Call Before You Dig: Marking Utilities Before a Fence Goes In in Connecticut

The Connecticut rule before fence excavation

Connecticut General Statutes §16-346 requires the location of underground public utility facilities to be ascertained before excavation, demolition or discharge of explosives. The law applies to the person performing the work, not simply the property owner who ordered it. Read the official Connecticut statute and the current PURA CBYD provisions.

RCSA §16-345-4(a)(1) requires notice at least two full days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, but no more than 30 days before excavation. If a fence contractor operates the auger or excavator, that contractor must obtain the location request. Put the ticket number and legal start date in the written estimate or contract so everyone knows which request covers the work.

You can call 811, call 1-800-922-4455 or submit a request through the Connecticut CBYD website. Pre-mark the proposed excavation area with white paint, flags or stakes before submitting the request. The location request is valid for 30 calendar days from the notification date. If the work continues beyond that period, renew the ticket and allow the required waiting period again.

Hand tools are treated differently in the CBYD homeowner FAQ. A homeowner using only a shovel or post-hole digger is not required to notify CBYD under that FAQ, but PURA and CBYD encourage a markout because hand tools can still strike buried utilities. For a fence project, calling before any post-hole work gives you a clearer starting point even when the first holes may be dug by hand.

What the utility colors mean

CBYD is a notification clearinghouse. It sends the request to participating public utility owners, which locate and mark the facilities they own or operate in the proposed work area. A markout shows an approximate location. It is not an exact pipe or cable edge.

Connecticut’s RCSA §16-345-5(i) uses the following color code. The PURA color-code page provides the same marking system.

The approximate-location strip extends no more than 1.5 feet on either side of the markout line, plus half the facility width where applicable. Treat the marked area as a working zone that needs careful exposure before a post hole is placed.

CBYD homeowner guidance says power tools may not be used within 18 inches of gas markings. Where a fence post must go near a marked gas, electric, communication, water or sewer facility, expose the line by hand or soft digging before powered equipment is used. Follow the instructions on the ticket and the utility’s instructions at the site.

Private lines need a separate plan

A CBYD ticket covers participating public utilities. It does not locate every system installed by a homeowner, private contractor or property owner. Private lines may include sprinkler and irrigation pipes, secondary electric lines, pool plumbing, sewer laterals, septic systems, propane lines, private lighting, security wiring and invisible dog-fence wire.

Walk the proposed fence line before the contractor sets post locations. Look for irrigation heads, valve boxes, lighting fixtures, pool equipment, propane tanks, septic covers, cleanouts, wells, generators, outbuildings and dog-fence transmitters. An old stone wall or a change in grade can affect the proposed fence line, but neither tells you where utilities run. Keep the line investigation separate from fence layout decisions.

Gather prior surveys, septic plans, well records, irrigation plans, electrical permits, pool plans and site drawings. Ask the previous owner, property manager, irrigation company, septic contractor, propane supplier and pool contractor where their systems run. The town health department or sanitarian may have available septic or well records. A private utility-locating company can locate privately owned pipes, wires, septic components and other systems outside the CBYD system.

Give the fence contractor a written sketch or marked site plan showing known private systems before post locations are finalized. Private locating supplements the CBYD ticket. It does not replace the required Connecticut notice when powered or mechanized excavation will occur.

For a pool enclosure, review Connecticut pool fence requirements before the fence line is set. For a dog yard, the best fence choices for dogs may affect gate locations, buried wire and the area that needs private locating. A residential fencing plan should account for both the finished fence and the underground systems around it.

What to do if a mark or line is contacted

Stop excavation immediately if a utility is struck, scraped or dented. Connecticut defines contact broadly, including damage to a facility’s coating, housing or protective device. The excavator responsible for the work must immediately and directly report the contact or damage to the affected public utility.

Do not touch, move, cover or repair the facility unless the utility authorizes it. Keep workers and other people away from the area until the utility gives instructions.

If there is a serious electrical short circuit or escaping combustible or hazardous fluid or gas, including natural gas or propane, alert people in the danger area. Contact police, fire or emergency personnel, take feasible steps to remove ignition sources and evacuate employees and the public when needed.

