Before You Dig in New Jersey: 811, Permits, and Soil Disturbance Rules

Whether it's a new patio, a drainage line, a home addition, or a full foundation excavation, there's a checklist that has to happen before the first bucket of dirt comes out. Skipping it can mean a cut gas line, a stop-work order, or a fine. Here's what New Jersey homeowners should know before any digging starts.

Step one: New Jersey One Call (811)

New Jersey law requires anyone excavating, contractor or homeowner, to contact New Jersey One Call by dialing 811 before digging. The request has to go in at least three full business days before work begins. Utility companies then send locators to mark their underground lines. The service is free.

When we run your project, we place the markout request ourselves and make sure every utility has responded before we dig.

What the paint colors mean

• Red: electric power lines
• Yellow: gas, oil, or steam
• Orange: communications, cable, and fiber
• Blue: potable water
• Green: sewer and storm drains
• Purple: reclaimed water and irrigation
• White: the proposed excavation area
• Pink: temporary survey markings

Markings show the approximate location of a line, not its exact depth. Careful hand digging is still needed near any marked utility.

The lines 811 won't mark

This is the part most homeowners don't know. Utility companies generally mark their lines only up to the meter. Anything on the homeowner's side of the meter is private and usually isn't marked. That can include:

• Electric lines to a detached garage, shed, pool, or landscape lighting
• Gas lines to a grill, generator, fire pit, or pool heater
• Irrigation and sprinkler lines
• Private water lines to outbuildings
• Septic lines and sewer laterals

For those, a private locating service, old surveys, and the homeowner's knowledge of past work are all part of a safe plan. We ask every client about these before we start, and we're experienced with utility trenching around existing services.

Soil erosion and sediment control

In New Jersey, projects that disturb more than 5,000 square feet of soil generally need certification from the local soil conservation district under the state's Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act. In Bergen County, that's the Bergen County Soil Conservation District. A new home, a large addition, or major site clearing can cross that threshold quickly. Certified projects require measures like silt fence, construction entrances, and stabilization so mud doesn't wash into streets and storm drains.

Local permits to check

Beyond 811 and soil disturbance, your town may require its own approvals depending on the project:

• Building permits for additions, foundations, and many retaining walls
• Tree removal permits. Many Bergen County towns regulate removal of larger trees.
• Grading or lot development approvals for significant changes to drainage patterns
• Road opening permits if work extends into the street for a sewer or water connection
• Wetlands and flood hazard rules near streams, ponds, and flood zones

Requirements vary from town to town, so we confirm them with the local building and engineering departments in places like Upper Saddle River, Allendale, and Paramus before scheduling work. For larger projects, see our guide to home addition permits in New Jersey.

A quick pre-dig checklist

• 811 markout requested at least three full business days ahead
• Private lines identified and located
• Soil disturbance area estimated, with soil district certification if needed
• Town permits confirmed and posted
• A plan for where excavated soil and rock will go
• Drainage considered so the finished grade doesn't send water toward the house

Hiring a contractor who handles all of this is one of the biggest reasons to choose an experienced excavation contractor. If you're planning a project in Bergen County, contact us and we'll walk you through exactly what yours requires.

Frequently asked questions