Section 3781.26 | Protection service for underground utility facilities.
(A) Each utility that owns or operates underground utility facilities shall participate in and register the location of its underground utility facilities with a protection service that serves the area where the facilities are located.
(B) Protection services, utilities, commercial excavators, excavation equipment dealers, the public utilities commission of Ohio, the board of building standards, local law enforcement agencies, and fire departments should publicize the importance of ascertaining the location of underground utility facilities before excavating and the use of protection services to ascertain that information.
(C) A protection service shall maintain records of notifications received from developers, designers, and excavators, and of its notifications made to utilities, developers, designers, and excavators, under sections 3781.27 and 3781.28 of the Revised Code. The records of a protection service shall identify by reference number, the notifications it received regarding a proposed excavation site, the notifications it provided regarding a proposed excavation site, and the date and time of each notification.
(D) Each utility fully participating in a protection service pursuant to this section shall also participate in its affiliated positive response system.
Last updated March 26, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- March 27, 2013 – House Bill 458 - 129th General Assembly [ View March 27, 2013 Version ]
- June 9, 2026 – Amended by House Bill 227 - 136th General Assembly [ View June 9, 2026 Version ]