Skip to content

District of Columbia 811 rules

In District of Columbia you call Miss Utility: at least 96 hours but no more than 10 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. Ticket life: 15 days excluding weekends/legal holidays from notification; request remark 3 days before end.

Advance notice before digging
At least 96 hours but no more than 10 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
Farthest ahead you can call
10 days (excl. weekends/holidays).
How long the ticket or marks last
15 days excluding weekends/legal holidays from notification; request remark 3 days before end.
Tolerance zone (hand dig inside it)
18 inches from outermost part of facility.
White lining (premarking)
Not confirmed in the law we read. Ask Miss Utility.
The law
D.C. Code 34-2701 to 34-2709 (34-2704).

Good to know: The law now says 96 hours. Some older guides still say 48.

Call 811 from anywhere in District of Columbia to reach Miss Utility, or file online at missutility.net/washington-dc.

Running several digs at once?

TrackOver keeps each ticket number, markout date and expiry on the job it belongs to, and warns before a ticket runs out, so the crew in the hole isn't digging on a dead ticket.

811 ticket trackingFind dig work on the board

Where this comes from

Checked September 24, 2026 against the state's own statute or rule text. Rules change; confirm with the center before a big job.

Other states

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming