Nevada Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Nevada, 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
Nevada at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- USA North 811Visit website for USA North 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811 or 800-642-2444
- Notice required
- At least 2 working days (not counting the day of notice) and not more than 28 calendar days before excavation
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Maximum penalty
- Willful/repeated: up to $2,500 per day per violation, max $250,000 per related series in a calendar year
Nevada requires excavators to notify USA North 811 at least 2 working days, not counting the day of notice, and not more than 28 calendar days before excavating. The law is NRS 455.080 to 455.180 (Excavation or Demolition Near Subsurface Installation).
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
Approximate location is a strip not more than 24 inches on either side of the facility; before using mechanical equipment, the excavator must determine the exact location by non-mechanical excavation or another method agreed with the operator (NRS 455.137).
Key Regulations
Excavation or Demolition Near Subsurface Installation
Primary statute for notification and excavation safety.
Citation: NRS 455.080 through 455.180
Approximate Location
Marks identify a strip not more than 24 inches on either side of the facility.
Citation: NRS 455.082
White Lining
Excavator must make reasonable effort to mark the proposed area with white paint, flags, stakes, whiskers or another agreed method.
Citation: NRS 455.110
Penalties for Violations
Civil penalties scale with intent and can be tripled for work near high consequence subsurface installations.
Maximum penalty: Willful/repeated: up to $2,500 per day per violation, max $250,000 per related series in a calendar year
- Negligent: up to $1,000 per day, max $50,000
- May be tripled near high-consequence installations (contact or work less than 24 horizontal inches away)
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 Nevada licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Nevada State Contractors Board license with the appropriate classification
- 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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