A fence looks like a simple above-ground project, but every post means a hole in the ground, and a typical fence needs a lot of them. Under a Main Line yard you may find gas lines, electric service, water mains, sewer laterals, and cable or fiber lines. Hitting one can be dangerous, expensive and disruptive for you and your neighbors. That’s why 76 FENCE Main Line never digs without a utility locate first, and why we handle the request for you.
What is PA One Call?
PA One Call is Pennsylvania’s one-call notification system for underground utilities. Instead of phoning every gas, electric, water and telecom company separately, anyone planning to dig contacts one center, by dialing 811 or submitting a request, and the center notifies the utility operators with lines in the area. Those operators then send someone out to mark the approximate location of their lines.
It’s not optional. Pennsylvania’s Underground Utility Line Protection Law, known as Act 287, requires excavators and homeowners to notify PA One Call at least 3 business days before digging. Fence post holes count as digging.
How we handle 811 on your project
When you hire us, the locate request is part of the job. Here’s how it fits into your timeline:
- After you approve your proposal, we submit the PA One Call locate request for your address.
- We plan around the required notice of at least 3 business days, so the locate is complete before installation day.
- Utility operators mark their lines with paint, flags or both.
- On installation day, the crew reviews the marks and adjusts post locations if needed.
You don’t need to call anyone. If you notice marks in your yard a few days before your install, that’s a good sign the system is working.
What the colored marks mean
Utility markings follow a standard color code used across the country. You may see some of these in your yard before your fence goes in:
- Red: electric power lines and cables
- Yellow: gas, oil or steam
- Orange: communications, such as telephone, cable TV and fiber
- Blue: potable water
- Green: sewer and drain lines
- Purple: reclaimed water or irrigation
- White: the proposed excavation area
- Pink: temporary survey markings
The marks show the approximate location of a line, not its exact position or depth. That’s why careful crews treat the area near a mark with extra caution and adjust post spacing when a line runs close to the fence path.
What 811 does not mark
This is the part many homeowners don’t realize. The locate covers lines owned by utility operators. Lines you own usually aren’t marked. Common examples include:
- Lawn sprinkler and irrigation lines
- Landscape and path lighting
- Electric or gas lines running to a detached garage, shed, pool heater or outdoor kitchen
- Invisible or underground dog fence wires
- Private drainage pipes and downspout extensions
- Propane lines and some private water lines
Before your install, let us know about anything like this that you’re aware of. On older Main Line properties, where systems have been added over decades, it’s common for homeowners not to know every line. A copy of a previous landscaping plan or pool installation drawing can be surprisingly helpful.
Tip: Please don’t remove the paint marks or flags before installation day. If a landscaper or lawn service is scheduled, ask them to work around the flags.
Why a locate matters even for “just a fence”
It’s tempting to think a few post holes along the edge of the yard couldn’t hurt anything. But property edges are exactly where many utility lines run, especially service lines coming in from the street. A post hole dug with a power auger can reach typical post depth, which in our area is below the frost line, typically 30″–36″ (local code governs). That’s deep enough to reach many buried lines.
A damaged gas line is a safety emergency. A cut fiber or cable line can knock out internet for you and your neighbors. A broken water or sewer line can mean a messy, costly repair. A few days of lead time is a small price for avoiding all of that.
Can 811 affect my fence layout?
Sometimes. If a marked line runs right under the planned fence path, we’ll adjust post spacing to straddle it, shift a post slightly, or in rare cases suggest moving a section of the fence. We’ll talk it through with you before we change anything. Mature tree roots and rocky schist soil can also affect exactly where a post can go, so a little flexibility on install day is normal.
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Related questions
The utility locate is one of several things we take care of before your fence goes in. Read our guide to fence permits on the Main Line, learn about post depth and the frost line, or see our full installation process. More questions? Visit our fence FAQ or call or text 484-779-6307.