{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/56-265.26_1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/56-265.26_1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/56-265.26_1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/56-265.26_1.html"}],"law_id":370276,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370276,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.26:1","catch_line":"Utility line depth requirement","history":"2002, c. 841.","full_text":"Every operator having the right to install underground utility lines shall install such underground utility lines at depths required by accepted industry standards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by the National Electrical Safety Code, Bellcore Blue Book-Manual of Construction\u00a0Procedures, the Commission&#8217;s pipeline safety regulations, the Department of Health&#8217;s waterworks regulations, and the depth standards of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, which shall be established in consultation with the State Corporation Commission no later than July 1, 2002.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1381391,"text":"Every operator having the right to install underground utility lines shall install such underground utility lines at depths required by accepted industry standards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by the National Electrical Safety Code, Bellcore Blue Book-Manual of Construction\u00a0Procedures, the Commission&#8217;s pipeline safety regulations, the Department of Health&#8217;s waterworks regulations, and the depth standards of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, which shall be established in consultation with the State Corporation Commission no later than July 1, 2002.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52732,"edition_id":2,"name":"Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act","identifier":"10.3","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":16,"parent_id":52702,"metadata":{"child_laws":29,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:48","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:39","permalink":{"id":1476263,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52732,"identifier":"10.3","token":"56\/10.3","url":"\/56\/10.3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52702,"edition_id":2,"name":"Public Service Companies","identifier":"56","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":121,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":710,"child_structures":93},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:03:25","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:34","permalink":{"id":1475475,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52702,"identifier":"56","token":"56","url":"\/56\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370253,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.14","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/56-265.14\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.14","metadata":false},{"id":370254,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.15","catch_line":"Definitions; calculation of time periods","url":"\/56-265.15\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.15","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. v. Properties One, Inc.","case_number":"Record 930110","citation":"439 S.E.2d 369","date":"1994-01-07","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1301658\/chesapeake-potomac-telephone-co-v-properties-one-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 439 S.E.2d 369 (1994) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":370255,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.15:1","catch_line":" Exemptions; routine maintenance","url":"\/56-265.15_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.15_1","metadata":false},{"id":370256,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.16","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.16\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.16","metadata":false},{"id":370257,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.16:1","catch_line":"Operators to join notification centers; certification","url":"\/56-265.16_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.16_1","metadata":false},{"id":370258,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17","catch_line":"Notification required prior to excavation or demolition; waiting periods; marking of proposed site","url":"\/56-265.17\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17","metadata":false},{"id":370259,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17:1","catch_line":"Notification and procedures for designers","url":"\/56-265.17_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17_1","metadata":false},{"id":370260,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17:2","catch_line":"Procedures for project owners","url":"\/56-265.17_2\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17_2","metadata":false},{"id":370261,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.17:3","catch_line":"Procedures for operators in response to a designer notice","url":"\/56-265.17_3\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.17_3","metadata":false},{"id":370262,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.18","catch_line":"Notification requirements","url":"\/56-265.18\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.18","metadata":false},{"id":370263,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.19","catch_line":"Duties of operator; regulations","url":"\/56-265.19\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.19","metadata":false},{"id":370264,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.19:1","catch_line":"Private sewer laterals and sewer system laterals","url":"\/56-265.19_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.19_1","metadata":false},{"id":370266,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.20","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.20\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.20","metadata":false},{"id":370267,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.20:1","catch_line":"Locating nonmetallic underground utility lines","url":"\/56-265.20_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.20_1","metadata":false},{"id":370268,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.21","catch_line":"Marking by color","url":"\/56-265.21\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.21","metadata":false},{"id":370269,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.22","catch_line":"Duties of notification center upon notification by person intending to excavate; record of notification made by telephone required","url":"\/56-265.22\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.22","metadata":false},{"id":370270,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.22:1","catch_line":"Meetings between excavators and operators","url":"\/56-265.22_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.22_1","metadata":false},{"id":370271,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.23","catch_line":"Exemption for roadway maintenance operations by the Virginia Department of Transportation and certain counties, cities, and towns","url":"\/56-265.23\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.23","metadata":false},{"id":370272,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.24","catch_line":"Duties of excavator","url":"\/56-265.24\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.24","metadata":false},{"id":370273,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.24:1","catch_line":"Request to cease operation; immediate threat; penalty","url":"\/56-265.24_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.24_1","metadata":false},{"id":370274,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.25","catch_line":"Liability of operator and excavator; penalties","url":"\/56-265.25\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.25","metadata":false},{"id":370275,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.26","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.26\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.26","metadata":false},{"id":370276,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.26:1","catch_line":"Utility line depth requirement","url":"\/56-265.26_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.26_1","metadata":false},{"id":370277,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.27","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.27\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.27","metadata":false},{"id":370278,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.28","catch_line":"Sovereign immunity","url":"\/56-265.28\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.28","metadata":false},{"id":370279,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.29","catch_line":"Other similar laws","url":"\/56-265.29\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.29","metadata":false},{"id":370282,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.30","catch_line":"Authority of the State Corporation Commission","url":"\/56-265.30\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.30","metadata":false},{"id":370283,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.31","catch_line":"Commission to establish advisory committee","url":"\/56-265.31\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.31","metadata":false},{"id":370284,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.32","catch_line":"Commission to impose civil penalties for certain violations; establishment of Underground Utility Damage Prevention Special Fund","url":"\/56-265.32\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.32","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370275,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.26","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.26\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.26","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":370277,"structure_id":52732,"section_number":"56-265.27","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/56-265.27\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.27","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/56-265.26:1\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2002. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0841\">841<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1476353,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370276,"identifier":"56-265.26:1","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.26_1","url":"\/56-265.26_1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/56-265.26_1\/","token":"56\/10.3\/56-265.26_1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Utility line depth requirement","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 56-265.26:1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Every operator having the right to install underground utility lines shall install such underground utility lines at depths required by accepted industry standards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by the National Electrical Safety Code, Bellcore Blue Book-Manual of Construction\u00a0Procedures, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span>&#8217;s pipeline safety regulations, the Department of Health&#8217;s waterworks regulations, and the depth standards of the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, which shall be established in consultation with the State <span class=\"dictionary\">Corporation<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">Commission<\/span> no later than July 1, 2002.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUTILITY LINE DEPTH REQUIREMENT (\u00a7 56-265.26:1)\n\nEvery operator having the right to install underground utility lines shall\ninstall such underground utility lines at depths required by accepted industry\nstandards. Such standards shall include, as applicable, standards established by\nthe National Electrical Safety Code, Bellcore Blue Book-Manual of\nConstruction\u00a0Procedures, the Commission&#8217;s pipeline safety regulations,\nthe Department of Health&#8217;s waterworks regulations, and the depth standards\nof the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, which shall be established\nin consultation with the State Corporation Commission no later than July 1,\n2002.\n\nHISTORY: 2002, c. 841.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}