she goes camping with her husband and little kids. Here are a few examples of the little colored utility flags that mark the location of underground utilities: When locating underground utilities, we may occasionally designate a utility to an unknown termination point. Different colored flags signal the different utilities: blue for water, yellow for oil and gas, orange for telecommunications, green for sewer and drain lines, red for electric, white for excavation and pink for temporary survey. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Privacy Policy. Removing these flags could disrupt any project planned in the area. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. If you find a turtle in your yard, try to identify its species if you can. Yard Blogger provides practical tips and friendly expert advice on everything relating to your home and yard. Usually, this involves potable water. Removing the marks and flags put them at risk. The red flag utility marking is probably one of the most important ones that should be tampered with for any reason. You can remove the utility flags installed in your yard, but you would need approval. The answer is NO, you can't remove any utility flags placed in your yard. When you see a pink flag utility flag on your yard, then you should not worry at the moment because there would not be heavy equipment moving, digging, or excavating. Please call the Public Works Department at 952-447-9896 or use this form to report sod damage. The only person who should be removing them is the one responsible for the placement of the flags. These lines can include oil, gas, water, sewers, electrical lines, and telephone lines. ; Yellow Lines used for natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, as well as other gaseous or flammable materials. I've mowed twice with my flags in the ground. (Somewhat Deer Resistant), Do Deer Eat Hellebores? How do I get utility lines marked on my property? We will see if they are there next week. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. If the utility flags are not in place, workers can just dig and end up damaging underground lines. Green flags are put up to mark drain lines and sewers. 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 Sewer lines need to be preserved if there are in-ground projects. Just purchased my first house and I'm shocked at the little things that I just never knew or understood about daily life. The other reason flags have appeared in your yard is because someone is planning to do work. It can be very tempting to play with them or even remove them. If you must dig near the marks or use machinery of any kind, visit the "DIG CAREFULLY" section of the contractor page, or contact your state's 811 . if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'yardpit_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Because utility lines and flags used to mark them are placed on public rights, private individuals do not have a right to tamper with utility flags and where they are placed in most cases. pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com. Utility companies usually place flags to mark . Maybe try searching. (Try Doing This First), Can a Mailbox Be Any Color? This can include water, gas, electricity, and cable lines. Before you buy a new tree, find out about its growth potential. Sewer lines need to be preserved if there are in-ground projects. It is our state law that the flags can not be removed by ANYONE for the duration of the valid mark out. There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. Doing so is illegal and you could pay a fine. Blue Water, slurry, and irrigation lines. What do the different colors mean? Neighbors Keep on Putting Trash in My Garbage Can: What to Do? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. If you must remove the utility flags in your lawn or backyard, make sure you call the utility company in charge of the utility lines of your area or street to ensure it is safe to remove any utility flag. You can speak with the operator at 811 and ask for the details about the project in your area. When calling for locates, please have the following information ready: Who the work is being done for (general contractor or project) Type . Small alcoves in exterior walls for utilities access? Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. This allows utilities to come out and mark their buried lines before the project begins. A working day is defined as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, not including holidays. Having a decent security system like aRing Video DoorbellorOutdoor Security Cameras(both on Amazon) is a smart thing to do in this situation so that you can prove your case. Before you blow your stack, relax a little bit. 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. They are there for a purpose, which is to protect underground lines that may be damaged during digging. The color of the flags are typically going to follow The American Public Works Association (APWA) Uniform Color Code. Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! As someone who places these flags for a living, leave them there for as long as you can or until you're 100% sure the work is completed. We will label this, When hiring a privateunderground utility locating company, you expect that they will find all of the underground utilities present within the project or location that, The release of last months Common Ground Alliance 2016 DIRT Report is a sobering reminder about how important it is to excavate safely around underground, Let's Discuss Your Project. Generally speaking, you should not remove utility flags from your yard because they are meant to avoid disturbances, damage to utility lines, ensure safety during any repairs to utility lines. 3 Advantages of Progressive Metal Stamping Services The Master Products Co. A detailed comparison to help you transition, Transcription of genes coding for metabolic key functions in Nitrosomonas europaea during aerobic and anaerobic growth. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. Worse, you could end up in court. Asked 8 years, 9 months ago. You're better off leaving them where they're. The flags and paint marks may be an annoyance, but they are crucial for the safety of construction workers and others near a work site. The standard utility service paint or flags colors are: Red: Electric; Orange . Or maybe a utility company decided to pay my property a visit without my knowledge and started digging in my backyard. 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. When you see a white utility flag on your yard, prepare and make arrangements for the possible disruptions that would come from an excavation.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yardpit_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yardpit_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',109,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-109{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. What this also means is that you are the sole owner of your property; your neighbor cannot use the easement as an excuse to build a structure on your property. While you cant really prevent utility companies from doing their jobs, its good to know who is setting foot on your property and what theyre doing. If you remove the flags before the plans are set in place, it could screw up the plans and the project as a whole. The question of legality and the right to remove utility flags from your lawn or property can be tricky. No person shall intentionally remove or tamper with a marking provided for under this act.. While tempting, you should never remove these flags, as doing so can cause serious damage that you may be responsible for. 