Call before you dig in Quebec: Info-Excavation step-by-step for homeowners

Installing a fence, building a patio, or planting a tree in your Montreal yard? Before you push a shovel into the ground, you need to know what's buried underneath. Quebec has a free service called Info-Excavation that tells you exactly where underground utilities run through your property. Skipping this step can cause power outages, gas leaks, or worse. The process is straightforward once you know the steps.

What does Info-Excavation do?

Info-Excavation is a non-profit that coordinates underground utility locates across Quebec and Atlantic Canada. When you submit a locate request, Info-Excavation notifies all its member utilities (power, natural gas, telephone, cable TV, and more) so they can send locators to mark infrastructure on your property.

The service is completely free for everyone in Quebec, whether you're a homeowner doing a weekend project or a professional contractor.

When you need a locate request

You should file a locate request before any project that involves breaking ground, including:

• Digging fence post holes
• Excavating for a patio, deck, or retaining wall
• Planting trees or large shrubs
• Installing an in-ground or above-ground pool or spa
• Building a garden bed that requires significant digging
• Running irrigation lines
• Any excavation work near your home

According to Hydro-Quebec, you must take this step "before putting in a pool, putting up a fence, planting a tree or shrub, in other words, before doing any digging."

Step-by-step: how to submit a locate request

Step 1: gather your information

Before submitting, have the following ready:

• Your full address (where the work will happen)
• A description of the planned work
• The exact location on your property where digging will occur
• Your planned start date

Step 2: submit your request

You have two options:

• Online: File your request at info-ex.com
• By phone: Call 1-800-663-9228

The online option lets you draw the dig area on a map, which helps locators know exactly where to mark.

Step 3: wait for processing

Allow at least three business days for all member utilities to process your request, according to Info-Excavation. Don't submit on Monday and expect to dig on Tuesday.

Step 4: locators visit your property

Each utility that has infrastructure near your dig zone will send a locator to your property. They'll mark the location of buried pipes and cables using paint, flags, or stakes on the ground. You don't necessarily need to be home during the locate, but it helps.

Step 5: review the marks and plan your dig

Once all marks are in place, review the locations carefully. The marks show where utilities run, and you'll need to maintain safe distances during excavation.

What the colour marks mean

Locators use a standardized colour system based on APWA guidelines adopted across Canada:

Take photos of all marks before you start digging. They can fade or get disturbed during the project. Our utility locate marks field guide explains the colour code and documentation best practices in detail.

The tolerance zone

When you see locate marks on the ground, you can't just dig right up to the line. There's a tolerance zone on either side of each marked utility. Within this buffer, you must dig by hand or use soft excavation methods (like hydro-vac or vacuum excavation) rather than mechanical equipment.

Energir, Quebec's natural gas utility, specifies a 1-metre buffer zone on either side of the pipe for gas lines. For more on gas-specific precautions, see our gas line safety guide for landscapers. Other utilities have similar requirements.

What happens if you skip the locate request

The risks of digging blind are serious. According to Hydro-Quebec, failing to check before digging can result in:

• Interrupting services to your neighbourhood
• Major property damage
• Environmental contamination
• Personal liability for injury or death

Energir reports that more than 3 underground infrastructure breaks happen daily in Quebec, with 48% involving gas or electric networks. Many of these are preventable with a simple locate request.

One request covers all utilities

One of the best things about Info-Excavation: you file a single request and it covers all member utilities at once. That includes major infrastructure owners like Hydro-Quebec, Energir, Bell, TELUS, Videotron, CSEM, and Gazifere. You don't need to contact each utility separately.

Tips for homeowners

• File early: Three business days is the minimum. For larger projects, file a week or more ahead to give yourself buffer time.
• Take photos: Photograph all utility marks as soon as they appear. Rain, foot traffic, and lawn mowing can erase paint marks.
• Marks have an expiry: Locate marks are only valid for a limited period. If your project gets delayed, you may need to request a new locate.
• Private infrastructure isn't covered: Info-Excavation marks infrastructure belonging to member utilities. Private lines (like your own sprinkler system or a private sewer lateral) won't be marked. You'll need to locate those yourself or hire a private locator.
• Keep marks visible: Don't mow over or disturb marks during your project. They need to stay visible for the entire duration of the work.

The short version

A locate request takes a few minutes to file, costs nothing, and can prevent a disaster. There's no reason to skip it, even for a project as simple as planting a tree. It's one of those rare cases where the safe thing to do is also the easy thing to do.

Planning a landscaping project and not sure where to start? Call Montreal Paysagement Pro at 514-900-3867. We always file locate requests before any excavation work, and we can help you through the process for your own projects too.

Sources:

• Info-Excavation - Official website
• Info-Excavation locate request - How to file
• Hydro-Quebec underground lines safety
• Energir: check before you dig
• Energir: prevention for construction work
• APWA Uniform Color Code