West Virginia Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for West 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
West Virginia at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- West Virginia 811 (Miss Utility of West Virginia, Inc.)Visit website for West Virginia 811 (Miss Utility of West Virginia, Inc.) (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Notice required
- At least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) and no more than 10 work days before excavation
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches (two feet horizontally from the outside walls of the facility)
- Maximum penalty
- $5,000 per incident (gross negligence or willful misconduct)
West Virginia requires excavators to notify West Virginia 811 not less than 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) nor more than 10 work days before excavating. The law is W. Va. Code 24C-1-1 et seq., and the Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board handles enforcement.
Tolerance Zone
24 inches (two feet horizontally from the outside walls of the facility)
Operators provide the approximate location within 2 feet horizontally of the outside walls of the facility (W. Va. Code 24C-1-3). The statute calls for avoiding damage, including hand digging when necessary.
Key Regulations
West Virginia Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Law
Requires notice before excavation and sets safety standards.
Citation: W. Va. Code 24C-1-1 et seq.
Damage Reporting
Report damage immediately, call 911 for emergencies, and notify the one-call center within 24 hours.
Citation: W. Va. Code 24C-1-5(a)(3)
Penalties for Violations
Civil enforcement: mandatory training for a first violation and escalating civil penalties after that.
Maximum penalty: $5,000 per incident (gross negligence or willful misconduct)
- Mandatory training; civil penalties up to $500 (2nd) and $2,500 (3rd+) per incident within 5 years; up to $5,000 for gross negligence or willful misconduct; stop-work orders for failing to notify
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 West Virginia licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- West Virginia contractor license from the Division of Labor where the work requires one
- 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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