Util-Locate provides utility locating services in 34 counties and cities across California and Arizona. Our certified technicians use ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic locators to find underground utility lines with up to 97% accuracy, at depths of 13+ feet. We've done this work since 2001. Choose your area below, or call (888) 885-6228 to book a utility locator.
Our Utility Locating Service Areas
Util-Locate covers five regions from two offices: Jurupa Valley, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Each link opens a local page for that county or city. Your crew gets the same equipment, the same safety standards, and the same deliverables wherever the dig site is.
Greater Los Angeles & Coastal Cities
Coastal cities pack gas, water, power, and fiber into tight corridors under streets, campuses, and airports. Our underground utility locator teams work at sites like LAX and Kaiser Permanente facilities, so crowded ground is routine for us.
- Los Angeles County
- San Diego County
- Orange County
- Ventura County
- Santa Barbara County
- San Luis Obispo County
Inland Empire
The Inland Empire mixes fast warehouse and housing growth with older rural lines that may not appear on any map. GPR utility locating helps you find those undocumented lines before grading starts.
San Francisco Bay Area
Bay Area projects often mean aging mains, tight urban lots, and seismic retrofits. Our concrete scanning services find rebar, post-tension cables, and conduit before you core or cut a slab.
- San Francisco
- Santa Clara County
- Alameda County
- San Mateo County
- Contra Costa County
- Sonoma County
- Marin County
- Solano County
- Napa County
The Greater Sacramento Area
Farms, vineyards, and rural homes in this region often have irrigation systems, septic tanks, and well lines that no public record shows. A private utility locator can mark these before you trench or plant.
- Sacramento
- Fresno County
- San Joaquin County
- Yolo County
- El Dorado County
Arizona
Our Scottsdale office serves the Phoenix metro and Tucson. Hard caliche soil and fast desert construction make accurate utility locates a key safety measure on every Arizona project. See our Arizona utility locating page for statewide coverage.
Util-Locate - California
Util-Locate - Arizona
Why You Need Private Utility Locating Services After Calling 811
Calling 811 only covers public utilities. Public utility providers mark their own lines up to the meter, and they stop there. Everything past the meter belongs to the property owner, and 811 crews won't mark it. Private utility locating services fill that gap.
Private underground lines include private sewer laterals, irrigation systems, site lighting, gas lines to outbuildings, and septic tanks. Hitting one can cause gas leaks, flooding, power loss, and serious safety risks for your crew.
The Common Ground Alliance recorded 196,977 damages to buried utilities in the U.S. in 2024, and locating and mapping practices were a root cause in about 25% of them (CGA 2024 DIRT Report).
| Feature | 811 Public Locate | Util-Locate Private Locate |
|---|---|---|
| Who marks lines | Public utility providers | Our certified technicians |
| What gets marked | Public utility lines up to the meter | Private lines past the meter, plus unknown or abandoned lines |
| Non-metallic pipe | Varies by provider | Ground penetrating radar systems |
| Records | Paint and flags | Paint, flags, and optional CAD, PDF, and KML maps |
| Best use | Required first step before any dig | Any construction project with private lines on site |
Use both. Call DigAlert (Southern California), USA North 811 (Northern California), or Arizona 811 first. Then schedule your private utility locates with us.
Underground Utility Services Available in Every Region
Every region on this page gets the full Util-Locate service list. You work with one private locating company from first scan to final map.
- Utility locating: Electromagnetic locators and GPR find electric, gas, water, sewer, and telecom lines. See our utility locating services page.
- Ground penetrating radar: GPR finds PVC, clay, and fiber lines that metal-tracing tools miss.
- Concrete scanning: We locate rebar, post-tension cables, and voids before you cut, core, or drill.
- Utility mapping: GPS mapping and robotic total stations produce CAD, PDF, and Google Earth (KML) files that follow ASCE 38-02.
- Video pipe inspection: Robotic cameras record the inside of sewer and storm lines. Video inspection supports leak detection by showing cracks, roots, and offset joints.
- Potholing and vacuum excavation: We expose a line to confirm its exact depth and size.
- 24/7 emergency locate services: Crews respond after hours for strikes, gas leaks, and urgent repairs.
Browse the full list on our services page.
Why Contractors and Property Owners Choose Util-Locate
Util-Locate has focused on damage prevention since 2001. Our certified technicians completed 11,187 locates in a single year for clients that include LAX, USC, UC Irvine, Kaiser Permanente, and Southern California Edison.
You also get straight answers. No locator finds every line every time, and we'll tell you when soil, depth, or pipe material limits a scan. Our FAQ page explains what affects accuracy.
Schedule Utility Locating Services in Your Area
Know what's under your dig site before the first shovel goes in. Contact Util-Locate to schedule a locate, or call California at (714) 492-1380, Arizona at (480) 535-0230, or toll-free at (888) 885-6228. Emergency crews are available 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions About Utility Locating Services
Yes, if your site has private lines. 811 only marks public lines up to the meter. A private utility locator marks lines past the meter, like sewer laterals, irrigation, and power to a detached garage. A homeowner building a fence needs this as much as a contractor does.
Util-Locate serves all California and Arizona counties. The areas above have local pages with region-specific details. Our offices are in Jurupa Valley, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ. If your city isn't listed, call us, and we'll confirm scheduling for your site.
Yes. GPR finds PVC, clay pipe, and fiber conduit because it reads changes in material, not metal. Soil affects results, and wet clay can limit GPR depth. That's why we pair GPR with electromagnetic locators on most jobs.
Price depends on site size, number of lines, depth, and the deliverables you need. Most utility locating jobs are billed by the hour. Send us your address, site plan, and project scope for an exact quote.
You get paint and flag marks at every located line, with depth readings. If you order utility mapping, you also get CAD (DWG), PDF, and KML files your engineers can use for design. These records save time on future work at the same property.
