Indiana Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Indiana, 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
Indiana at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Indiana 811Visit website for Indiana 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811 or 800-382-5544
- Notice required
- At least 2 full working days but not more than 10 calendar days before work (working day = 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Indianapolis time, excluding weekends and state/national holidays)
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Ticket life
- Expires at 11:59 p.m. Indianapolis time, 20 days after Indiana 811 receives the notice
- Maximum penalty
- $10,000
Indiana requires excavators to notify Indiana 811 at least 2 full working days but not more than 10 calendar days before work starts. A working day runs 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Indianapolis time, excluding weekends and state or national holidays. The law is IC 8-1-26 (Damage to Underground Facilities), as amended by HB 1122 effective January 1, 2025.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
Tolerance zone = width of the facility plus 2 feet, above, below and in a full radius around it; mechanized equipment must keep a clearance equal to the tolerance zone.
Key Regulations
Indiana Dig Law: IC 8-1-26 (Damage to Underground Facilities)
Sets notice, marking and excavator duties.
Citation: IC 8-1-26
Positive Response
Operators respond by 7 a.m. after 2 full working days. Excavators may start early once every operator has given an electronic positive response.
Citation: IC 8-1-26-16, 8-1-26-18
Ticket Duration
A ticket expires at 11:59 p.m. (Indianapolis time) 20 days after the date the notice is received by Indiana 811.
Citation: IC 8-1-26-16(g)
Recent and Upcoming Changes
- HB 1122 (effective January 1, 2025) defined working days as 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Indianapolis time, cut the start-date window from 20 to 10 calendar days, set ticket expiration at 11:59 p.m. on day 20, added the tolerance zone definition (IC 8-1-26-11.4), and allowed early starts on full electronic positive response.
Penalties for Violations
IC 8-1-26 provides civil penalties recommended by the Underground Plant Protection Advisory Committee, plus civil damages.
Maximum penalty: $10,000
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 Indiana licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Contractor license as required by the project type and locality
- Municipal permits for excavation work
- 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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