Building a home means dealing with visible challenges—floor plans, budgets, schedules, permits. But what you don’t see can cost you the most. Everywhere there are subterranean utility wires, striking one could endanger people, halt a project, or damage property. It's easy to assume that calling 811 will resolve the issue, but it won't. Public locators only mark public lines. That leaves private utilities completely unaccounted for unless you take extra steps.
Private utility locating becomes critical in a state like Nevada, where properties sometimes hide underground infrastructure not owned by utility providers, underutilized service lines, and antiquated equipment. Whether you're building a distinctive home on rural property or developing a lot in a suburban location, it's critical to understand what's underneath. Ignoring it could lead to increased costs, delays in projects, and even legal problems.
What Is Private Utility Locating?
Every home site has its own underground history. Public services such as 811 do not locate anything on private property that is not owned by the utility companies, even though they mark utility-owned lines. This includes irrigation lines, private gas tanks, septic tanks, and outdated electrical runs. Homeowners and builders are responsible for finding these before they dig. Understanding the difference between public and private locating is the first step to building safely and efficiently in Nevada.
Public vs. Private Locating: Know the Difference
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Public Locating (811): Free service. Locates telecom, gas, electric, water, and sewer lines that are owned by utilities up to the meter.
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Private Utility Locating: Hired service. Locates any underground infrastructure beyond the public lines, including:
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Electric lines from a meter to a detached garage or shed
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Private water or sewer laterals
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Septic tanks and leach fields
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Propane lines and buried tanks
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Abandoned service lines
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Drainage or irrigation systems
In Nevada, private property lines often include more than just a house footprint—they may have had prior uses, outbuildings, or additions over time. Without professional private locating, these lines go undetected until a backhoe finds them the hard way.
The Tools Behind the Service
Private locating companies use advanced equipment like:
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Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): Scans the subsurface and detects a range of materials including plastic and concrete.
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Electromagnetic Locators: Good for detecting conductive utilities like electrical and communication lines.
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Utility Mapping Software: Used to document and overlay findings on your building plans.
The key phrase here is private utility locating in Nevada. Builders in the state face unique ground conditions and development histories that make these services not just useful, but essential.
The Cost of Skipping Private Locating
Overlooking private utility locating doesn’t just create a safety risk—it creates a financial one. Damaging a line can cause expensive delays, equipment loss, site damage, or worse, personal injury. Insurance coverage doesn’t always apply if basic precautions were ignored. Ignoring this phase results in needless expenses and legal risk, whether a builder is getting ready for foundation work or a homeowner is undertaking their own excavation. There may be a major effect on the budget, schedule, and safety record.
What Can Go Wrong
Striking an unmarked utility isn’t just a nuisance—it can derail a project. Common consequences include:
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Burst water or sewer lines: Cleanup, repair, and reinspection costs
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Electrical line damage: Equipment loss and fire hazards
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Severed communication cables: Legal issues with service providers or nearby properties
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Injuries: Risk to workers or homeowners
Who Pays When Things Go Wrong?
The party doing the digging is often held responsible, even if they contacted 811. If a private utility wasn’t marked because no private locating was done, the liability doesn’t shift to anyone else.
Costs can include:
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Emergency repairs
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Damage to heavy machinery
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Temporary shutdown of work
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Fines and code violations
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Lawsuits or insurance claims
Case Example
A builder installing a fence line unknowingly hit a private electrical conduit leading to a detached workshop. It wasn’t marked because it didn’t fall under the public utility system. The damage shut down power to the structure, ruined a trencher, and triggered a delay in closing for the buyer. Had a private locator scanned the site, the issue could have been spotted in advance—for a few hundred dollars instead of several thousand.
How to Get It Right—Steps for Homebuilders
Avoiding utility damage starts before a shovel hits the ground. Planning is necessary, but the procedure isn't difficult. Private utility finding is typically completed on schedule and within budget by builders that handle it as a pre-construction step rather than as an afterthought. Employing a trustworthy locator, posing pertinent queries, and incorporating results into the design process can prevent thousands of dollars in rework and liability. The following steps outline how to approach private locating effectively in Nevada.
Step 1: Call 811—but Don’t Stop There
Always start by calling 811. It’s required by law and gives you a baseline of publicly owned lines. But remember, this step only tells part of the story. Once they mark their lines, anything left unmarked still needs to be accounted for.
Step 2: Hire a Private Locator
When selecting a locating contractor:
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Check credentials: Look for experience with residential construction, and verify licensing.
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Ask about equipment: A good locator should use GPR and electromagnetic tools.
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Confirm what they cover: Ask specifically if they check for irrigation, sewer laterals, propane tanks, and septic systems.
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Get documentation: Ensure they provide a map or digital layout of what they’ve found.
Costs typically range between $300 and $800 for a residential site, depending on complexity and lot size. That fee is far cheaper than repairing damaged lines or delayed construction.
Step 3: Plan Around What’s Found
Once private lines are mapped, share that information with:
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Excavation crews
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Foundation contractors
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Landscapers and fence installers
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Electrical and plumbing subs
This prevents accidents, rework, and safety incidents. Designers can also adjust the placement of pools, patios, or retaining walls based on line location.
| Pro Tip | If you’re working on a sloped site or subdivided property, make private locating one of your earliest steps—before grading or trenching. It can inform drainage plans and help avoid costly changes once earthwork begins. |
Conclusion
Private utility locating protects the home, the workers, and the schedule. It’s not a luxury—it’s a practical step that keeps construction on track and budgets intact. Builders who treat it as routine see fewer setbacks and less stress. What’s underground can’t be ignored. Taking the time to identify private lines is one of the smartest decisions any builder or homeowner can make before the digging starts.
