Vermont Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Vermont, 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
Vermont 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
- Notice required
- At least 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, but not more than 30 days. The area must be premarked in white first. Notice is valid 30 days.
- Tolerance zone
- 18 inches
- Ticket life
- 30 days
- Maximum penalty
- $5,000 (fourth or later offense within one year)
Vermont requires excavators to premark the area in white and notify Dig Safe at least 72 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays, but not more than 30 days before excavating. Notice is valid 30 days. The law is 30 V.S.A. Chapter 86.
Tolerance Zone
18 inches
Within the approximate location (18 inches either side), excavators must take reasonable precautions and expose and verify facilities in a safe manner (for example hand digging or water excavation). Powered equipment may be used only where facilities have been verified.
Key Regulations
Underground Utility Damage Prevention System
Sets notification and safe excavation requirements.
Citation: 30 V.S.A. Chapter 86
Operator Marking
Operators mark within 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.
Citation: 30 V.S.A. 7006
Damage Reporting
Notify the company immediately on damage and call 911 for a gas or hazardous liquid release.
Citation: 30 V.S.A. 7007
Penalties for Violations
Civil penalties escalate for repeat offenses within one year; liability for actual damages is preserved.
Maximum penalty: $5,000 (fourth or later offense within one year)
- $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second and $1,500 for a third within one year
- Liability for actual damages
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 Vermont licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Contractor registration where the work is covered
- Municipal permits for excavation work
- 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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