Should I call Ontario One Call before a new Ottawa driveway?

Yes, you should absolutely call Ontario One Call before any new driveway construction in Ottawa. This is a legal requirement in Ontario for any excavation deeper than 30 centimetres, and Ottawa driveways typically require excavation of 450mm to 600mm (18 to 24 inches) for proper base preparation.

Ontario One Call (call 1-800-400-2255 or submit online at ontarioonecall.ca) is a free service that locates underground utilities including natural gas lines, electrical cables, telecommunications, water mains, and sewer lines. You must call at least 5 business days before excavation begins. The service is mandatory — not calling can result in fines up to $50,000 for individuals and $1 million for corporations under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act.

In Ottawa's established neighbourhoods, utility lines often run closer to the surface than in newer subdivisions, and many older areas have utilities that were installed before modern depth standards. Gas lines can be as shallow as 450mm in some Ottawa neighbourhoods — exactly the depth contractors excavate for driveway base preparation. Hitting a gas line during excavation creates an immediate safety hazard and can result in evacuation of surrounding homes, emergency response costs, and potential criminal charges.

The process is straightforward: Call Ontario One Call or submit a locate request online, provide your property address and project details, and utility companies will mark their lines with coloured spray paint or flags within 5 business days. Gas lines are marked in yellow, electrical in red, water in blue, and telecommunications in orange. The markings are valid for 30 days — if your project extends beyond that, you need to call again.

Your driveway contractor should handle the Ontario One Call request as part of their project planning, but as the property owner, you're ultimately responsible for ensuring it's done. Reputable Ottawa paving contractors always call for locates before excavation — if a contractor suggests skipping this step or seems unfamiliar with the requirement, find a different contractor. Any contractor willing to excavate without locates is cutting corners on safety and legal compliance.

For heated driveway systems involving electrical or gas connections, additional coordination with Hydro Ottawa, Enbridge Gas, and licensed trades is required beyond the basic locate request.

Need help finding a qualified paving contractor who follows proper safety protocols? Ottawa Driveways can match you with experienced local professionals who understand Ontario excavation requirements.