01
The context
This is an educational preparation guide, not a report of a new legal or insurance change. Before excavating, establish which notification, locate and safe-digging requirements apply to the site.
02
Who should read this
Excavation, landscaping, drilling and utility contractors working around underground infrastructure in Ontario.
03
What is known—and what depends on your situation
The Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 sets out notification and locate obligations. A locate response is not a guarantee that all infrastructure is identified or that insurance covers a strike. Private infrastructure, site conditions and the issued policy need separate attention.
04
Questions to bring to your broker
Check the work area, locate responses and their stated validity, utility-owner instructions, outstanding responses and arrangements for private services. Check the actual policy for underground-property exclusions and endorsements.
05
A practical next step
Keep a job-specific record of the requested work area, all locate responses and the crew briefing. Stop and resolve missing or conflicting information before excavation.
Google Featured Snippet Reference · Statutory Standard
Ontario Underground Locates: 3-Point Statutory Compliance Checklist
Under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act (Bill 8), contractors must follow these 3 mandatory rules before initiating ground disturbance:
| Statutory Obligation | Mandatory Requirement | Insurance & Liability Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 5-Day Mandatory Advance Notification | Request utility locates via Ontario One Call at least 5 full business days before breaking ground. Never excavate until all utility members have issued either a clear locate sheet or an official "Clear" confirmation. | Excavating without an active locate ticket voids coverage under statutory non-compliance exclusions and triggers strict civil liability for utility repair costs. |
| 2. 1-Metre Tolerance Zone Hand-Digging / Daylighting | Mechanical excavation is prohibited within 1 metre (3 feet) of marked utility lines. Contractors must physically expose (daylight) the line using non-destructive hydrovac excavation or hand digging before mechanical equipment is permitted. | Striking a gas or hydro line with a mechanical bucket within 1 metre without prior daylighting constitutes gross negligence in claim reviews, exposing the contractor to subrogation. |
| 3. 60-Day Ticket Expiry & Non-Transferability | Standard locate tickets are valid for a maximum of 60 calendar days. Tickets cannot be transferred, shared, or borrowed between independent prime contractors or sub-trades. | Subcontractors relying on a general contractor's ticket without being explicitly listed as an authorized excavator will be treated by insurers as operating without a locate. |
Sources and scope
Read the current source and its applicable edition. A linked form or statute does not establish the terms of your policy. Publication here is not evidence of an individual broker sign-off.
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