You still get to retain the title and you are the owner but someone who owns easement to your property has the right to use your property. They should be able to provide the contact name and number for the individual who called in the dig request. Did any DOS compatibility layers exist for any UNIX-like systems before DOS started to become outmoded? One thing to note is that utility companies do have the right to come onto your property, even without permission. A utility easement gives utility companies the right to access any area in your property for work on gas, electric, sewer, telephone, and water lines. Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. Have you ever wondered about orange flags? Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. If not, they will inform you when they will be able to send over a check to cover the damage. Since they are placed to mark gas lines, removing them will defeat the purpose of protecting the lines. Positive Response can be checked here or by calling 800-445-3894. Removing the marks and flags put them at risk. If the company or its subcontractors do damage to your land while doing their work, you must immediately notify the persons involved. These projects involve underground facilities that need to be protected. Blue Water, slurry, and irrigation lines. If youre having trouble contacting the company or if you feel they are not attending to your concern, you have two ways to approach this: Is it possible to sue your utility company? Since they are placed to mark gas lines, removing them will defeat the purpose of protecting the lines. The other reason flags have appeared in your yard is because someone is planning to do work. If damages have been done to your property, its best to notify the company. By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Before You Dig | City of Longmont, Colorado Can a Pergola Have a Solid Roof? In some states, property owners are the ones that have the responsibility of removing locate flags. Utility companies usually place flags to mark underground facilities for projects like repair and maintenance. Its even more frustrating to see people come to your yard and put up flags without permission. ago. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'yardpit_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yardpit_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Because utility lines and flags used to mark them are placed on public rights, private individuals do not have a right to tamper with utility flags and where they are placed in most cases. Utility flags are placed to avoid any disturbances or accidents in the area while utility work is ongoing. Utility flags can be of several different colors, with each of the flag colors indicating a different utility line or component. The colors are as follows are noted in this handy chart. Mow your yard. Known as "locate flags," the person who called for their placement is responsible for removing them when the job is complete. Utility flags are meant to protect these utility lines when future homeowners or landscapers plan on digging. For more information, please see our The yellow flag marking indicates oil, gas, steam, petroleum, and gaseous materials utility lines. Different colored flags signal the different utilities: blue for water, yellow for oil and gas, orange for telecommunications, green for sewer and drain lines, red for electric, white for excavation and pink for temporary survey. (Do This Before Digging), utility companies do have the right to come onto your property, even without permission, the utility company is going to start digging up your yard. SECTION 10. They should be able to let you know the best times for them to make the repair. custom marker flags Use Marking Flags for Safety and Many Other Purposes Marking flags offer a way to clearly identify underground electric lines or mark construction borders. In most cases, the utility company will be held liable for the damages to your property. Never heard what happened. They can also serve as safety flags to alert passersby to hazardous areas. Please let us know if that helps answer your . You may panic as someone just came to your property to put up the marking flags. Frequently Asked Questions - North Carolina 811 Never fear, because in this article, were going to go over what utility flags are, what the different color utility flags mean, as well as what you can do as the property owner. Residential customers. Can I remove utility flags in my yard? After a few passes, something catches my eye: a wire staff flag which was laying in the lawn, managed to implant itself in the sidewall of the back right tire of my VRide! It would also help you know if you can request removal or need to wait a while before requesting one. As you spot those flags, you may not be sure what to do or what they mean. The orange ones are telephone and blue is water, power is usually white. Placing orange flags means companies should be careful about digging this area, especially when people are expecting a big game on TV. Removing these flags could disrupt any project planned in the area. "They can tell you whether a utility flag has outstayed its 30-day limit, at which point you can remove it.". The reason flags are put in your yard is to notify you of repair work on utility lines or the installation of a new utility line passing through your yard. It will be about 2 weeks before I can get the landscaping work done. According to the Pennsylvania Underground Utility Line Protection Act (Act 287): Refresh Marks requests can only be submitted for excavation projects that were started within 14 calendar days of the initial locate requests. