If you are digging anywhere in British Columbia, the first step is always a BC 1 Call request. But many contractors and homeowners are surprised to learn that a BC 1 Call ticket does not show every buried line on a site. That is where a private utility locate comes in.
Here is what each one covers, where the gap is, and how to use both before you break ground.
What BC 1 Call does
BC 1 Call is a free service that connects you with the owners of buried infrastructure, such as gas, electric, telecom and municipal utilities. When you submit a ticket, each member that may have lines in your dig area responds with drawings, instructions or field markings for its own facilities.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Submit your request at least three business days before work starts.
- Members respond for their own lines only.
- Most utility owners are responsible up to the property line or the meter.
- Every ticket has a start window and an expiry date. Do not dig on an expired ticket.
What BC 1 Call does not cover
Anything installed past the meter or property line usually belongs to the property owner. These are private lines, and no BC 1 Call member will mark them. Common examples:
- Power to a garage, shop, barn or EV charger
- Gas lines to a BBQ, patio heater, pool heater or outbuilding
- Outdoor lighting, gate and sign circuits
- Irrigation and private water services
- Private sewer, storm and septic lines
- Data and fibre cables between buildings
- Lines on commercial, industrial and strata sites installed by previous owners or tenants
On larger sites, private lines can make up most of what is in the ground. Records are often missing or out of date.
What a private utility locate adds
A private locator scans the area you plan to dig and marks what is actually there, including lines BC 1 Call members do not own.
At Sigma GPR we combine electromagnetic locating with ground penetrating radar (GPR). Electromagnetic equipment traces metallic lines and tracer wire. GPR can pick up non-metallic pipes, such as PVC and concrete, that other tools can miss.
Every line we find is marked on the surface in the standard paint colours, so your crew can see what is below before the first bucket goes in.
When you need both
You should plan on a private locate when:
- You are digging on private property past the meter or property line
- The site has outbuildings, parking lots, lighting or landscaping
- You are working on a commercial, industrial or institutional site
- Drawings are missing, old or do not match what you see on site
- You are trenching, boring or excavating near an existing building
A private locate never replaces BC 1 Call. Always submit your ticket first, then book the private locate for the same area.
How to use both, step by step
- Submit a BC 1 Call request at least three business days before you dig.
- Book a private utility locate for the same dig area.
- Compare the member markings and drawings with the private locate.
- Hand dig or hydrovac near every marked line, following the utility owner’s instructions.
- Photograph the markings before you dig and keep them with the job file.
- Track your ticket dates so you never dig on an expired ticket.
Free tools to help
We built free tools for BC crews, with no account needed:
- BC 1 Call Reminders: we email you before your ticket’s start deadline and expiry.
- Safety Checklist: six checks before any digging or excavation.
- Site Log: keep dated photos of markings and work in one place.
Book a private utility locate
Sigma GPR provides private utility locating and GPR scanning across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the rest of BC. We usually quote within a couple of hours.
Book a locate or call (778) 302-0868.