Call 811 Before Digging Fence Posts in NC
How NC 811 works for fence projects, and the private lines it doesn't mark.
In North Carolina, anyone digging, including for fence posts, must contact NC 811 before excavating, generally at least three full working days ahead. Utility owners then mark their buried lines with paint or flags. The service is free. Private lines like irrigation, landscape lighting and lines to sheds or pools aren't marked by 811.
On this page
Paint colors
- Red: electric
- Yellow: gas
- Orange: communications and cable
- Blue: water
- Green: sewer
- White: proposed excavation
What isn’t marked
- Sprinkler lines and heads
- Landscape lighting
- Power or gas lines to detached garages, pools or hot tubs
- Invisible dog fence wire
- Septic lines on unsewered lots
Tell us about anything private before install day so we can locate or work around it.
Charlotte specifics
Older neighborhoods have decades of buried lines, some in odd places. Newer subdivisions often run utilities along the front or in rear easements. We review marks and adjust post spacing to avoid conflicts.
The process
- Submit a locate request with the address and dig area
- Wait the required notice period
- Utilities mark their lines
- Check that all utilities have responded
- Dig carefully near marks
Marks fade
Paint fades and flags get mowed. If work is delayed, a new request may be needed.
Why it matters
Hitting a gas or power line is dangerous and expensive. Even a cable or fiber hit can knock out service for a neighborhood.
Questions Charlotte homeowners ask
Do homeowners have to call 811 too?
Yes. The law applies to anyone digging. When we install, we submit the request.
How close to a mark can you dig?
Near marked lines, digging is done carefully by hand within a tolerance zone on either side of the mark.
Reviewed by the 76 Fence Charlotte installation team. Updated November 2, 2026. Charlotte rules change, so confirm permits, CDOT, historic district and HOA requirements before you build. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Keep reading
- How Wide Should a Fence Gate Be?
- Fencing a Sloped Yard: Stepped vs. Racked
- Do I Need a Survey Before Building a Fence?
- How Long Do Fences Last in Charlotte?
- Historic Fence Styles That Fit Charlotte Homes
- Wind- and Storm-Resistant Fences
Get a straight answer for your lot.
We check the line, the rules and the ground, then send a clear written quote. No dispatch fee.