Gov. Jared Polis has declared April 2026 as “Dig Safely Month” in Colorado.
This annual observance highlights the critical importance of safe digging practices and marks the 40th anniversary of Colorado 811, the state’s one-call notification system.
The annual tradition celebrated at the start of spring serves as a crucial reminder for all excavators, contractors and property owners that state law requires them to contact 811 before starting any digging project.
“Before everyone starts their warm-weather projects around the house, it’s important to remember to protect yourself, your home, your neighbors and critical underground infrastructure by first contacting 811,” said Mahesh Albuquerque, director of the Division of Oil and Public Safety at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment(CDLE). “We’ve seen the impact safe digging initiatives can have on communities thanks to our oversight of the Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission, and this annual tradition reinforces our commitment to reducing preventable damage.”
The Underground Damage Prevention Safety Commission within the CDLE’s Division of Oil and Public Safety develops best practices and reviews alleged violations of the One-Call Law.
The Damage Prevention Fund grew to more than $336,626 in 2025, supporting community support and safety initiatives. The fund’s second round of grant applications is currently open, offering $20,000 to efforts that encourage and educate the public on safe digging practices. Applications must be submitted via Bidnet by April 24 to be considered.
Colorado 811, established in 1986, is the fast, easy and comprehensive way to ensure that underground utilities are properly marked before any excavation begins. The key message remains: “Know what’s below, contact 811 before you dig.”
“Damages to underground utility lines cost the U.S. approximately $30 billion per year. The leading cause of damages and accidents is not contacting 811 service to have underground utility lines marked before excavation. Even shallow, small projects — such as planting shrubs, installing mailboxes or building fences — can strike utility lines located just inches below the surface. Underground lines can shift or become shallow over time, making contacting 811 necessary for all excavation even if you think the location of lines are known from previous projects,” said Claudia Randall, executive director of Colorado 811. “Striking a utility line can cause dangerous or fatal situations, including electrical shock or gas explosions. Always contact 811 at least three days before you plan to start digging to prevent injury or damage to underground lines. It’s free. It’s fast. And it’s the law.”
Despite decades of outreach, accidental utility strikes continue to pose serious risks to public safety and infrastructure.
According to the most recently updated state data:
• 43 percent of 911 center service disruptions in 2025 were caused by accidental cuts of telecommunications lines, which could be avoided by contacting 811.
• Approximately 60% of damage to gas pipelines in Colorado is due to excavation activities, highlighting the extreme risk of digging without a locate request.
• In 2024, there were 198 underground utility facility damages in Colorado. No notification to 811 accounted for 21 percent of reported damages in 2024, a consistent trend since 2018.
“Digging before knowing the location of underground pipes and cables can cause serious injuries and disrupt critical infrastructure that we rely on for telecommunications and energy. Contacting 811 before you dig can save time, prevent environmental or property damage and costly repairs,” said Public Utilities Commission Director Rebecca White. “Dig Safely Month is a great reminder to keep yourself and the public safe before breaking ground on any project.”
What can you do?
Call 811 or visit colorado811.org a minimum of three business days before starting any excavation project.
Colorado 811 will notify the public utilities in your dig area, who will send a locator to mark the location of the public underground utility lines. Colorado 811 does not locate private utility lines such as sprinkler system lines or electric fences.
The 811 service is completely free. Markings will be placed via paint or flags. The following colors indicate what type of public utility is below:
• Red = electric.
• Yellow = gas.
• Blue = potable water.
• Orange = communication lines such as cable TV or internet.
• Purple = reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines.
• Green = sewers and drain lines.
• White = proposed excavation.
• Pink = temporary survey markings.
Mandatory best practices for digging
All parties involved in excavation must adhere to mandatory practices to avoid violations, which include:
• Respect the tolerance zone: No mechanical excavation is permitted within the defined tolerance zone (typically 18 inches horizontally from each side of the facility mark).
• Mandatory potholing: Hand digging or vacuum excavation (potholing) must be used to physically expose the facility before proceeding with mechanical means in the area of the utility.
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