Colorado Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Colorado, 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
Colorado at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Colorado 811Visit website for Colorado 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Notice required
- 2 business days, not counting the day of notice (Colorado 811 advises allowing 3 business days)
- Tolerance zone
- 18 inches
- Ticket life
- Marks valid while clearly visible, up to 30 calendar days after the locate request due date
- Maximum penalty
- Up to $75,000 (more than three violations within 12 months). Penalty is $5,000 for a first offense with damage and up to $25,000 for each subsequent offense within 12 months.
Colorado requires excavators to notify Colorado 811 at least 2 business days before digging, not counting the day of notice. Colorado 811 advises allowing 3 business days. The law is C.R.S. 9-1.5-101 et seq.
Within 18 inches of a marked facility, the statute requires nondestructive means and reasonable care.
Tolerance Zone
18 inches
Excavators must use nondestructive means and reasonable care within 18 inches of a marked facility (C.R.S. 9-1.5-103).
Key Regulations
Colorado Excavation Requirements Law
Sets notification, marking, tolerance zone and damage reporting duties.
Citation: C.R.S. 9-1.5-101 et seq.
Marking Validity
Markings are valid while clearly visible but not more than 30 calendar days after the locate request's due date. If work will continue, renotify at least 2 business days (not including the day of notice) before the 30 days end.
Citation: C.R.S. 9-1.5-103(4)(b)
Damage Reporting
Immediately notify the owner or operator and the notification association of damage; call 911 for a gas or hazardous liquid release.
Citation: C.R.S. 9-1.5-103
Recent and Upcoming Changes
- The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission was renamed the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) effective July 1, 2023 (SB23-285).
Penalties for Violations
Enforcement is civil, through the Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission and courts, with mandatory excavation safety training on a first offense.
Maximum penalty: Up to $75,000 (more than three violations within 12 months). Penalty is $5,000 for a first offense with damage and up to $25,000 for each subsequent offense within 12 months.
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 Colorado licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Contractor registration or license as required by the local jurisdiction
- Compliance with Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC, formerly COGCC) rules where applicable
- Liability and workers compensation 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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