Section 4216.3.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 4216.3.
in effect(a)
(1)
(A)
Unless the excavator and operator mutually agree to a later start date and time, or otherwise agree to the sequence and timeframe in which the operator will locate and field mark, an operator shall do one of the following before the legal excavation start date and time:
(i)
Locate and field mark within the area delineated for excavation and, where multiple subsurface installations of the same type are known to exist together, mark the number of subsurface installations.
(ii)
To the extent and degree of accuracy that the information is available, provide information to an excavator where the operator’s active or inactive subsurface installations
are located.
(iii)
Advise the excavator it operates no subsurface installations in the area delineated for excavation.
(B)
An operator shall mark newly installed subsurface installations in areas with continuing excavation activity.
(C)
An operator shall indicate with an “A” inside a circle the presence of any abandoned subsurface installations, if known, within the delineated area. The markings are to make an excavator aware that there are abandoned subsurface installations within that delineated work area.
(2)
Only a qualified person shall perform subsurface installation locating activities.
(3)
A qualified person performing subsurface installation locating activities on behalf of an
operator shall use a minimum of a single-frequency utility locating device and shall have access to alternative sources for verification, if necessary.
(4)
An operator shall amend, update, maintain, and preserve all plans and records for its subsurface installations as that information becomes known. If there is a change in ownership of a subsurface installation, the records shall be turned over to the new operator. Commencing January 1, 2017, records on abandoned subsurface installations, to the extent that those records exist, shall be retained.
(5)
Commencing January 1, 2023, all new subsurface installations shall be mapped using a geographic information system and maintained as permanent records of the operator. This paragraph shall not apply to oil and gas flowlines three inches or less in diameter that are located within the administrative boundaries of an oil field as
designated by the Geologic Energy Management Division. For purposes of this paragraph, the following terms have the following meanings:
(A)
“Flowline” means any pipeline that connects an oil, gas, or natural gas liquids well with a gathering line or header.
(B)
“Gathering line” means a pipeline that transports liquid hydrocarbons between any of the following: multiple wells, a testing facility, a treating and production facility, a storage facility, or a custody transfer facility.
(C)
“Header” means a chamber from which liquid or gas is distributed to or from smaller pipelines.
(6)
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to preempt the Professional Land Surveyors’ Act, as described in Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8700) of Division 3 of the
Business and Professions Code.
(b)
If the field marks are no longer reasonably visible, an excavator shall renotify the regional notification center with a request for remarks that can be for all or a portion of the excavation. Excavation shall cease in the area to be remarked. If the delineation markings are no longer reasonably visible, the excavator shall redelineate the area to be remarked. If remarks are requested, the operator shall have two working days, not including the date of request, to remark the subsurface installation. If the area to be remarked is not the full extent of the original excavation, the excavator shall delineate the portion to be remarked and provide a description of the area requested to be remarked on the ticket. The excavator shall provide a description for the area to be remarked that falls within the area of the original location request.
(c)
(1)
(A)
Every operator shall supply an electronic positive response through the regional notification center before the legal excavation start date and time.
(B)
The regional notification center shall make the electronic positive responses required by subparagraph (A) available to the excavator.
(2)
The regional notification centers shall annually report to the board regarding their continual technological development in their roles of facilitating communication between excavators and operators in a manner that enhances safety, accountability, and efficiency.
(d)
The excavator shall notify the appropriate regional notification center of the failure of an operator to identify subsurface installations pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of
subdivision (a), or subdivision (b). The notification shall include the ticket issued by the regional notification center. The regional notification center shall maintain a record of all notifications received pursuant to this subdivision for a period of not less than three years. The record shall be available for inspection pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 4216.2.
(e)
If an operator or local agency knows that it has a subsurface installation embedded or partially embedded in the pavement that is not visible from the surface, the operator or local agency shall contact the excavator before pavement removal to communicate and determine a plan of action to protect that subsurface installation and excavator.
References
referencesCal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 8700.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 4216.2.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026