MISS DIG

About MISS DIG

MISS DIG is a statewide, 1-call notification system, which was formed in 1970 in Oakland County by 5 major utilities. The reason for MISS DIG’s formation was to prevent damage to utility facilities and to provide excavators and the general public with the ability to inform multiple owners of underground facilities of intended non-emergency and emergency excavation via a single telephone call 800-482-7171 or 811. Notification of excavation activities can also be made using the MISS DIG website.

MISS DIG is not a utility. MISS DIG owns no facilities, has no record of facility locations and does not locate underground facilities. It is a message handling service that receives location requests from persons excavating. Each utility is responsible for marking its own facilities.


Color Markings

If the approximate location for an underground facility is marked with stakes or other physical means, the public utility shall follow the color coding prescribed below:
  • Electric power distribution and transmission: Safety red
  • Municipal electric systems: Safety red
  • Gas distribution and transmission: High-visibility Safety yellow
  • Oil distribution and transmission: High-visibility, Safety yellow
  • Dangerous materials, product lines: high-visibility, Safety yellow
  • Telephone and telegraph systems: Safety-alert orange
  • Cable television: Safety-alert orange
  • Police and fire communications: Safety-alert orange
  • Water systems: Safety-precaution blue
  • Sewer systems: Safety green
  • Storm drains: Safety green
  • Land survey monumentation: High-visibility, Safety pink

Required MISS DIG Usage

It is required to use MISS DIG if you engage in or are responsible for the planning or performance of any type of excavation e.g.; auguring, grading, demolition, cultivating, blasting, boring to provide advance notice of at least 3 working days to MISS DIG. MISS DIG must be called prior to excavation in order to comply with the state statute.

MISS DIG is open 24 hours to take request. Emergency and non-emergency calls will be accepted.

If any of the following situations occur, the caller should contact the facility owner directly.
  • To report damage to any type of facility.
  • To resolve any type of damage billing problem.
  • To request any type of facility removal or relocation, including meter removals prior to demolition of a building.
  • To request any type of utility service.
A person who willfully removes or otherwise destroys the stakes or other physical markings used by a public utility to mark the approximate location for underground facilities is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than $5,000 for each offense or imprisonment for not more than 1 year or both.