Page 20 - TN811

Ticket Type
Notice Required
Life of Ticket
TCA Citation
Submit by
Design 15 working days N/A § 65-31-118
TN811 – Quick Reference for Pre-Marking / White Lining Updated 10/6/23
The following quick reference paraphrases and summarizes language from the Underground Ulity Damage Prevenon Act (UUDPA, TCA 65-31-101 et seq.), the chapter 1230 series of rules adopted by the Underground Ulity Damage Enforcement Board (UUDEB), and the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Best Pracces version 19.0. You are advised to review the exact language of each of these sources and consult with legal counsel before making decisions based on this quick reference.
Why is pre-marking / white lining my proposed area important?
A clearly delineated proposed work area allows facility owners/operators and locators to avoid unnecessary work created by locang facilies that are not affected by the planned excavaon and ensures that underground facilies within the intended work area are well marked.
Is pre-marking / white lining required?
Tennessee state law (TCA 65-31-106(b)) requires the person responsible for excavaon or demolion to designate the locaon of the proposed area of excavaon or demolion with white markings.
Updated 5/3/2024 3
A design (survey) ticket is an informational request submitted prior to the excavation phase of a project.
Within fifteen (15) working days after a design locate request has been submitted to the one-call service for a proposed project, the facility owner or operator shall respond by one (1) of the following methods:
1. Designate or cause to be designated by a locator under § 65-31-108, the location of all utility facilities and sewer laterals within the area of the proposed excavation.
2. Provide to the person submitting the design locate request the best available description of all utility facilities and sewer laterals in the area of proposed excavation, which might include drawings of utility facilities and sewer laterals already built in the area, or other facility records that are maintained by the facility owner or operator.
3. Allow the person submitting the design locate request or any other authorized person to inspect or copy the drawings or other records for all utility facilities and sewer laterals within the proposed area of excavation.
An operator may reject a design locate request based upon homeland security considerations pending the operator obtaining additional information confirming the legitimacy of the request. The operator shall notify the person making the request of the denial and may request additional information through the positive response system provided by the one-call service.
18 • Tennessee811
2024, Issue 2
Are there excepons to the requirement?
White markings are not required if the ulity operator or their locator can determine the
Tennessee 811 | 1850 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37210 | www.tenn811.com precise locaon of the proposed area of excavaon based on:
• The street address listed on the one-call cket because of the size of the property.
• A street address or block and lot number listed on the one-call cket and a
reference to a driveway or other easily idenfiable point on the property.