PURA investigates reported damage and violations. The maximum civil penalty listed by PURA is $40,000 for each violation, with the actual penalty based on the circumstances. The PURA monitoring and enforcement information explains the reporting and enforcement process.

Town approvals come after the utility plan

The CBYD notice rule is statewide in Connecticut. Fence permits, zoning setbacks, height limits, corner-lot visibility rules and related approvals are local. Before ordering materials, ask the municipality governing the parcel:

• Which office handles fence zoning questions?
• Is a zoning permit, building permit, zoning compliance review or another approval required?
• What setbacks, height limits, right-of-way restrictions and corner-lot rules apply?
• Is the property near wetlands, a watercourse, septic areas, a historic district, a public road or an easement?
• Does the town require a survey, site plan, permit number or CBYD ticket before excavation?
• Which documents, fees and inspections apply?

Bring the property address, fence sketch, approximate length, gate locations, survey if available, parcel map, site photos, proposed post-hole locations and information about septic, wells, pools, irrigation, propane and private electrical systems. The statewide overview, Do You Need a Permit for Fence Installation in CT?, can help organize the permit questions.

Newtown directs permit and building-code questions to its Building Department and states that permit fees are based on the total cost written on the application. Danbury operates a Permit Center that coordinates building, zoning, engineering, fire, health and public-utility reviews. Those local examples show why you should ask the office governing your own parcel.

The fence contractor should state in writing who submits the CBYD request, who identifies private utilities, who obtains local approvals, where the fence and gates will go and what happens if the crew encounters septic equipment, ledge or an undocumented facility. A written sketch helps when a fence line changes after the original ticket.

For a property near a wetland or watercourse, read Building a Fence Near Wetlands, Streams or Lakes in Connecticut before finalizing the route. If the proposed posts are near exposed rock or ledge, Installing a Fence on Rocky Soil and Ledge in Western Connecticut explains why the excavation plan may need adjustment.

If the fence is on the New York side

A fence project across the state line follows the one-call system serving the actual excavation location. In Connecticut, use CBYD at 811, 1-800-922-4455 or cbyd.com. Notice must be made at least two full days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and no more than 30 days before excavation.

In Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester counties, use UDig NY at 811 or UDig NY. New York requires notice at least two full working days and no more than 10 working days before excavation. Utility responses are provided through New York’s Automated Positive Response system. UDig NY member utilities also require a separate plan for privately owned facilities.

Ask the town, city or village governing the property about fence approval, setbacks, height rules and permits. A Connecticut ticket does not cover a New York excavation, and a New York ticket does not replace Connecticut notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to call 811 before installing a fence?

Yes, if the fence installation uses an auger, excavator, trencher, skid steer or other powered excavation equipment. The person performing the excavation must request the ticket, while homeowners using hand tools are encouraged to call because shovels and post-hole diggers can damage utilities.

How deep can you dig without calling 811?

There is no Connecticut depth exemption for powered or mechanized excavation. Hand digging has a different rule under the CBYD FAQ, but the practical answer for fence holes is to request a markout at any depth and investigate private lines separately.

How long does Call Before You Dig take in Connecticut?

Plan for at least two full days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, before mechanized excavation. Submit the request no more than 30 days before digging, review utility responses and wait for the legal start date before work begins.

Is Call Before You Dig free?

Yes, Connecticut CBYD is free through 811, 1-800-922-4455 or the online request system. A private utility locator may charge to identify irrigation, septic, propane, pool, lighting, security, invisible dog-fence or secondary electrical systems.

Final Thoughts

Call Before You Dig is the first excavation step for a powered fence installation in Connecticut, but it is only one part of the site plan. Pair the ticket with a private-line investigation, confirm the local approvals and put the fence line, post locations and responsibilities in writing. My Fence Guy can help coordinate the excavation plan, utility information and written scope before the fence work begins.

Call us at (203) 746-1100 for a free estimate, or reach out through our contact page.