Call before you dig!

Gopher State One Call is the one-call notification system established to inform all Minnesota underground facility operators of intended excavation. A communication link between the excavator and the underground facility owner, it has increased public safety while decreasing underground facility damage, monetary loss, and personal injury by coordinating the locating of underground facilities.

Minnesota State Statute 216D now requires anyone who engages in any type of excavation to provide advance notice of at least two working days to Gopher State One Call. The service provided by Gopher State One Call to excavators is free of charge. The cost of Gopher State One Call is paid in full by underground facility owners.

Visit Gopher State One Call for more information

How does it work?

Any time excavation is to take place on your property (i.e. tree planting, installing a new mailbox or fence, landscaping that requires digging or any kind of construction requiring digging), underground facilities need to be located and marked to prevent accidental cutting or damage. Gopher State One Call will contact the utility companies and arrange with them to mark all underground facilities on your property. Call Gopher State One Call two business days before digging at 651-454-0002 or 1-800-252-1166. Office hours are Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Prepare before you call - have the following information ready:

1. Your name, address and phone number
2. The type of work you will be doing (planting a tree, installing a fence)
3. The dig location's address, city, county and intersecting street
4. Where you will be digging at the dig location (i.e. east side of house, within five foot radius of white stake)
5. When you will be digging (i.e. in three days, next week)
6. Use white paint or stakes to mark the intended dig area

Once you have contacted Gopher State One Call, the appropriate utilities will be contacted and your property will be marked with paint and\or flags identifying buried underground facilities during those 48 hours. Now you are ready to begin digging.

• Hand dig carefully within two feet on either side of the markings.
• Watch for private facilities such as sprinklers, power lines to garage or out buildings, propane gas lines, gas grill line or invisible fencing as these will not be located by Minnesota utility companies.
• Report any and all damages to the affected utility company immediately. All damages, including nicks in cables and dents in steel, can and will eventually cause the facility to fail.

Homeowners Guide