Arizona Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Arizona, with citations to the statutes and the one-call center.
Last reviewed October 18, 2026. General information only, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by locality and utility, so always contact 811 and confirm current requirements before you dig. Read the disclaimer
Arizona at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Arizona 811Visit website for Arizona 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Notice required
- 2 working days (operators must mark within 2 working days of the request)
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Ticket life
- Marks valid for 15 working days
- Maximum penalty
- $5,000 per violation (civil penalty imposed by a court)
Arizona requires excavators to white line the dig area and submit a locate request to Arizona 811 before digging. Operators have 2 working days to mark, and marks are valid for 15 working days. Working days exclude weekends, legal holidays and the fourth Friday in November. The law is ARS 40-360.21 through 40-360.32.
When excavating within 24 inches of a facility, the statute requires exposing it with hand tools.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
When within 24 inches of a facility, excavators must expose it with hand tools (the "careful and prudent manner" definition, ARS 40-360.21).
Key Regulations
Arizona Underground Facilities Law
Requires a locate request before excavation and sets marking and excavator duties.
Citation: ARS 40-360.21 through 40-360.32
Marking and White Lining
Operators must mark facilities within 2 working days "with stakes or paint or in some customary manner". Marks are valid for 15 working days, and excavators must white-line the dig area before submitting a locate request.
Citation: ARS 40-360.22
Excavator Responsibilities
Excavators must notify the operator of unmarked or mismarked facilities and must not move or obliterate markings.
Citation: ARS 40-360.23
Penalties for Violations
Violations carry a court-imposed civil penalty plus liability for resulting damages.
Maximum penalty: $5,000 per violation (civil penalty imposed by a court)
- Liability for all resulting damages, including economic loss (ARS 40-360.28)
Licensing and Permits to Confirm
Licensing depends on the type of work and the city or county. Treat these as items to check with the Arizona licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors license in the appropriate classification
- City or county business license where required
- Workers compensation and liability insurance as required by law and by contract
Sources
Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Facts on this page were checked against these statutes, rules and one-call center pages.
Disclaimer
This guide is general information about state excavation and one-call (811) laws. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Laws, rules and one-call center procedures change, and requirements can differ by city, county, utility operator and type of work. Facility operators may also set their own requirements. Before any excavation, contact the state one-call center through 811 and confirm current requirements in the statute and rules cited on this site. For questions about your obligations or liability, consult the statute directly or a licensed attorney in the state where the work takes place.
Hydrovac News makes no warranty that this information is complete, current or accurate, and is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on it.
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