New Hampshire Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for New Hampshire, 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
New Hampshire at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Dig Safe System, Inc.Visit website for Dig Safe System, Inc. (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811 or 888-344-7233
- Notice required
- At least 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, and no more than 30 days before excavation
- Tolerance zone
- 18 inches
- Ticket life
- 30 calendar days from the date and time of confirmation
- Maximum penalty
- $5,000
New Hampshire requires excavators to premark the area in white and notify Dig Safe at least 72 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays, and no more than 30 days before excavating. The law is RSA 374:48 to 374:56, with Department of Energy rules at En 800.
Within the tolerance zone, the rules limit excavation to locate a facility to hand digging, pot holing, soft digging, vacuum excavation or other approved methods.
Tolerance Zone
18 inches
Tolerance zone = facility width plus 18 inches on either side (En 802.16); excavation to locate a facility in the zone limited to hand digging, pot holing, soft digging, vacuum excavation or other approved methods (En 805.02(b)).
Key Regulations
Underground Facility Damage Prevention System
Sets notification requirements and safe excavation standards.
Citation: RSA 374:48 through 374:56
Dig Safe Participation
New Hampshire participates in the regional Dig Safe System. The excavator's notification is valid for 30 calendar days, and the perimeter must be premarked in white.
Citation: RSA 374:51
Emergency Provisions
Emergency excavation requires notification at the earliest practicable moment.
Citation: RSA 374:51, I
Recent and Upcoming Changes
- Administrative rules moved from the PUC (Puc 800) to the NH Department of Energy (En 800), effective August 21, 2024.
Penalties for Violations
Civil penalty up to $500; up to $5,000 if the violator had a violation of RSA 374:51-374:54 in the prior 12 months or the violation causes bodily injury or property damage over $50,000.
Maximum penalty: $5,000
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 New Hampshire licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Contractor licensing as required by project type
- Municipal permits for excavation
- 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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