Private utility locating is necessary when excavation, drilling, trenching, landscaping, construction, or other ground-disturbing work is planned on a property where privately owned underground utilities may be present. Standard public utility locating services may not identify every utility on a property, particularly lines located beyond the utility provider's responsibility. Private locating can help identify electric, gas, water, sewer, irrigation, telecommunications, and other privately maintained infrastructure before work begins.

Private utility locating is commonly needed for residential properties, commercial developments, industrial facilities, farms, schools, hospitals, campuses, and large private sites. It is especially useful when existing utility records are incomplete, unavailable, outdated, or when previous construction may have added private utility lines. Contractors and property owners can use the locating results to better understand underground conditions and plan excavation around identified utility routes.

Having private utilities located before ground disturbance can help reduce the risk of utility strikes, service interruptions, property damage, unexpected underground conditions, project delays, and costly repairs. It can also provide valuable information for future construction, maintenance, and property improvements. When privately owned utilities may exist within a planned work area, professional private utility locating can provide an additional layer of information for safer and more controlled excavation.