Virginia Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Virginia, 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
Virginia at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Virginia 811Visit website for Virginia 811 (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Notice required
- 3 working days. Operators have until 7:00 a.m. on the third working day after the locate request, and excavators may not dig until all operators post a positive response.
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches
- Maximum penalty
- $10,000 per violation for digging without a locate request (56-265.17(A)), $5,000 for other violations, imposed by the State Corporation Commission
Virginia requires excavators to contact Virginia 811 at least 3 working days before digging. Operators have until 7:00 a.m. on the third working day after the request to mark, and work may not begin until every operator posts a positive response. The law is the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act, Code of Virginia 56-265.14 et seq., enforced by the State Corporation Commission.
Within 2 feet of the marks, the Act requires hand digging to expose facilities.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches
Hand dig within 2 feet of the marks to expose facilities (Code of Virginia 56-265.24).
Key Regulations
Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act
Requires notice and sets excavation safety standards.
Citation: Code of Virginia 56-265.14 et seq.
Positive Response System
Excavators may begin work only after every operator's positive response is confirmed.
Citation: Code of Virginia 56-265.17(B), 56-265.19
Advisory Committee
An advisory committee set up by the State Corporation Commission reviews reported violations, sets positive response codes and makes recommendations. The SCC enforces the Act.
Citation: Code of Virginia 56-265.30, 56-265.31
Penalties for Violations
The State Corporation Commission imposes civil penalties.
Maximum penalty: $10,000 per violation for digging without a locate request (56-265.17(A)), $5,000 for other violations, imposed by the State Corporation Commission
- Treble repair costs (punitive portion capped at $10,000) for willfully failing to submit a locate request (56-265.17(A))
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 Virginia licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Virginia Board for Contractors license (Class A, B or C) where the work requires one
- Local business license and excavation 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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