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. And a damaged gas line can cause soil contamination and even explosion. You may be wondering at this point: Can a utility company dig in my yard without permission? The purple flag indicates another set of utilities that should not be tampered with. Its expected of a property owner to be bothered by the sight of colorful flags in their yard. Homeowners FAQs - Know what's below. Call 811 before you dig To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. When your installation is underground a crew chosen by your fiber provider will dig a small trench on your property to bury the line that comes from the street. Having a decent security system like aRing Video DoorbellorOutdoor Security Cameras(both on Amazon) is a smart thing to do in this situation so that you can prove your case. Speak with the 811 operator and ask if they can provide any information about what is happening at your address. If locate flags are in place for more than 14 days without any activity, the property owner can remove them because they are no longer valid at that point. The orange flag indicates communication lines, alarm lines, traffic loops, cables or conduit lines, and signal lines. A shed can add a wonderful charm to your property and provide ample storage space if you are running, Read More Do I Need a Permit to Build a Shed? Easements can easily be considered a burden for most property owners. Usually, this involves potable water. When she is not writing, she goes camping with her husband and little kids. This hasn't been the driest spring. rev2023.3.3.43278. i will normally leave the flags for 1 to 2 visits, if they are still there after 2 weeks i pick them up. Neighbors Keep on Putting Trash in My Garbage Can: What to Do? You may have no idea what it is and you just see it as something that ruins the overall aesthetics of your yard. As a result, they will give an estimate, which includes your property. (We Checked)Continue, Deciding to demolish a house may save you from some expensive renovations that seem too much to take on, Read More Can You Demo a House With a Mortgage? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Removing these flags could disrupt any project planned in the area. The most common reason for utility flags in a yard is to mark the location of underground utility lines. The color codes are as follows: Proposed excavation will be marked in white, power lines will mark in red, gas lines will mark in yellow, all communication lines will mark in orange, water marks in blue, sewer marks in green and Purple is for Reclaimed Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines. There is typically only a few reasons these types of little colored flags will appear in your yard or lawn. Damages to your property resulting from negligence or accidents is inevitable, especially when a utility company digs in your yard. Accidental removal of the flags is inevitable. Custom metal stamping Receive information from our advertisers or special DR-C offers. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Moving or removing flags and paint markings will ultimately make you liable for any damage that occurs to that utility, and trust us those can be expensive. Lets take this scenario for example: I wake up to find Verizon digging in my yard because of an service upgrade job. The flags wont be there for long. Get the latest, most up-to-date breaking news in your inbox. If they are damaged, they can lead to substantial effects on the community. The answer to that question is yes, unfortunately. (Try Doing This First), Can a Mailbox Be Any Color? Have you ever wondered about orange flags? Seeing the utility flag means some utility work is about to be done in the area. I've yet to . This repair in such situations involves sections of the utility line that pass through your yard. How can I explain to my manager that a project he wishes to undertake cannot be performed by the team? Every Wednesday morning, get the week's top crime stories in Denton from the Blotter in your inbox. NO! About seven to eight utility companies are typically contacted. Those are utility location flags. The quick answer is yes, you can. But this authority only takes place after the initial need for the flags is completed. You may have no idea what it is and you just see it as something that ruins the overall aesthetics of your yard. 8 Ponder upsets No. Before you blow your stack, relax a little bit. The red flag comes with a bulb symbol in it. Removing turf with water-efficient plants can be cost-effective, beautiful, and low-maintenance. Get exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of North Texas athletics teams in this weekly newsletter. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. Replace flags in original position. The colors follow the Uniform Color Code set by the American Public Works Association. Cookie Notice This will result in everyday inconveniences that can affect not only you but also other people in the community. What do the different colors mean? White flags usually mark the area where there is a proposed excavation. In most cases, it is illegal to tamper with these markings. Utility companies usually place flags to mark underground facilities for projects like repair and maintenance. High around 75F. they will stay there forever until you remove them or the home owner. Cable Company Runs Wire through Neighbor's Yard Without Asking I've mowed twice with my flags in the ground. Usually, the property deed comes with a utility easement, so that it remains valid and does not change even when the property has been sold or transferred. Can I Remove Utility Flags In My Yard: Is this Illegal? - Yard Blogger And those are just a few potential uses for these highly visible flags, which people sometimes call stake flags. How to follow the signal when reading the schematic? We will see if they are there next week. Marking Flags at Lowes.com If you found blue flags, you can try your water company. You can speak with the operator at 811 and ask for the details about the project in your area. In cases where you accidentally removed it, its best to call 811 for help. Doing so could result in fines. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. In this case, you may see your neighbors passing through your yard just to access a street. Other states place a validity of the flags for 30 calendar days. Please refer to our full affiliate disclosure policy for full details. Doing so is illegal and you could pay a fine. If the house you purchased came with an easement, theres nothing you can do but comply. But it does not call for removal. Knowing the different flag colors representation helps you know what plans to make, and the kind of excavation or utility work would be done in your neighborhood. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Is someone ever going to come? Mow around the markings. In NJ, that is 10 days. According to Krueger, once a project is completed, it's the responsibility of the contractor to remove the flags. In general, you should not remove utility flags in your yard. So what does this rainbow of marking flags in your yard mean? The color of the flags are typically going to follow The American Public Works Association (APWA) Uniform Color Code. Green flags are put up to mark drain lines and sewers.