Oklahoma Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Oklahoma, 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
Oklahoma at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- OKIE811Visit website for OKIE811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Notice required
- 48 hours, excluding the date of notification, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Ticket life
- 14 calendar days from the excavation start date
Oklahoma requires excavators to notify OKIE811 no less than 48 hours before excavating, excluding the date of notification, weekends and legal holidays. Notice expires 14 calendar days from the excavation start date. The law is the Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act, 63 O.S. 142.1 et seq.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
The tolerance zone is a strip of land 2 feet on either side of the facility.
Key Regulations
Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act
Requires notice before excavation and positive response from operators.
Citation: 63 O.S. 142.1 et seq.
Pipelines and Watch and Protect
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission enforces the Act for excavation near oil and natural gas pipelines (49 CFR 192/195 pipelines); since Nov. 1, 2024 operators may issue a "Watch and Protect" response requiring their representative on site within 10 feet of marks.
Citation: 63 O.S. 142.13
Notice Expiration
Notice expires 14 calendar days from the excavation start date; excavation may not continue after the 14th day without a new notice.
Citation: 63 O.S. 142.6
Recent and Upcoming Changes
- HB 4095 (effective November 1, 2024) added the Watch and Protect positive response, a Pre-Excavation Meeting Request ticket type, and a Large Project definition.
Penalties for Violations
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission enforces the Act for excavation near oil and natural gas pipelines. Penalty amounts are not stated in the Act text reviewed for this guide; contact the Commission for current amounts.
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 Oklahoma licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Trade licensing from the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board 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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