Private natural gas lines in a residential setting may provide fuel for a number of different devices. Among them are barbecue grills, pool heaters, yard lights or heaters in outbuildings like sheds, garages or barns.

Natural gas may be delivered to a “master meter” at multi-resident properties, such as mobile home courts, townhomes, or apartment complexes. Buried facilities carrying natural gas between the master meter and units on the property are usually private facilities. As a general rule, natural gas providers will only mark underground gas lines from the main to the meter.

Any appliance or device fueled by natural gas that is on the “other side” of the meter is almost invariably served by the private facility.

For more information about natural gas, please visit the Blue Flame Association website.

Many landowners in Minnesota are connected directly to natural gas pipelines. Known as “farm taps” these connections may be considered private gas lines. All the equipment from the outlet of the meter (usually, but not always, located near the pipeline) to the house, corn dryer, milk house, or barn belongs to the landowner. Many landowners may not realize that they are entirely responsible for the operation, maintenance, repair, and locating of these underground gas line(s).

Farm taps support many farms, and as farms have expanded, adding more houses and buildings to the original farmstead, private lines attached to a single tap have increased in number. These private lines may cross a public right of way due to new roads or easements. Unfortunately, little to no documentation or maps of the original or subsequently installed facilities may exist.

As the farm tap may not be evident from a visual inspection, all landowners should specifically be asked about the possible presence of these private gas lines.

Excavators or landowners are encouraged to hire a private facility locator to mark the location of farm tap lines.

GSOC strongly recommends that specific questions regarding farm taps be directed to the gas provider or the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety.

Like natural gas, electric service may be supplied to a “master meter” at multi-resident properties, such as mobile home courts, townhomes or apartment complexes. Any line that connects the “master meter” to another unit or device on that property is a private facility and therefore not marked by the facility operator.

Any property (residential or commercial) may also have buried private electric lines serving power to, among other things, yard lighting, power to other areas of the property, pool heaters, or pumps. Additionally, on residential properties or farms, private lines may connect outbuildings such as garages, sheds, or barns to a source of power. Remember that the supplier of electricity usually only marks the power line up to the meter. If there is power in a garage or if a piece of equipment or building is served by electricity, make sure to look for a private electric line. If one is present, have it professionally located before excavating.

Although the meter set is often found at the home or main building, in some areas it is located on a pole or other point of attachment. Red marks or flags leading up to a pole but not going on to other buildings are indicators that there are one or more private facilities in the area. Also, use care where a property is served by overhead lines that are buried after they enter the property. In this situation, it may be that all underground electric facilities be considered private at that location.

Most cities consider any water or sewer lines that are connected to city services to be private lines when extending from the right of way into private property and therefore, any maintenance or locating is the responsibility of the landowner. Wells and septic systems exclusively serving property are also considered to be private facilities and again, the landowner is responsible for maintaining and locating the lines. A good indication as to where these lines are buried can be determined from where the lines leave the main or tank and where they enter the building.

The land or property owner should have a map of the buried ground loops or know the contractor who installed the loops. It is the responsibility of the property owner to locate the loops or hire someone to locate them.