There’s a network of pipes and cables running invisibly beneath nearly every property in Michigan — gas, electric, water, communications. You can’t see them, but a shovel or an excavator bucket can find them the hard way. Hitting one can mean a dangerous gas leak, an electrical injury, a neighborhood outage, and a repair bill you’re on the hook for.
That’s the whole reason MISS DIG 811 exists. Here’s how it works, why it’s required, and how it fits into a properly run excavation job.
What MISS DIG 811 is
MISS DIG 811 is Michigan’s free utility-notification service. You tell them where you’re planning to dig, and they notify the utility companies, who send locators out to mark their underground lines with spray paint and flags. Once everything’s marked, you can see exactly where it’s safe to dig and where it isn’t.
It’s backed by state law — the MISS DIG Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act — written specifically to cut down on the damage, danger, and service disruptions that come from blind digging.
It’s the law, and it applies to everyone
This is the part homeowners often miss: calling 811 isn’t just for contractors, and it isn’t optional. Michigan law requires anyone — homeowner or pro — to have utilities located before digging, regardless of how small or shallow the project is.
The requirement covers far more than big excavation:
- Installing a fence or a mailbox post
- Putting in an in-ground pool
- Planting a tree or digging a garden bed
- Any foundation, drainage, or utility excavation work
If it goes into the ground, it gets located first.
How the process works
The process is simple and free:
- Submit a request at least three full business days before you dig — call 811 or file online at MISSDIG811.org. The service runs 24/7.
- Utilities send locators to mark the location of their underground lines with paint and flags.
- Dig carefully around the marks, respecting the marked zones.
The three-business-day lead time is the part to plan around. It’s not instant, so it has to be built into the project schedule — which is exactly what an experienced contractor does as a matter of routine.
What the colors mean
Locators use a standard color code, so the marks on your lawn actually tell you what’s below:
- Red — electric
- Yellow — gas, oil, steam
- Orange — communications, cable, fiber
- Blue — potable water
- Green — sewer and drain lines
- White — the proposed excavation area
- Pink — temporary survey markings
When you see fresh paint and flags appear before a dig, that’s the system working exactly as intended.
How we handle it on every job
On our projects, the MISS DIG locate is simply part of the process — never an afterthought. Before we excavate, we file the request, wait out the required notice period, and confirm everything underground is marked. Then we dig with those marks respected.
It’s a small step that prevents enormous problems. A struck gas line is a genuine emergency; a struck electric line is a safety hazard; a struck water or communications line is an outage and a bill. None of that is worth saving three days, and a contractor who treats the locate as optional is one to walk away from.
Frequently asked questions
Is MISS DIG really free?
Yes. The notification service and the utility locates are free. There’s no reason to skip it and every reason not to.
How far ahead do I need to call?
At least three full business days before you plan to dig. Weekends and holidays don’t count, so plan accordingly — we build this into our schedule on every job.
Do I need to call for a small project?
Yes. The law applies regardless of size or depth. A mailbox post or a garden bed can still hit a shallow utility line, so the requirement covers all digging.
Does the locate cover lines on my own property?
The locate covers the utilities’ lines up to the meter. Privately owned lines beyond that — like a line you ran to a shed, a pool, or an irrigation system — aren’t part of the public locate, so it’s worth flagging those to your contractor too.
Dig safe, dig right
The best excavation work starts with knowing exactly what’s underground — and on every job we run, that means the MISS DIG locate comes first. If you’ve got a project in the Kalamazoo area, tell us about it or call (269) 230-1777, and we’ll handle the dig safely, legally, and right.
Sources: MISS DIG 811, Michigan Public Service Commission — Safe Digging.