Florida Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Florida, 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
Florida at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Sunshine 811Visit website for Sunshine 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Notice required
- 2 full business days (10 full business days for underwater excavation)
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Ticket life
- 30 calendar days
- Maximum penalty
- $50,000 (State Fire Marshal, violations that cause an incident; $10,000 limit for state agencies and political subdivisions)
Florida requires excavators to notify Sunshine 811 not less than 2 full business days before digging (10 full business days for underwater excavation). The law is the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act, Florida Statutes Chapter 556.
Within the 24-inch tolerance zone, the statute lists hand digging, pot holing, soft digging and vacuum excavation among the allowed methods, and mechanized equipment must be supervised.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
Within the tolerance zone, use hand digging, pot holing, soft digging, vacuum excavation or similar methods; mechanized equipment must be supervised (F.S. 556.105(5)).
Key Regulations
Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act
Excavation safety law with notification, marking and enforcement provisions.
Citation: Florida Statutes Chapter 556
High-Priority Subsurface Installations
Special procedures for high-priority subsurface installations: critical underground gas transmission/distribution pipelines and pipelines carrying refined petroleum or hazardous/highly volatile liquids. The State Fire Marshal may impose civil penalties up to $50,000 for violations that cause an incident.
Citation: F.S. 556.102, 556.116
Ticket Duration
Locate information is valid for 30 calendar days.
Citation: F.S. 556.105(1)(c)
Penalties for Violations
Most violations are noncriminal infractions. The State Fire Marshal may impose larger civil penalties for violations that cause an incident.
Maximum penalty: $50,000 (State Fire Marshal, violations that cause an incident; $10,000 limit for state agencies and political subdivisions)
- Second-degree misdemeanor for knowingly and willfully removing or destroying valid locate markings or permanent markers, or for willfully failing to respond to a citation; other violations are noncriminal infractions ($500, or $2,500 enhanced for hazardous-materials pipelines)
- Loss-of-revenue damages capped at $500,000 per facility (F.S. 556.106)
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 Florida licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- DBPR certified or registered contractor license where the work requires one
- Local building department permits 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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