How long are locates good for in Ontario? Validity, relocates and expiry.
Manish builds Dig Window, locate ticket software that runs on Ontario Dig Authority (formerly Ontario One Call) tickets every working day. This guide follows Ontario Dig Authority's published guidance.
Short version: Ontario locates are good for at least 60 days, and each utility sets how long its own locate lasts, so check the expiry date stated on every response. The earliest expiry is the one that matters for the ticket. You cannot dig unless all locates are complete and valid, and markings you can no longer see count as expired. Request a relocate 5 business days before the earliest expiry (10 for an advanced request).
Who sets the validity period
Each infrastructure owner (the gas, hydro, telecom, water or other utility) sets the validity period for its own locate. Ontario Dig Authority's rule is a minimum of 60 days, and some owners give longer. One ticket can therefore carry several different expiry dates, one per utility. The response from each utility is the authority for its period and any conditions.
The earliest utility expiry governs the ticket
A ticket is only as good as its shortest locate. For example, if one utility's locate expires on June 1 and another's on July 1, time the relocate from June 1 so every utility can respond before that date. Ontario Dig Authority's guidance is that excavators cannot dig unless all locates are completed and all locates are valid, not expired. Markings that are no longer visible on the ground are treated as expired, whatever the paperwork says.
When you need a new locate before expiry
A locate covers the dig area and the work described on the request. If the dig area grows, the work changes or you move outside the marked limits, submit a new locate request. If marks are faded, destroyed, paved over or covered by snow or spoil, they count as expired: request a relocate.
Response times: how long utilities have
| Request type | Time to complete |
|---|---|
| Single address | 5 business days |
| Advanced request | 10 business days. At least two properties, each with its own municipal address, or one or more properties with no municipal address |
| Emergency | Utilities must respond within 2 hours, once confirmed as an emergency |
When to request a relocate
Ontario Dig Authority's best practice is to submit a relocate early enough that every utility can respond before the earliest locate runs out:
- Single address request: 5 business days before the earliest locate expires.
- Advanced request: 10 business days before the earliest locate expires.
Base both on the expiry shown on the locate responses, not on the date you made the request.
The new option from November 1, 2026
From November 1, 2026, an optional continuation pathway may allow the excavator who requested a locate to continue excavating after expiry without a relocate, only while all seven conditions are met and a statement and undertakings have been filed 15 to 10 days before expiry. If any condition stops being met, a relocate is needed. It does not extend locates by default. Read the continuation to dig guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long are locates good for in Ontario?
Each infrastructure owner sets the validity period for its own locate, and it is at least 60 days. Some owners give longer. The locate response from each utility states its expiry, and the earliest one is the date that matters for the ticket.
Can I dig if one of my locates has expired?
No. Ontario Dig Authority's guidance is that excavators cannot dig unless all locates are complete and all locates are valid, not expired. Markings that are no longer visible are also treated as expired.
When should I request a relocate?
Ontario Dig Authority's best practice is to submit the relocate 5 business days before the earliest locate expires for a single address request, and 10 business days before for an advanced request.
How long do utilities have to complete a locate?
5 business days for a single address request and 10 business days for an advanced request (at least two properties, each with its own municipal address, or one or more properties with no municipal address). An emergency locate must be responded to within 2 hours once confirmed as an emergency.
Who do you call before you dig in Ontario?
To call before you dig in Ontario, contact Ontario Dig Authority, formerly Ontario One Call. Locate requests can be submitted through its online portal. Anyone planting a tree or building a fence, deck or garden should contact Ontario Dig Authority first, not just contractors.
Is it illegal to dig without locates in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario Dig Authority's guidance is that excavators cannot dig unless all locates are complete and valid, not expired, and its compliance tools can include administrative penalties.
Can a locate be extended past its expiry?
From November 1, 2026, an optional continuation pathway may allow the excavator who requested the locate to continue excavating after expiry without a relocate, only while all seven conditions are met and a statement and undertakings have been filed 15 to 10 days before expiry. If any condition stops being met, a relocate is needed.
How Dig Window tracks expiry
Dig Window keeps each utility's response with its ticket and shows the expiry dates the responses state, flagging expiring and late locates. On Tracker and Pro responses are read automatically; on Mini your coordinator records them. Crews see each dig zone on a map coloured by locate status. Colours show paperwork status only; they are not permission to dig. Checking the documents, the markings and the site before work is still your crew's job.
See how Dig Window worksSources: Ontario Dig Authority, Locates FAQ, Relocate Best Practice and Overview of Legislation Changes. Governing law: the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012. This page is a plain language summary for contractors and homeowners, not legal advice; the Act, its regulations and Ontario Dig Authority's rules govern, and this guide does not authorize excavation. The date at the top is the last revision.