Call OKIE811 Before Digging: What Oklahoma's 811 Law Means for a French Drain
A French drain trench is often 12 to 24 inches deep and can run 50 or 100 feet across a yard. That is plenty of digging to cross a gas service line, a buried cable or a sprinkler pipe. Oklahoma has a free system for finding the utility lines before anyone digs, and the law requires it for anyone digging for hire.
This guide covers what OKIE811 is, the notice rule, what does and does not get marked, and what to ask the drainage company you hire.
What is OKIE811?
OKIE811 is Oklahoma's one-call center under the Oklahoma Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act. You or your contractor contact it by dialing 811 or going through OKIE811.org. OKIE811 then notifies the member utilities with lines in the area, and they send locators to mark their lines with paint or flags. The service is free.
The notice rule
Oklahoma law requires anyone digging for hire to contact OKIE811 at least 48 hours ahead (excluding weekends and holidays). The Act's wording is "at least 48 hours in advance, excluding the day of notification, weekends, and legal holidays, before starting excavation or demolition."
In practice, that means a request made on a Thursday does not clear on Saturday. Count business days, and leave out the day you call.
Plan for extra time. Some OKIE811 materials, including part of its own excavator guide and its homeowner information, refer to three business days' notice rather than 48 hours. Check OKIE811's current guidance before your project, and build a little slack into the start date rather than counting on the shortest window.
Who is supposed to call?
For a hired drainage project, the company doing the digging should contact OKIE811 and get its own locate ticket. The law is written around excavators, and a contractor in the business of digging is covered whenever it digs. Ask about it before you sign.
If you are doing any digging yourself, contact OKIE811 too. OKIE811 has a Homeowner Portal for people working on their own property, and the service costs nothing. Utility lines often run through easements and right-of-way strips at the front, side or back of a lot, which is exactly where drainage trenches tend to go. Don't assume a small or shallow job doesn't need a locate.
What a locate ticket covers
| Item | What the OKIE811 Excavator Guide says |
|---|---|
| Notice | At least 48 hours, excluding the day of notice, weekends and legal holidays |
| Cost | Free |
| Ticket life | Valid 14 days |
| Marked area | Operators mark a strip about 2 feet either side of their line |
| Near the marks | Hand dig |
| Enforcement | Oklahoma Corporation Commission |
The 14-day ticket life matters if your project gets delayed by rain, which in a Tulsa spring is common. If the job slips past the ticket window, the contractor needs a new one.
What 811 does not mark
This is the part that surprises many homeowners. OKIE811's member utilities mark the lines they own, usually up to your meter or service point. Sprinkler lines and other private lines aren't marked. That includes:
- Irrigation and sprinkler pipes and valve wires
- Power run to a shop, shed, pool or outdoor lights
- Gas lines to a grill, fire pit or detached garage
- Private water lines to an outbuilding or hose bib
- Existing downspout lines and old drain pipe
- Invisible pet fencing and low-voltage cable
Your contractor should plan for these. Options include a private locating service, sprinkler maps from whoever installed the system, and hand digging where lines are likely. Ask who pays if a sprinkler line is cut, and get the answer in writing.
Where 811 fits in a drainage project
Site visit and layout
The contractor checks where water comes from, the slope, and the outlet, then marks the trench route.
OKIE811 request
The contractor submits the locate with the planned route and waits the required time.
Private lines
Sprinklers and other private lines are located or flagged separately.
Permit check
Inside Tulsa city limits, the Watershed Development Permit rules cover excavating, grading and regrading, and a pipe through the curb needs a separate right-of-way permit. Ask your contractor, or call City of Tulsa Development Services (311).
Digging
Machine work stays clear of the marks; the area close to marked lines is dug by hand.
The how it works page covers the full sequence from first request to final walk-through.
Questions to ask a drainage company about 811
- Will you contact OKIE811 and get the locate ticket in your company's name?
- When will you submit it, and what start date does that allow?
- How will you find sprinkler lines and other private lines?
- Who pays to repair a private line damaged during the job?
- Do you carry liability insurance, and can I see proof?
Oklahoma doesn't issue a state license for general, landscape or drainage contractors. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work does require a Construction Industries Board license. Ask any contractor for proof of liability insurance, and use a licensed plumber for anything tied into your home's plumbing.
Ready to get quotes?
Every reputable drainage quote should mention the locate, the outlet and the restoration. Our guide to comparing drainage quotes shows what else to look for, and the French drain installation page explains how contractors usually handle the job. The Tulsa French drain cost guide lists published price ranges.
Tulsa French Drain Pros is a free matching service, not a drainage contractor. Use the free quote form to describe your drainage problem once, and independent local companies can reply with quotes. There is no obligation.
Questions people ask
Do I have to call 811 before installing a French drain in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma law requires anyone digging for hire to contact OKIE811 at least 48 hours ahead, excluding weekends and holidays, so a hired drainage contractor must call. If you dig yourself, contact OKIE811 as well. It is free, and utility lines often run through easements where drainage trenches go.
How long does OKIE811 take to mark lines?
The Act requires at least 48 hours' notice, not counting the day you call, weekends or legal holidays. Some OKIE811 materials mention three business days, so check OKIE811's current guidance and leave extra time. A locate ticket is valid for 14 days, so a long rain delay may mean a new request.
Does 811 mark sprinkler lines?
No. OKIE811 member utilities mark the lines they own. Sprinkler lines and other private lines, such as power to a shed or gas to a grill, aren't marked. Your contractor should plan for them with a private locator, sprinkler maps or hand digging, and the quote should say who pays if one is damaged.
Does it cost anything to call OKIE811?
No. Contacting OKIE811 by dialing 811 or using OKIE811.org is free, and so is the marking by member utilities. A private locating service for sprinklers and other private lines usually has a fee, so ask your contractor whether that is included in the quote.