New Jersey Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for New Jersey, 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 Jersey at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- New Jersey One CallVisit website for New Jersey One Call (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811 or 800-272-1000
- Notice required
- At least 3 full business days (excluding weekends and holidays) and not more than 10 business days before excavation; notice valid 45 business days if work starts within 10 business days
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Ticket life
- 45 business days if work starts within 10 business days and the markout is maintained
- Maximum penalty
- $1,000 to $2,500 per violation per day, not to exceed $25,000 for a related series
New Jersey requires excavators to notify New Jersey One Call at least 3 full business days and not more than 10 business days before excavating. The law is the Underground Facility Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 48:2-73 et seq., with rules at N.J.A.C. 14:2, enforced by the Board of Public Utilities.
New Jersey One Call directs hand digging within 2 feet on either side of a marked facility.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
Hand dig within 2 feet on either side of a marked facility (New Jersey One Call).
Key Regulations
Underground Facility Protection Act
Sets notification, marking and enforcement provisions.
Citation: N.J.S.A. 48:2-73 et seq.; rules at N.J.A.C. 14:2
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU)
Oversees and enforces the Act and assesses civil penalties.
Penalties for Violations
The Board of Public Utilities assesses civil penalties.
Maximum penalty: $1,000 to $2,500 per violation per day, not to exceed $25,000 for a related series
- Gas/hazardous liquid pipeline violations up to $200,000 per violation per day and $2,000,000 per related series
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 Jersey licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- New Jersey contractor registration with the Division of Consumer Affairs where the work is covered
- Municipal contractor permits where required
- 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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