UNDERSTANDING TICKET RULES: Stay Within One Square Mile – the Undeveloped Land Rule

 

Undeveloped Land Rule

When excavation work takes place on undeveloped land:

  • One locate ticket can cover no more than one square mile of undeveloped land.

  • The boundaries of the dig site must be clearly described on the ticket.

  • Work may include one street or ROW that borders the undeveloped land, as long as it is listed in the locate description.

  • Any additional bordering street or ROW requires a separate locate ticket.

Following this rule ensures your project complies with Sunshine 811 requirements, protects underground facilities and keeps everyone involved in the excavation process safe.

Site Information for Undeveloped Land

Example Scenario (See FIGURE 1)

You’re planning excavation work on one square mile of undeveloped land located along Fort Florida Road and Barwick Road. You also plan to dig on the south side of Fort Florida Road. According to the Undeveloped Land Rule, this meets the criteria for an undeveloped land locate ticket since the excavation area is one square mile and includes only one bordering right-of-way.

Choose Dig Site Type
Like any other ticket, undeveloped land tickets can use one of four Dig Site Types:

  • Street or address

  • Intersection

  • Between intersections

  • Latitude/Longitude coordinates

For this example (FIGURE 1), Intersection is selected because the undeveloped land begins at the corner of Fort Florida Rd and Barwick Rd.

Write Locate Description
Using the Undeveloped Land rule from above, the locate description must include the boundaries of undeveloped land and where the work is to be performed.

“Locate the entire area of undeveloped land that is located within one mile south of Fort Florida Rd and within one mile east of Barwick Rd. Include the South right-of-way of Fort Florida Rd from the SE corner of Barwick Rd going E for one mile.”

 

When to Get a Second Ticket

If you also want to dig along Barwick Rd, you’ll need to request a second locate ticket. This second ticket would cover the pink area shown in FIGURE 2.

  • Dig Site Type: We chose the Intersection Dig Site Type.

  • Locate Description: Locate the E right-of-way of Barwick Rd starting at the intersection of Fort Florida Rd going S for one mile.

W Schaefer