Insight Denton: Whose responsibility is it to remove those little utility flags and when? (2024)

FAQs

Insight Denton: Whose responsibility is it to remove those little utility flags and when? ›

Known as "locate flags," the person who called for their placement is responsible for removing them when the job is complete. State law requires contractors, utilities or individuals who plan to dig — even a homeowner planting a tree — to call 811 to come locate underground utilities in the work area.

It's crucial to preserve and maintain the location of flags. Obscured or displaced markings may lead to accidental damage. Residents shouldn't mow over, or remove the flags, especially if they value their water, sewer, gas, internet, phone, or other services.

When a construction project is about to take place, utility companies will have their lines located and marked to prevent them from being damaged. Once the project is complete and records have been updated, these flags will be removed.

Flags and other marks are valid for 30 calendar days and may be removed after such time. If you're involved in a large project with multiple construction companies, communicate with them before removing marks. They may also have a ticket for the same area and the marks are in the same area as your ticket.

The paint will fade over time; the people responsible for the planned project should remove the flags when they are no longer needed. That could be as long as 14 weeks. The flags and paint marks may be an annoyance, but they are crucial for the safety of construction workers and others near a work site.

It means someone in the vicinity is planning to do some digging and they called Diggers' Hotline at 811 to mark the areas where utilities such as electricity, water, gas, phone or other lines are buried.

Blue flags – Blue means water, irrigation or slurry. Usually this is drinking water. Damage this line and you could flood your home or find yourself without drinking water for a few days.

YELLOW – Gas, Oil, Steam Petroleum or Gaseous Materials. ORANGE – Communication, Cable TV, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit. BLUE – Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines. GREEN – Sewers and Drain Lines.

BLUE: Potable, Water. GREEN: Sewers and Drain Lines. PURPLE: Reclaimed Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines. PINK: Temporary Survey Markings.

Can you hang a flag on a utility pole? ›

NO. For safety reasons, please do not attach anything to power poles. Nails and staples can increase injury among utility workers, especially since line crews climb power poles. We all have seen or hung up posters of missing pets, upcoming garage sales, and other miscellaneous announcements on utility poles.

Construction companies use pink flags as temporary survey markings. Surveyors measure a site and use these flags to mark their measurements for quality assurance. Pink flags also signify unidentified utilities.

The Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 makes it illegal for an HOA to restrict owners from displaying a U.S. flag. Your HOA can, however, reasonably restrict the time, place, and manner of your flag display (provided the restrictions are to protect a substantial interest of the association).

Section 202 of the Texas Property Code states that a property owners association may not restrict or prohibit an owner from flying a United States, Texas, or United States Armed Forces flag. 2)The Texas flag must be displayed in accordance with State Law.

Texas law requires homeowners to contact 811 two-business days (excluding weekends and holidays) before digging, even if you're working in your own backyard.

The current Texas law defines the offense of Destruction of Flag in Penal Code Section §42.11 as follows: (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly damages, defaces, mutilates, or burns the flag of the United States or the State of Texas.

Texas law requires you to call toll-free 811 or 1-800-545-6005 at least 48 hours before you dig. There is no cost to the caller. What does digging mean? 16 TAC Chapter 18 defines excavation as the movement of earth by any means.