Planning landscaping or gardening projects over the long weekend in BC? Learn why placing a free BC 1 Call locate request at least 3 business days in advance is essential for safety, avoiding utility damage, and protecting your property.
The long weekend is the quintessential time for British Columbia homeowners to tackle big and small yard transformations like privacy hedges, setting post holes for a new deck, building retaining walls, or upgrading garden irrigation. Long evenings offer the ideal time for some outdoor work. However, before you break ground this long weekend, there is one crucial step you cannot afford to skip: placing a locate request with BC 1 Call at least 3 full business days in advance (today!!).
Underneath your lawn may lay a complex network of critical infrastructure including high-voltage electricity lines, natural gas pipelines, fibre optic telecommunication cables, water mains, and more. Striking any of these buried lines can cause severe injuries, catastrophic property damage, costly repair bills, and community-wide utility outages. Ultimately, we spread this message to keep everyone safe across this long weekend. While gardening can be relaxing and fun, there is inherent risk when digging without key knowledge.
⚠️ Calculate Your 3 Business Days!
Statutory holidays and weekends do not count toward the mandatory 3-business-day advance notice requirement. Because utility locators require 3 days to process tickets and mark underground lines, you should place your request online or by phone on the Tuesday or Wednesday prior to the weekend to ensure safe digging.
Why Shallow Digging Still Poses High Risks
A common misconception among DIY gardeners is that utility lines are buried deep underground. In reality, ground settling, erosion, previous landscaping projects, and soil shifting can bring utility lines within mere inches of the surface.
Projects that require a BC 1 Call request include:
- Planting Trees & Hedges: Root balls require deep digging that can easily intercept shallow gas lines or power cables.
- Installing Fence Posts or Deck Footings: Augers and post-hole diggers are leading causes of utility strikes.
- Building Retaining Walls & Raised Beds: Levelling ground or driving support stakes into soil.
- Installing Sprinkler & Drainage Systems: Trenching even 6 to 12 inches into the soil can sever gas, telecom, or electrical conduits.
- Hardscaping & Paving: Excavating base layers for patios, walkways, or gravel driveways.
How BC 1 Call Works: A Free, 3-Step Process
Requesting locate information is fast, completely free, and protects you and your neighborhood. Here is how to prepare for your long weekend project:
1) Submit Your Request Online (At Least 3 Business Days Prior)
Visit bc1ca.ca/locateme to place a free locate request online 24/7. Outline your planned digging area on the map tool. It takes less than 10 minutes.
2) Receive Utility Maps & Marks
BC 1 Call notifies all affected utility owners (such as FortisBC, BC Hydro, Telus, and local municipalities). They will email instructions you need to dig more safely.
3) Dig Safely Following Instructions
Review all provided documentation carefully. Respect the designated “hand-dig zone” (typically within 1 metre of marked utilities) by carefully exposing lines using soft digging methods before using power tools or heavy equipment.
What Do the Colored Paint Marks Mean?
When utility locators mark your yard, they use a standardized color code to identify buried infrastructure:
| Flag / Paint Color | Underground Utility Infrastructure |
| 🔴 Red | Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit & Lighting Cables |
| 🟡 Yellow | Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum, or Gaseous Materials |
| 🟠 Orange | Telecommunications, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables/Conduits |
| 🔵 Blue | Potable Water Lines |
| 🟢 Green | Sewer and Drain Lines |
💡 BC 1 Call FAQ:
- Is BC 1 Call free? Yes, 100% free for all!
- How far in advance should I submit a request? At least 3 full business days before turning any soil (excluding weekends and statutory holidays).
- Where do I start? Request online anytime at bc1c.ca/locateme or call 1-800-474-6886.