Texas 811 Before You Dig

Before we set a single post, we call Texas 811 to have underground utility lines marked on your property. It’s free, it’s required by law before excavation, and it’s the easiest way to avoid hitting a gas, water, or electric line while digging post holes.

What Texas 811 actually does

Texas 811 doesn’t do the locating itself — it routes your dig request to every utility company with lines near your address, and each one sends a locator to mark their lines with flags or paint. Requests typically need at least two business days’ notice before digging can start, so this is one of the first things we schedule once your fence layout is set.

What happens if you skip it

Digging without a locate is how homeowners and contractors end up hitting gas lines, irrigation systems, or buried electrical — any of which can mean an expensive repair, a dangerous situation, or both. It’s a legal requirement, not an optional courtesy call.

Our process

We call in the 811 request as part of scheduling your install, well ahead of the day we’re on site. If the markings show a line running through your planned fence line, we adjust post placement before digging rather than after.

What 811 Doesn’t Cover

If you have a septic system, sprinkler system, or any private electric or gas lines, please ensure that these are properly marked prior to installation.

Questions about how this affects your property? Call 281-973-3884 or book a free estimate.