About Us

Established in 1990, New York 811 is a nonprofit organization that acts as a communications link between utility companies and individuals planning any digging activity in the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. By relaying these requests, New York 811 helps protect one of the most vast, congested and complicated underground infrastructures in the nation.

Though New York 811 does not physically mark utility lines or underground facilities, we do relay digging and excavation requests to our member network. This network includes companies that own or operate underground utility lines in our region, including cable television, natural gas, electric, water, sewer and telecommunications companies.

We also devote significant time and resources to promoting safe digging through presentations, special events, partnerships, and public education and outreach.

For general information about New York 811, call 1-800-524-7603, or email us at: [email protected]

By law, excavators and contractors working in the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island must contact New York 811, 1-800-272-4480 or 811, at least 48 hours but no more than 10 working days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) prior to beginning any mechanized digging or excavation work to ensure underground lines are marked. Excavators and contractors can also submit locate requests online, through ITIC. If you do not currently use ITIC, please call 1-800-524-7603 for more information.

For safety reasons, homeowners are strongly encouraged to call as well when planning any type of digging on their property. Homeowners can contact us directly at 1-800-272-4480 or by calling 811, the national call before you dig number. For excavation work completed on personal property, it is the contractor’s responsibility—NOT the homeowner’s—to contact New York 811 Having utility lines marked prior to digging is free of charge.