Georgia Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Georgia, 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
Georgia at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Georgia 811Visit website for Georgia 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811 or 800-282-7411
- Notice required
- 48 hours (2 business days) beginning the next business day after the locate request; Georgia 811 tells excavators to wait at least 3 business days. Requests after 4:30 p.m. count as the next business day.
- Tolerance zone
- 18 inches
- Ticket life
- 30 calendar days after the effective date (normal locate request)
- Maximum penalty
- $10,000 per violation
Georgia requires excavators to submit a locate request to Georgia 811 and wait 48 hours, counted from the next business day after the request. Georgia 811 tells excavators to allow at least 3 business days, and requests made after 4:30 p.m. count as the next business day. The law is the Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act, O.C.G.A. 25-9-1 et seq.
The statute lists hand digging, pot holing, soft digging, vacuum excavation and pneumatic hand tools as reasonable care methods within the tolerance zone.
Tolerance Zone
18 inches
The tolerance zone is 18 inches on either side of the outer edge of the facility. Reasonable care methods include hand digging, pot holing, soft digging and vacuum excavation (O.C.G.A. 25-9-8(b)).
Key Regulations
Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act
Sets notification requirements, the tolerance zone and penalties for utility damage.
Citation: O.C.G.A. 25-9-1 et seq.
Marking and Ticket Life
Operators must mark within 48 hours beginning the next business day after the UPC receives the request, using APWA color codes. A normal locate request is valid for 30 calendar days after its effective date.
Citation: O.C.G.A. 25-9-6
Reasonable Care in the Tolerance Zone
Hand digging, pot holing, soft digging, vacuum excavation and pneumatic hand tools are listed as reasonable care methods.
Citation: O.C.G.A. 25-9-8(b)
Penalties for Violations
The Georgia Public Service Commission can impose civil penalties.
Maximum penalty: $10,000 per violation
- Damage must be reported immediately to Georgia 811 and the facility owner
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 Georgia licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Georgia utility contractor license where the work requires one
- Local business license and permits
- 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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