O.U.P.S. Excavator Member | Safe Digging & Private Utility Locating

As an official Excavator Member of O.U.P.S. (Ohio 811), Be Ohio is committed to lawful digging, underground utility safety, and protecting what 811 doesn't mark. We educate first — and locate when needed.

What Is O.U.P.S. — And Why It Matters

  • ✔ Free, statewide public utility marking service
  • ✔ Required by law before most digging projects
  • ✔ Marks utility-owned lines like gas, electric, water, telecom
  • ✘ Does NOT mark private lines — those are your responsibility

Calling 811 helps prevent injuries, outages, and violations. But it doesn’t cover everything underground.

What O.U.P.S. Will Not Mark

Most homeowners assume 811 marks everything. It doesn’t. O.U.P.S. only marks public lines owned by utilities. Private lines after your meter are left untouched, including:

  • Underground electric to garages, barns, or outdoor lights
  • Private gas lines to grills, pools, or heaters
  • Sewer laterals, septic lines, irrigation systems
  • Fiber, communication, and well supply lines

These lines are often unmarked and unprotected — unless you take that next step.

How We Support Safe Digging

  • We coordinate directly with 811 and local utility contacts
  • We wait for official clearances before any digging
  • We locate and flag private utilities with certified equipment
  • We document everything clearly for contractors or inspectors

Being an Excavator Member isn’t just a badge — it’s a commitment to public safety and private awareness.

When to Request Private Utility Locating

  • You’ve already called 811, and your ticket is cleared
  • You plan to dig where a private line might exist
  • You don’t have clear records for older buildings or barns
  • You’re installing a fence, trench, driveway, or patio

We help close the gap between public safety and private property protection.

Ready to Dig? Cover What O.U.P.S. Can't.

Be Ohio offers private utility locating across Central Ohio. Whether you’re a homeowner or contractor, we help you move forward — safely, legally, and confidently.

Phone: (614) 695-0933

Written and verified by the licensed excavation team at Be Ohio.
Be Ohio is a registered Excavator Member of O.U.P.S., helping homeowners and contractors stay safe, compliant, and informed before they dig.

Learn more at oups.org