This can include water, gas, electricity, and cable lines. . and our Pipeline Upgrade | Consumers Energy Email your question for Insight Denton to pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com. jfields@dentonrc.com, A long time coming: No. Also, most flags bear the name of the company that placed them, so you should be able to see the contact information. You still get to retain the title and you are the owner but someone who owns easement to your property has the right to use your property. If youre having trouble contacting the company or if you feel they are not attending to your concern, you have two ways to approach this: Is it possible to sue your utility company? She often shares practical tips and friendly expert advice on everything relating to home and yard on this blog. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. Utility operators mark any underground line that is directly in the way of construction, or even near it. At the same time, you have to know where you should stand and when to comply to avoid embarrassing situations, such as calling the police for no valid reason. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Easements can easily be considered a burden for most property owners. In some, they are valid for only two weeks especially if you havent observed any activity. Modified 8 years, 9 months ago. They are often placed in the city. The APWA color code guide can tell you which colors indicate which type of utility. Get answers directly from our subject matter experts.Never report a natural gas leak online. Have you ever wondered about orange flags? The operator should be able to provide the name of the company or individual who requested the dig and their contact information. Can a Pergola Have a Solid Roof? If the house you purchased came with an easement, theres nothing you can do but comply. These utility contractors are also responsible for removing locate flags and any other utility flags installed when necessary. They mark these existing utilities with painted lines and flags to help our crew determine where they'll bury the new cable. However tempting it may be, one should not remove those flags. Is a PhD visitor considered as a visiting scholar? Removing turf with water-efficient plants can be cost-effective, beautiful, and low-maintenance. 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 . That way, contractors will not dig it up. High around 75F. A utility company can dig in your yard without permission. Once mower is stopped, walk over and move the flags out of the way. :laugh: when a construction site pops up on my properties, i will mow around the junk and tools, no trimming, i didnt quote all the debris in the mowing price. In instances where youve seen the flag on your yard for 14 days without someone doing any work, you can remove them. This happens all the time due to the use of easements. According to the Pennsylvania Underground Utility Line Protection Act (Act 287): You can see these markings in your yard if you have an upcoming project and if your neighbor or city is doing a digging project. This will likely bump your concern to the top of their list. Custom metal stamping If not, they will inform you when they will be able to send over a check to cover the damage. Refresh Marks requests may be submitted via our online, self-service option know as REV or by calling 8-1-1 or 800-892-0123. It could be that individuals or companies calling in the dig request cant provide the exact location to mark. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Utility Marking Symbols: Color Codes for Utilities | 4M You may be so tempted to remove utility color flags from your yard. If damages have been done to your property, its best to notify the company. 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. As a result, they will give an estimate, which includes your property. Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. In addition, you will be held responsible for damages to the utility. 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. Has nothing to do with speed. What do Julie flags mean? - KnowledgeBurrow.com The 811 call centers also serve an educational purpose. 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. If the utility flags on your lawn do not have our logo imprinted on them, then we did not mark that utility and will not be able to provide any information regarding the flags or proposed work. Each utility company will send a locator to your property within a few days of your call to 811. This repair in such situations involves sections of the utility line that pass through your yard. According to Krueger, once a project is completed, it's the responsibility of the contractor to remove the flags. The only person who should be removing them is the one responsible for the placement of the flags. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. one of them has like 10 plugs crammed into the same big hole. If this happens, do not plant the flags to the ground as you may not know where they were exactly located. (Roofing Ideas & Options), and they can do so legally to gain access to pipelines and cables. This purpose should be explained clearly on the easement. Surveying Markers & What They Mean | Home Guides | SF Gate Antioxidants To put it simply, an easement gives a company or individuals the right to legally use a landowners property for a specific purpose. The state requires utility companies and their subcontractors to locate and mark where underground lines are buried. Can I have utility location done well in advance of a fence project? But just because there are flags on your lawn it doesnt always mean the utility company is going to start digging up your yard. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Can I Remove Utility Flags In My Yard? - UtilitySmarts Cannot fix sidewall punctures, its either a new tire or a tube. In addition, when work is being done in the city's right of way, a public works inspector will also verify that the flags were removed at final inspection, Rogers said. If you see yellow flags across your yard, it means that there will be a planned work involving natural gas lines. As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. Before You Dig | City of Longmont, Colorado Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Damaging this line could release poisonous gases and may cause a flood in the neighborhood. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Can a Utility Company Dig in My Yard Without Permission? (The Official Answer)Continue, Seeing furniture on the side of the street is common and sometimes even a little exciting if youre looking, Read More Is It Illegal to Leave Furniture on the Street? To know the exact kind of utility work and what the work may entail, you would find out from the kind of utility flags put in your yard; the flags are differentiated with varying colors. Call 811 Information For Homeowners Chinese Breaker Box (240v split-phase?) they will stay there forever until you remove them or the home owner. 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? Usually, this involves potable water. Utility companies usually place flags to mark . A tip from many homeowners is to bug the company about your concern. (And Wind Chimes). Can I remove the flags in my yard? Even neighbors can have easement over your property, giving them access to your land. 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 . If you have blue flags, you can call the water company, and so on. Privacy Policy. What are these capped, metal pipes in our yard? Avoid digging near buried utilities if possible. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. We won't share it with anyone else. 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. Children may also accidentally take those flags out. To take matters to court, you must be ready with proof that the utility company has been negligent with their task. But just because there are flags on your lawn it doesnt always mean the utility company is going to start digging up your yard. Mow around the markings. We would advise that you do not remove the markings or flags. SECTION 10. What do the different colors mean? Give the utility flag company a call first to inquire about their presence, and whether or not it's safe to remove them. Never fear, because in this article, were going to go over what utility flags are, what the different color utility flags mean, as well as what you can do as the property owner. 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.. Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. In some states, property owners are the ones that have the responsibility of removing locate flags. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. There wont be any excavating in the near future, for a while anyways. Sewer lines need to be preserved if there are in-ground projects. This utility line work may involve excavation and digging. Never fear, because in this article, were going to go over what utility flags are, what the different color utility flags mean, as well as what you can do as the property owner. They are often placed in the city. White flags usually mark the area where there is a proposed excavation. 4. If you found this article, chances are that you have just discovered a new set of colored little flags in your yard, but your not sure why. Utilities marked on my property | TexAgs 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. Why are Suriname, Belize, and Guinea-Bissau classified as "Small Island Developing States"? Get exclusive coverage about business in Denton County in your inbox twice a month, with a focus on the housing market. ; Orange Telecommunication systems, alarm and signal lines, as well as cables or conduits. There are a few important reasons why there are flags on your lawn. 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. If your cable company ripped out grass or landscaping, they need to replace it.