What To Do If You Find Utility Flags In Your Yard

Utility flags are important. Anyone who has ever completed a home project that involves going deep into the ground knows that 811 is the number you want to call before digging any holes in your lawn. These markers might look like little more than poorly-placed seasonal decorations, but different colored lawn flags denote the location of important pipes, cables, and lines that run under the surface. Hit one of these, and you could be dealing with an electric shock, a gas leak, or an explosion of raw sewage — not exactly an ideal situation. Because of this, these little flags often pop up when a project is about to get underway. But what if they've appeared in your lawn without you making a call? Unfortunately, this usually means that things are about to get noisy.

811 is frequently called out when homeowners or builders are working on a project, and if you see flags in your lawn, this means you're in the general area of a proposed dig. While this doesn't necessarily mean your grass is about to get uprooted, as 811 might mark a larger radius than the actual project requires, you can expect to see new construction or work on lines soon. Thankfully, there are ways to learn more about the potential project, but while you're doing your research, you should never get rid of or move these flags. They might be an annoyance, but safety wins out over curb appeal in this case.

While you should never disturb utility flags for safety reasons, even if you didn't ask for them to be there, you can do a bit of investigating. First, take a look at the flags that have popped up in your lawn. While their appearance likely won't give you the full story right away, different colors of lawn flags mean different things, so they could give you a better idea of the type of project that's about to get underway. Green, for example, marks a sewer line, while red is reserved for power lines and cables. If the flags are white, you can expect a full excavation, but if they're pink, you're in luck — these are just flags left behind by surveyors.

If you're still curious, the next step is to call 811 yourself. While it's probably a good idea to warn your neighbors about serious renovations and vice versa, things don't always pan out this way. By calling 811, you can get information about who put in the request for utility markings and what kind of project is likely to be coming next. This could be anything from your next door neighbor installing a fence to a utility company replacing worn out lines underground. Once you get a name or a company that's responsible, contact them if you're looking for a more exact timeline on potential construction or if you want a better idea of the scope of the project. While this might be difficult with a utility company or large construction firm, a quick chat with your neighbor can go a long way toward answering your questions and reducing the risk of a potential feud.