Call Sunshine 811 Before Demolition or Excavation in South Florida

Pulling down a building is not only about what stands above ground. Slabs, footings, laterals and service lines remain below, and breaking into the wrong one can mean an outage, a repair bill or an injury. In Florida, the notification system exists to head that off. What follows is a general summary of how Sunshine 811 works under Chapter 556, the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act. Confirm the current rules and your ticket details when you place the request.

What the law asks for

Excavators and demolition contractors are expected to notify Sunshine 811 before digging or demolishing where underground facilities may be affected. The notice is generally due at least two full business days ahead. Weekends and holidays are excluded, and the day you call is not counted. Member utilities then respond, usually by marking their lines, within two full business days.

Key terms to know

• Tolerance zone: The strip of ground on either side of a marked line, defined as 24 inches in Florida. Inside it, equipment should not simply dig; hand tools or other careful methods are expected so the line is not struck.
• Ticket life: A locate ticket is valid for 30 calendar days. A teardown that slips past that window may need the request renewed.
• Member versus non-member lines: Only member operators respond to a ticket. Private lines, such as those serving a lot from an outbuilding, may not be marked, and need separate attention.

Why a locate does not replace utility disconnects

Two separate things are happening on a demolition. A locate request identifies lines that will stay in the ground. A disconnect request tells FPL, the water and sewer provider and the gas company to cut or cap the services feeding the building. You need both, and the disconnect letters are often what the permit office wants to see.

Good habits on South Florida sites

• Keep the ticket number and the markings visible and photograph them before work begins.
• Re-mark or re-call if paint is washed away by a summer storm or disturbed by traffic.
• Brief every operator and spotter on where the tolerance zones are.
• Stop and call if something turns up that is not on the markings.

Timing the call

Because the locate window and the 30-day ticket life both run on the calendar, place the request when you have a realistic start date, not months in advance. The request is a small step next to the consequences of striking a main, so build it into the plan from the beginning.