Ontario One Call: Utility Locates

What is Ontario One Call?

Ontario One Call is a free provincial service that coordinates the marking of underground utilities before excavation work begins. When you submit a request, Ontario One Call notifies all member utility companies with infrastructure near your dig site. Each utility then sends a locator to mark their lines with standardized colour codes.

This service isn't just a good idea—it's the law. Under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act, anyone excavating must have utility locates completed before breaking ground. Failure to do so can result in fines, liability for damages, and serious safety consequences.

When You Need a Locate

Always Required

Request a locate before any excavation that penetrates the ground, including:

• Installing fence posts or sign posts
• Planting trees or large shrubs
• Building decks, patios, or retaining walls
• Installing irrigation systems
• Digging drainage ditches or dry wells
• Removing stumps or old foundations
• Excavating for pools or water features
• Trenching for electrical or gas lines
• Any work using power excavation equipment

Usually Required

Even for smaller projects, locates are recommended:

• Garden bed preparation deeper than 6 inches
• Installing mailboxes
• Building raised beds in new areas
• Any digging within the road allowance

Exemptions

Shallow cultivation (less than 15 cm/6 inches deep) in previously undisturbed garden areas typically doesn't require locates. However, if you're unsure, make the call. It's free and could save your life.

How to Request a Locate

By Phone

Call 1-800-400-2255 (1-800-400-CALL)

Available 24/7, 365 days a year. Have your information ready before calling.

Online

Visit www.on1call.com

Create an account to submit requests online and track their status. The online system is convenient for planning ahead and provides written confirmation of your request.

Information You'll Need

• Your contact information: Name, phone number, email address
• Location details: Municipal address, nearest intersection, and clear description of work area
• Type of work: Detailed description of what you're doing
• Excavation method: Hand tools, power equipment, or mechanical excavation
• Depth of excavation: Approximate maximum depth
• Date work will begin: Must be at least 5 business days out
• Property owner information: If different from caller

Wait Times

Standard locate requests must be submitted a minimum of 5 business days (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) before your planned excavation date. This gives utility companies time to respond.

During peak construction season (April through October), response times may vary. Submit your request as early as possible, especially for large projects or commercial work.

Emergency locates can be processed faster for genuine emergencies, but "I want to start this weekend" doesn't qualify as an emergency.

What to Expect

The Marking Process

After submitting your request, each affected utility company will dispatch a locator to your site. They'll use electronic equipment to find their underground lines and mark them with spray paint or flags according to a standardized colour code.

Locate Validity

Utility locates are typically valid for 30 days from the date of issue. If your project is delayed beyond this period, you must request a relocate before work begins. Weather and ground conditions can fade or wash away markings, so photograph locates when they're fresh.

Private Utilities

Ontario One Call only marks public utilities up to the point of service (usually your meter). Private lines on your property won't be marked, including:

• Lines from your house to outbuildings (garage, shed, barn)
• Pool or spa electrical feeds
• Propane lines from tank to house
• Septic system components
• Landscape lighting wiring
• Sprinkler system lines
• Private well lines

You're responsible for locating private utilities yourself or hiring a private locator service.

Colour Codes

Understanding the colour code system helps you interpret what utilities are present:

Colour	Utility Type
Red	Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
Yellow	Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or gaseous materials
Orange	Communication, alarm or signal lines, cables, or conduit
Blue	Potable water
Green	Sewers and drain lines
Purple	Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines
Pink	Temporary survey markings
White	Proposed excavation

Safety Importance

Hitting an underground utility isn't just expensive—it's dangerous:

Gas Lines

Striking a natural gas line can cause explosions, fires, and asphyxiation. Even minor damage that doesn't immediately leak can create a hazard that fails catastrophically later.

Electrical Lines

Contact with buried electrical cables causes electrocution, severe burns, and arc flash injuries. High-voltage distribution lines are particularly deadly.

Telecommunications

Fibre optic cables carry intense light energy that can cause eye injuries. Cutting these lines disrupts emergency services and carries significant financial liability.

Water and Sewer

While less immediately dangerous, damaging these lines can cause flooding, property damage, and contamination hazards.

If You Hit a Utility

Despite precautions, accidents happen. If you contact any utility:

1. Stop work immediately
2. Evacuate the area if gas is suspected—don't use electrical switches or phones nearby
3. Call 911 if there's immediate danger
4. Notify the utility company directly
5. Report to Ontario One Call (they track strikes for safety analysis)
6. Document the incident with photos
7. Don't attempt repairs yourself

Tips for Northumberland County

• Rural considerations: Properties on well and septic have additional private utilities to consider
• Seasonal timing: Spring locates may be delayed due to high demand—plan ahead
• Frozen ground: Winter locates can be challenging; markings may be on snow
• Agricultural areas: Tile drainage systems are common—be aware these may not be marked
• Lakefront properties: Additional considerations for shoreline work—consult conservation authorities

Contractor Responsibilities

If you hire contractors for excavation work:

• Verify they have current locates before work begins
• Request copies of locate tickets
• Ensure they hand-expose within 1 metre of marked utilities
• Confirm they carry appropriate insurance

As the property owner, you can be held liable for damages caused by contractors working on your behalf.