If you’ve recently noticed yellow or other colored spray-paint lines, arrows, or markings on your property, you may be wondering what they mean and why they’re there.

You may be especially confused if you aren’t doing any construction or excavation on your property and never contacted anyone to mark your utilities.

In many cases, these markings are part of the 811 utility locating process. Utility companies and locating services use colored paint, flags, and other markings to identify the approximate location of underground utilities before excavation takes place.

But what do the different colors mean, and why would someone mark your property if you aren’t doing any work?

Why Are There Yellow Lines on My Property If I’m Not Doing Any Work?

Seeing utility markings on your property doesn’t necessarily mean that you requested them or that you’re planning construction.

Someone else may have contacted 811 because excavation is planned near your property, in the street, on a neighboring property, or along a utility right-of-way.

Underground utilities often cross or run alongside private properties, streets, sidewalks, and neighboring properties. As a result, utility locators may need to mark the location of a utility even when the property owner isn’t involved in the project.

For example, a contractor working on a neighboring property or in the street may be required to have underground utilities located before beginning excavation. If a utility runs through or near your property, you may notice markings there even though you never requested them.

The markings themselves generally do not mean there is a problem with your utility.

Who Put the Lines There?

The markings are typically placed by a utility locator after underground utilities have been requested to be located.

The request may have been made by a contractor, utility company, municipality, or another party planning excavation nearby.

You may see the markings on your property even if you did not request the utility markout yourself.

Does This Mean Someone Is Going to Dig Near My Property?

Not necessarily.

Utility markings indicate that underground facilities have been located for planned work, but the markings alone don’t tell you exactly when excavation will begin or who requested the markout.

The planned work could involve a nearby property, roadway, sidewalk, utility project, or another excavation area.

What Do the Different Utility Marking Colors Mean?

Utility locators generally use a standard color system to distinguish between different types of underground infrastructure. On Staten Island, you may commonly see these colors associated with the following types of utilities and utility companies:

🟥 Red — Electric

Red markings generally indicate electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables.

On Staten Island, red markings generally identify Con Edison electric infrastructure.

🟨 Yellow — Gas

Yellow markings generally indicate gas lines and other petroleum or hazardous liquid lines.

On Staten Island, yellow markings generally identify National Grid gas infrastructure.

🟧 Orange — Communications

Orange markings generally identify communication, alarm, or signal lines, cables, and conduit.

On Staten Island, orange markings generally identify Spectrum / Verizon or other communications infrastructure.

🟦 Blue — Potable Water

Blue markings generally indicate potable water lines.

🟩 Green — Sewer and Drain

Green markings generally indicate sewer and drain lines.

🟪 Purple — Reclaimed Water and Irrigation

Purple markings generally indicate reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines.

⬜ White — Proposed Excavation

White markings generally indicate the proposed excavation area or route.

🩷 Pink — Temporary Survey Markings

Pink markings generally indicate temporary survey markings or survey information rather than an underground utility.

Is Utility Marking Paint Permanent?

No. Utility marking paint is generally temporary and is designed to remain visible long enough for the planned excavation or utility work.

Over time, the markings can fade or disappear due to weather, traffic, landscaping, and normal wear.

How long the markings remain visible can vary depending on the type of marking, the surface it was applied to, weather conditions, and activity in the area.

What Do the Letters, Numbers and Arrows Mean?

In addition to colored paint, you may see letters, numbers, arrows, or other symbols near utility markings.

These markings can provide additional information about the type or location of an underground facility and the direction in which it runs.

The exact meaning can vary depending on the utility and marking system being used.

Why Is 811 Important Before Digging?

Underground utilities can be located in areas where you may not expect them. Hitting a gas line, electrical line, water main, sewer, or communications cable can cause property damage, service interruptions, injuries, or other serious problems.

Contractors, homeowners, and other excavators must contact 811 before digging and follow the applicable requirements for their project.

At Richmond Construction & Plumbing, we request an 811 utility markout before every project to help identify underground utilities before excavation begins. This is an important step in planning and preparing for underground water main and sewer work.

The 811 process helps identify underground facilities before excavation begins and provides information about what may be located beneath the ground.

Whether you’re installing a fence, planting trees, putting in a driveway, repairing a water main, or performing larger excavation work, knowing what’s underground is an important part of planning the job.