Montana Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Montana, 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
Montana at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Montana811Visit website for Montana811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811 or 800-424-5555
- Notice required
- 2 full business days after you receive your ticket number
- Tolerance zone
- 18 inches
- Ticket life
- Request re-marking if excavation has not occurred within 30 days of marking; notices cover work starting within 10 days and finishing within 30 days
- Maximum penalty
- $10,000 (non-jurisdictional facilities) or $25,000 (jurisdictional pipelines); escalating: greater of $50/$100 or 2x/3x the last penalty
Montana requires excavators to notify Montana811 before digging. Operators must locate and mark within 2 business days (5 for engineering locates), and Montana811 tells excavators to wait two full business days after receiving a ticket number. The law is MCA Title 69, Chapter 4, Part 5 (Excavations Near Underground Facilities).
Tolerance Zone
18 inches
Locates must be "reasonably accurate" (within 18 inches of the outside lateral dimensions of both sides of the facility). The statute requires careful and prudent excavation but does not state a hand-dig mandate.
Key Regulations
Excavations Near Underground Facilities (MCA Title 69, Ch. 4, Part 5)
Requires notice before excavation and sets safe digging practices.
Citation: MCA 69-4-501 et seq.
Locate Validity
If excavation has not occurred within 30 days of the locate and marking being completed, the excavator must request re-marking; notifications cover work starting within 10 days and completed within 30 days.
Citation: MCA 69-4-503
White Pre-Marking
Excavators may pre-mark the dig area with white paint or flagging.
Citation: MCA 69-4-503
Penalties for Violations
Montana uses escalating civil penalties based on the last penalty issued to the excavator; amounts are halved when the excavator owns the property.
Maximum penalty: $10,000 (non-jurisdictional facilities) or $25,000 (jurisdictional pipelines); escalating: greater of $50/$100 or 2x/3x the last penalty
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 Montana licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Montana contractor registration where the work requires it
- Local business license and permits
- 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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