Private Utility Locating
The lines Florida 811 will never mark: private electric, irrigation, septic, propane, site lighting, and data conduits, located and documented.
Private utility locating services for the whole parcel
On most commercial and residential properties, the majority of underground lines are private: they run beyond the meter, were installed by previous owners, or were never documented at all. Because they are privately owned, they are not required to be marked through 811, and the utility companies that answer a ticket will never touch them.
So who locates private utilities? A private utility locating company. Our technicians sweep the entire site, not just the public rights-of-way, with electromagnetic locating and ground penetrating radar, then trace sewer laterals and conduits from the inside using sondes and video pipe inspection. Water lines on private property, irrigation mains, septic systems, buried tanks and lines: if it is under your parcel, it gets found, marked, and documented.
The free 811 call is still step one, and Florida law requires it. Private utility locating services are the second call, the one that covers everything the first cannot. Together they give excavation crews the complete picture and take the guesswork out of the private side, where the liability for a utility strike lands on the owner.
Hiring a private locate is simple: send us the address and what you plan to dig, and we scope the visit up front. Our locating company covers the whole state, from single lots to campuses, and every locate ends the same way: private utilities marked in APWA colors, depths estimated where GPR allows, and documentation your contractor can hold onto.
What's included
- Private electric between buildings and outbuildings
- Irrigation mains and control wiring
- Septic systems, drain fields, and private sewer laterals
- Propane lines and buried tanks
- Site lighting and signage circuits
- Private data, camera, and communication conduits
Systematic. Documented. Every time.
Project consultation
We review your scope, site plans, and available utility records to understand exactly what your project needs.
One-call coordination
We coordinate with Florida 811 (Sunshine State One Call) so public utility owners mark their lines and share records.
Field locating
Our technicians deploy electromagnetic locators and GPR on site to identify, verify, and mark every utility.
Documentation & reporting
You receive maps, depth readings, and professional reports meeting ASCE 38 standards.
Private Utility Locating FAQ
What counts as a private utility?
Anything past the utility company's meter or point of service: power to a detached garage, irrigation, septic, propane, pool equipment lines, parking-lot lighting, and private data runs. None of it is marked by 811.
How much does it cost to have private utilities located?
Most residential and light commercial visits in Florida land between $200 and $600, with hourly rates for larger sites. Site size, congestion, and non-metallic pipe (which needs GPR) move the number. We quote a firm price from your address and scope before a technician rolls.
Who locates private utilities?
The property owner is responsible for them, and a private utility locating company does the actual finding. Utility companies mark only their own lines up to the meter, even when you call 811 before you dig.
How do you locate water lines on private property?
Metal pipe and tracer-wired PVC get traced electromagnetically from valves and meters. PVC without tracer wire is found with ground penetrating radar, and we confirm depth with GPR passes or soft-dig verification where the stakes are high.
Can I rent a utility locator instead?
You can rent electromagnetic locating equipment for roughly $100 to $300 per week, but it only finds conductive lines, and interpreting signals in congested ground is the hard part. For a one-off dig, a professional locate usually costs less than the rental plus the risk of a missed line.
What should I expect when hiring a private utility locating service?
A scoped quote up front, then an on-site survey: an electromagnetic sweep of every conductive line, GPR passes for plastic and clay pipe, and sonde tracing through sewer and conduit runs. The private locate ends with APWA markings on the ground and, if requested, a documented utility map. Plan it alongside your 811 ticket so both sets of marks are fresh on dig day.
Who needs private locating?
Property managers, campuses, HOAs, industrial facilities, and any contractor digging on private land beyond the public right-of-way.
Can you find abandoned lines?
Yes. GPR detects abandoned and unrecorded utilities regardless of material, and we mark them so your crew can treat them appropriately.
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Cities we serve
Any project in mind?
From bore path to as-built: drilling, locating, and mapping under one contractor. Get your project priced before the ground opens.