Wisconsin Hydrovac & Excavation Regulations
Excavation law, 811 notice rules, tolerance zone and penalties for Wisconsin, 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
Wisconsin at a Glance
Call 811 before you dig
- One-call center
- Diggers HotlineVisit website for Diggers Hotline (opens in a new tab)
- Phone
- 811
- Notice required
- 3 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
- Tolerance zone
- 18 inches
- Ticket life
- Re-notify if excavation does not start within 10 days of the scheduled start or stops for more than 10 days
- Maximum penalty
- $25,000 per violation (each day a separate violation; max $500,000 for a single persisting violation), assessed by the Public Service Commission, plus a 10% surcharge
Wisconsin requires excavators to notify Diggers Hotline at least 3 working days before excavating, excluding weekends and holidays. The law is Wis. Stat. 182.0175 (Damage to Transmission Facilities), commonly called the one-call law.
Tolerance Zone
18 inches
Keep an estimated minimum clearance of 18 inches between the marking and the cutting edge of power-operated equipment. Once a facility is exposed, this may drop to twice the equipment's limit of control or 12 inches, whichever is greater.
Key Regulations
Damage to Transmission Facilities (Wis. Stat. 182.0175)
Commonly called Wisconsin's one-call law; sets notice and excavation safety requirements.
Citation: Wis. Stat. 182.0175
Notice and Owner Response
Notify 3 working days ahead; facility owners respond within 3 working days.
Citation: Wis. Stat. 182.0175(2)(am)1, (2m)(a)2
Transmission Facilities Defined
"Transmission facilities" means all pipes, pipelines, wires, cables, ducts and similar facilities, including utility, communications, water and sewer. The excavator duties (18-inch clearance, support, inspection before backfill) apply to all of them, not only high-pressure pipelines.
Citation: Wis. Stat. 182.0175(1)(c)
Penalties for Violations
The Public Service Commission assesses forfeitures, plus a 10% surcharge, and may order attendance at an educational course.
Maximum penalty: $25,000 per violation (each day a separate violation; max $500,000 for a single persisting violation), assessed by the Public Service Commission, plus a 10% surcharge
- PSC may order attendance at an educational course
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 Wisconsin licensing board and your local permit office before bidding work.
- Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor certification or appropriate trade license where the work requires one
- Municipal permits and business licenses
- 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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