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!). Red flags - Red is the most common flag. Positive Response can be checked here or by calling 800-445-3894. (Highly Deer Resistant). "The contractor needs to know the location of the lines in the area in which they are digging in order to stay . We'll come out and mark the underground lines for free. If you discover utility lines put up in your garden, some repair or maintenance works will be carried on the utility lines in the area. Its expected of a property owner to be bothered by the sight of colorful flags in their yard. This purpose should be explained clearly on the easement. Allowing others to use a portion of your, Read More How To Remove An Easement From Your Property The Right WayContinue, A street light shining into your yard can be maddeningespecially if its hindering your attempts to observe the night, Read More Can You Get Street Lights Turned Off? What do normal homeowner's do about utility flags/markings? If youre surprised by the sight of a trench dug on your yard by a utility company, its normal to be upset and wonder whether or not a utility company can dig in your yard without permission. If this happens, do not plant the flags to the ground as you may not know where they were exactly located. It will be about 2 weeks before I can get the landscaping work done. Refresh Marks requests can only be submitted for excavation projects that were started within 14 calendar days of the initial locate requests. Digging on a spot without knowing beforehand the location of underground utility lines can be risky. State law requires contractors, utilities or individuals who plan to dig even a homeowner planting a tree to call 811 to come locate underground utilities in the work area. This gives utility companies the legal right to be on your property to fix any broken lines or install new utility lines, even if it means making changes to your yard. You have permission to edit this article. If you are unable to gather the information from the state 811, you can simply refer to the color of the flag. Replace flags in original position. When you see flags, you not only tend to question what it is and what purpose it serves but also what the different colors are. Utility flags are placed to prevent any disturbances or accidents in the area as utility work is being carried out. Utility contractors install utility locate flags across any city or state. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. A shed can add a wonderful charm to your property and provide ample storage space if you are running, Read More Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shed? I'm assuming my neighbor needed to dig and had the lines flagged. Some may notify you ahead of time, while most companies wont. 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. Utility color flags help workers who carry out the digging identify which utility line is running under the marked spots. I understand your perspective..but tell me this if you cannot disturb flags for a certain period of time, why does the utility not come and gather up the flags when that period is over? 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. (Roofing Ideas & Options)Continue. Accidental removal of the flags is inevitable. Moving or removing flags and paint markings will ultimately make you liable for any damage that occurs to that utility, and trust us those can be expensive. (We Checked With the USPS). For orange flags, you could try to call your telephone or Cable TV company. Using Kolmogorov complexity to measure difficulty of problems? In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. When you see flags, you not only tend to question what it is and what purpose it serves but also what the different colors are. This center will take care of communicating with your local utilities, who will send their people out to mark line locations. 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. Neighbor Keeps Hitting Balls in My Yard: What To Do? Utility companies are empowered by law to place such flags, given that such utilities are considered public property by law. Mow around the markings. A: Yes, and it doesn't matter how deep you are digging. Part of their maintenance program is to mark their lines whenever someone places a "notice" or "ticket" with the Virginia 811 center. Accidental removal of the flags is inevitable. Also, most flags bear the name of the company that placed them, so you should be able to see the contact information. they will stay there forever until you remove them or the home owner. Digging works could involve installation, repair,and maintenance of underground lines. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Lets say you wanted to build a deck over a certain area in your property other people can legally access. The red flag comes with a bulb symbol in it. About seven to eight utility companies are typically contacted. Ask the title company, attorney or your real estate agent to retain all documents . For instance, it is not that uncommon for an electric company to call in a 150 radius of a utility pole that is going to be replaced. At least 3 business days before you plan to dig, make your locate request online with the Utility Notification Center of Colorado (Colorado 811). i will normally leave the flags for 1 to 2 visits, if they are still there after 2 weeks i pick them up. If not, they will inform you when they will be able to send over a check to cover the damage. The utility flags installed in properties are to be left in place for a minimum of 6 months before they can be removed, while other states have laws that do not allow the removal of utility flags. Obviously the safety factor is greater if you're trusting a plug in a sidewall of a vehicle at highway speeds, they also don't externally plug vehicle tires in the tread either, they come from the inside which requires removal of the tire. Has nothing to do with speed. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Stephanie is fond of doing all backyard-related work at her home. If the house you purchased came with an easement, theres nothing you can do but comply. This means that you can only remove flags 30 days after placing them with no work done. In most cases, you will be given compensation. To children, those colorful flags could be very attractive. If there has been no action for more than 14 days, the property owner can delete the find flags because they are no longer valid. An orange flag marks the location of underground telecommunications lines near the curb. At the same time, the flags on private property would be removed by the property owners. Generally, flags should not be taken off. It only takes a minute to sign up. (Try Doing This First)Continue, Are you looking for a way to add some personality to your mailbox? Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. One way to do this is to call them three times a day. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. Red -it is the most common color and its used to mark electric utilities or power lines Marking an area with red will help to avoid a power outage that can affect the whole neighborhood. Staff Writer If youre dealing with this problem, you should probably stick around and read the rest of this blog post. i have plugs in both of my mowers. There were 2 supermarkets on that circuit as well as many other business's. The lawsuits from just the two supermarkets was over $800,000 in lost perishables. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Is it possible to create a concave light? As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. To reply to the question of the illegality of removing utility flags, yes, it is illegal to remove them. But, before, Read More Can I Put a Pool in My Front Yard? If you have blue flags, you can call the water company, and so on. Last month a dozen utility flags appeared on my front lawn, my neighbors front lawn and along our property line. once the construction is done, i will resume normal mowing. But this authority only takes place after the initial need for the flags is completed. But the fact is, utility companies often do just that. Utility flags are placed to prevent any disturbances or accidents in the area as utility work is being carried out.

Chicken And Waffle Franchise, Articles C