New York Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for New York, 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 York at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- UDig NYNew York outside New York City and Long Island (55 counties)Visit website for UDig NY (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Also serving
- New York 811, New York City and Long IslandWebsite for New York 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Notice required
- At least 2 full working days (excluding the day of the call, weekends and legal holidays) but not more than 10 working days
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Ticket life
- Marks valid 10 working days
- Maximum penalty
- Up to $4,375 for a first violation and up to an additional $17,500 for each succeeding violation within 12 months (GBL §765)
New York has two one-call centers: UDig NY serves the state outside New York City and Long Island, and New York 811 serves New York City and Long Island. Excavators must place a location request at least 2 full working days, excluding the day of the call, and not more than 10 working days before excavating. Excavation rules are in 16 NYCRR Part 753 (Code Rule 753), enforced by the Public Service Commission.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
Two feet on either side of the designated center line, plus half the diameter if known (16 NYCRR 753-1.2). Part 753 requires verifying facility location within the tolerance zone.
Key Regulations
Code Rule 753
Excavation safety rule covering notification, marking and safe digging, including mandatory white line premarking and positive response.
Citation: 16 NYCRR Part 753
Local Permits
New York City and other municipalities may require their own street opening or excavation permits.
Vacuum Excavation
UDig NY's excavator manual states vacuum excavation is an accepted means of exposing and verifying marked facilities (Part 753 itself requires verification of facility location within the tolerance zone).
Penalties for Violations
The Public Service Commission determines civil penalties under PSL §119-b and General Business Law Article 36; the Attorney General brings the action to recover them.
Maximum penalty: Up to $4,375 for a first violation and up to an additional $17,500 for each succeeding violation within 12 months (GBL §765)
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 York licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Contractor licensing as required by the municipality
- Municipal excavation permits where required
- 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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