How much does a locate request cost before digging for a pool in Ottawa and who calls it in?

A locate request through Ontario One Call is completely free for homeowners in Ottawa, and by law, you must call at least 5 business days before any excavation begins. The homeowner is responsible for making this call, though many pool contractors will handle it as part of their service since they need the utility markings to plan the excavation safely.

In Ottawa, this is not just a safety recommendation — it's a legal requirement under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act. The city sits on a complex network of underground utilities including Hydro Ottawa electrical lines, Enbridge gas mains, city water and sewer systems, Bell and Rogers telecommunications cables, and private utility connections. Pool excavation typically goes 4 to 8 feet deep, which puts you directly in the zone where these utilities run. Striking a gas line or electrical cable during excavation can be fatal, while hitting a water main or sewer line can cause flooding and expensive emergency repairs.

Call Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 or submit a request online at ontarioonecall.ca. You'll need to provide your property address, a description of the work (pool excavation), and the proposed start date. Within 5 business days, utility companies will send crews to mark their underground infrastructure with colored spray paint or flags. Red marks electrical lines, yellow marks gas, blue marks water, orange marks telecommunications, and green marks sewer lines. These markings are valid for 30 days, so if your pool installation is delayed beyond that timeframe, you'll need to call for a re-locate.

The locate service covers public utilities up to your property line, but won't mark private utilities like irrigation systems, landscape lighting, or underground electrical running to sheds or detached garages. If you have any private underground utilities, you'll need to identify and mark those yourself or hire a private locating service. Pool contractors experienced in Ottawa installations know to ask about private utilities during their site assessment, since hitting an irrigation line or landscape lighting can add unexpected repair costs to the project.

When you're ready to move forward with pool installation, you can browse experienced pool contractors through the Ottawa Construction Network directory who understand the local utility landscape and permitting requirements.