Waiting Period

How long will it take before I can dig?

Two full business days after you call and get your Ticket Number.

So plan ahead and call at least three days before you want to excavate. This allows time for the notifications to be sent to the locators and time for them to do their job.

How long are the marks good for?

The marks are good for 30 days, assuming they are still readable and have not been destroyed or you have maintained the marks and they have not been changed. After 30 days, you need to call and get an updated ticket. Simply call the 811 number and say you have a ticket number that you need to remarked.

What if I have an emergency and I need to dig right away?

You still call 811 and let them know you have an emergency situation that needs to be located right away. The appropriate utility companies will be notified and they will mark as quickly as they can.

What constitutes an emergency locate?

Montana Code Annotated 2009 69-4-501 defines it as “to alleviate a condition that constitutes a clear and present danger to life or property; or repair a customer outage involving a previously installed utility-owned facility.

Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency locate. False emergency locates can be prosecuted the same as making a false 911 call.