The site work division of ICFHome.ca · Building since 1979 · Insured to $2,000,000 · 705-533-1633
Excavation2026Tiny, Tay, Midland, Wasaga, Collingwood
Ontario One Call: Get Locates Before You Dig
Public utility locates in Ontario are free and required by law before you dig: request them online or by phone at 1-800-400-2255 at least 5 business days ahead. They do not cover private lines like the wire to your shed or the pipe to your well, so those need a private locator. Here is how it works and who pays when something gets cut.
Updated October 2026 · Georgian Bay Siteworks, the site work division of ICFHome.ca
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
Free, Required, and Not Optional
Before anyone digs, Ontario One Call notifies the utilities with buried lines in the area, and each one sends a locator to paint or flag where its line runs. The service is free. Ontario One Call’s website now redirects to the Ontario Dig Authority locates page, which states a locate is required by law before digging, including for fence posts, trees and decks.
You can request online through the portal linked on that page, or by phone at 1-800-400-2255 (number from the Ontario One Call brochure). Have the address, a description of where you will dig, how deep, and the dates ready.
Builder truth: a locate costs nothing and takes a week. Not having one can cost you a summer, a lawyer and your temper.
Timing: 5 Business Days, Plan for More
Submit at least 5 business days before digging for a single address, or 10 business days for a multi-address or large project. That is the rule on paper. In practice delays happen, and the industry has been pushing for ways to shorten locate wait times. Spring is the busiest season, so book early.
Wait until every utility on the list has responded, either with marks or an all-clear, before you dig. One missing response is one unknown line.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Cost of public locates | Free |
| Notice needed | 5 business days (10 for multi-address or large jobs) |
| How long a locate stays valid | Minimum 60 days |
| New option from November 1, 2026 | Continue digging up to 180 days total if strict conditions are met |
| Digging near the marks | Hand dig within 1 m of the markings |
| Project changes | Request a new locate |
The 60-day validity and the new 180-day continuation option come from Ontario One Call’s notice on the new regulation. The continuation is optional and has conditions, including notifying Ontario One Call before the 60 days run out. For most homeowner jobs, if your paint has faded or the 60 days are up, just get a fresh locate.
What Ontario One Call Does Not Locate
This is where rural and cottage owners get caught. Public locates cover the utility’s lines up to its point of ownership. Anything you or a previous owner buried yourselves is private, and nobody from the utility will mark it.
Private power
Wire from the house or meter to a shed, detached garage, pump house, yard lights, gate or sign.
Water and well lines
The pipe from your well to the house, and any line to a barn, garden tap or bunkie.
Septic
The pipe from house to tank, tank to bed, and the bed itself. See septic setbacks before digging nearby.
Gas and data you own
Gas to a BBQ, pool heater or generator, and cables to cameras or outbuildings.
For these you hire a private locator, a company with the same tracing gear the utilities use. A rough 2026 range for a simple residential private locate is $150 to $400, depending on travel and how many lines. Old septic permit drawings from the township and the previous owner’s memory help a lot too.
The $27,000 Lesson From Brampton
CTV News reported on a Brampton homeowner billed about $27,000 after his contractor cut the hydro line while digging for a garage. He says he had contacted Ontario One Call and the contractor did not follow the instructions. Utility records showed the contractor caused the damage, yet the bill was sent to the homeowner, with the power at risk of being shut off. He sued the contractor, who ignored the lawsuit.
The lesson is not that locates are useless. It is that marks only help if the digger respects them, and that if a contractor walks away, the utility may come looking for the property owner.
Who Is Responsible?
- The person digging needs valid locates. If you hire a contractor, the Ontario Dig Authority says to confirm they submitted the request and received every response.
- Ask to see the locate sheets. A good excavator will show you without blinking.
- Check the contractor’s insurance. We are insured to $2,000,000. Ask anyone digging on your lot for proof of liability coverage.
- Get private lines found too. If you know there is a buried line to the shed, say so in writing before work starts.
- Hit something? Stop. Keep people away, call the utility, and for gas, leave the area and call 911.
On our jobs we request the locates ourselves and keep the sheets on site. If you are planning a service trench, see our trenching services.
Book a Dig With the Locates Handled
We request public locates, flag the private lines you tell us about, and keep the paperwork on site. Call 705-533-1633.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ontario One Call free?
Yes. Public utility locates are free, and getting one before you dig is required by law in Ontario.
How do I request a locate in Ontario?
Use the online portal linked from the Ontario Dig Authority locates page, or call 1-800-400-2255. Have the address, dig area, depth and dates ready.
How long does it take to get a locate?
Submit at least 5 business days before digging for a single address, or 10 business days for large or multi-address work. Delays happen in busy seasons, so book early.
How long is a locate valid?
A minimum of 60 days. From November 1, 2026 a new optional rule allows digging to continue up to 180 days total if strict conditions are met. Otherwise get a new locate.
Does Ontario One Call locate my well line or shed wire?
No. Private lines such as power to a shed, the pipe from your well, septic pipes and gas to a BBQ are not located. Hire a private locator for those.
Who pays if a contractor cuts a utility line?
It depends on the facts, but utilities may bill the property owner, as happened in a Brampton case reported by CTV. Make sure your contractor has valid locates and liability insurance before digging.
How close can I dig to the locate marks?
Hand dig within 1 metre of the markings. Machines stay back until the line is exposed and its depth is known.
