Information current as of: 11/27/24
The Minnesota State Statute 216D One Call Law has been updated as of August 1, 2024. Gopher State One Call has put together the following quick reference guide with the vital information you need to know. Keep reading to find out the five W’s of the 2024 MN one call law changes.
Prior to digging in Minnesota, it’s required for the excavator – including professional contractors and homeowners or other non-professionals – to submit a locate request with Gopher State One Call (GSOC) to have underground facilities marked before breaking ground. But exactly how far in advance do you need to submit your ticket? Great question!
Locate requests have a 48-hour waiting period after submission, excluding the day of submission, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The 48-hour period will begin at 12:01 a.m. the business day after the request is made. This means that if you submit a ticket on Tuesday, you can start digging on Friday. If you submit on a Friday, you can start digging on the following Wednesday.
Prior to August 1, 2024, the date the locate request was submitted did count in the 48-hour waiting period. Changes made to Minnesota State Statute 216D – also known as the “One Call Law” – changed this requirement to exclude the day of submission on that date. See the graphic below for a visual reference of the call timeline.
If you’d like to save or print the call timeline graphic for visual reference, you can download the PDF.
Elena Rutkowski, operations supervisor of damage prevention at Xcel Energy Minnesota, is featured in our latest Learn From the Unexpected video. Elena covers changes to Minnesota State Statute 216D – also known as the “One Call Law” – that went into effect on August 1, 2024. Check out LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to watch the video.
For additional information on the changes to MN State Statute 216D, click here.
About Learn from the Unexpected
The damage prevention industry isn’t always predictable. Gopher State One Call believes in learning from the unexpected moments that do happen and proactively working to avoid damages. Through these efforts, we can all work towards a safer future.
That’s why we’ve introduced our Learn From the Unexpected video series. These videos feature Minnesota-based damage prevention professionals like you and allow community members to share their stories so that we can all work smarter and safer as our industry continues to grow. Visit LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to learn more and watch the videos.
Submit Your Story
Have you faced the unexpected at a jobsite or found something especially useful in avoiding unexpected damages or delays? We want to hear about it! Submit yourself or a colleague to be entered for the chance to be featured in an official Learn From the Unexpected video. Those selected will also earn the honorary title of Damage Prevention Influencer and receive a $200 Visa gift card that you can use for anything from a new pair of work boots to a much-deserved dinner out. To submit, scroll to the bottom of LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC and click “Submit Your Story.”
In Minnesota, it’s a requirement for anyone looking to excavate – whether a professional landscaper or other contractor, homeowner, or anyone else – to “white line” or “white mark” their excavation site with paint or flags as part of the locate request submission process. By clearly identifying the dig site, white lining reduces potential confusion and helps locators do their jobs as efficiently as possible, ensuring you’re set up for a safe and smooth project.
The 2024 811 5K Run/Walk turned out to be a great success bringing Minnesotans together to raise awareness for safe digging. This year’s event was held on August 10, 2024, at Bde Maka Ska’s Thomas Beach in Minneapolis and included participants from the Twin Cities and the surrounding suburbs, a damage prevention-focused vendor fair, and the highly anticipated Kid’s Race.
The annual 811 5K celebrates “8-1-1 Day,” a day typically observed on or near August 11 (8/11), and calls attention to “8-1-1” – the national phone number used to submit free locate requests prior to breaking ground. Whether digging in the backyard or excavating at job site, it’s the law for Minnesotans to contact Gopher State One Call (GSOC) either by phone or by going to GopherStateOneCall.org before digging. These locate requests are used to notify local utility companies, which will then come out and use the APWA color code to mark the dig site for underground utilities with flags or spray paint.
