Do You Need to Call 811 Before Installing a Fence in High Point, NC?
Yes. North Carolina requires notice to NC811 at least 3 full working days before digging, and fence post holes are digging. Dial 811 or 1-800-632-4949, or file a ticket online. The day you give notice does not count toward the 3 days. Utilities mark their lines in the requested area inside that window.
How to request a locate for a fence
- Call 811 or 1-800-632-4949, or use NC811's online Single Address Ticket, which homeowners can use
- Describe the whole fence line as the work area, not just the corners
- Wait 3 full working days. The day you give notice is not counted
- Check the locate status before anyone digs
What the paint and flags mean
Utilities mark their lines with paint or flags in the American Public Works Association uniform color code:
- Red: electric
- Yellow: gas, oil or steam
- Orange: communications, cable and fiber
- Blue: drinking water
- Green: sewer and drain lines
- Purple: reclaimed water and irrigation
- White: the proposed digging area
- Pink: temporary survey marks
The tolerance zone is 24 inches on each side of a marked line, plus half the width of the pipe or cable if it is known. Inside that zone, expose the line with hand tools.
Why this matters on a fence job
A fence runs the length of a yard, with a post hole every few feet along the whole run. Service lines to the house cross that path: power, gas, water, cable and fiber. A post hole through one of them is a safety problem and a repair bill.
811 marks lines owned by the utilities. Lines you own, like power to a detached garage, landscape lighting or irrigation, are not marked by the utilities. Tell us where those run before the post layout is final.
Who makes the call
Whoever does the digging is responsible for giving notice. When we set your fence posts, the locate request is part of our job. Questions about a fence line in High Point: call or text (336) 833-1955.
Last updated September 2026.
Quick Answers
Common Questions
How long does an 811 locate take in North Carolina?
Utilities have 3 full working days, beginning the working day after the notice is given, to mark their underground facilities in the requested area.
Do I need to call 811 for just a few fence posts?
Yes. Post holes are excavation, and the notice requirement applies to any digging.
What is the 811 tolerance zone?
24 inches on each side of a marked facility, plus half the diameter of the facility if it is known. Use hand tools inside it.
What number do I call for NC811?
Dial 811, or call 1-800-632-4949. You can also submit a request online at nc811.org.
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