What You Need to Know About Utility Easements

If you’ve seen our trucks, cones, or crews working near your lawn and wondered, “Why are they digging up my yard?”, you’re not alone.

As a fiber internet provider, we’re working hard to bring faster, more reliable internet to your neighborhood. That means we sometimes need to access utility easements: parts of your property that legally allow utility companies like ours to install, maintain, and repair critical lines for water, electricity, gas, and yes — high-speed fiber internet.

We know it can feel intrusive when you see people working close to your grass, driveway, or fence. But rest assured: we have a legal right to be there, we follow strict safety rules, and we always restore what we touch.

This blog explains exactly what a utility easement is, why we use it, what you should know as a homeowner, and how we keep your property protected while bringing you the best internet possible.

What is a utility easement?

A utility easement is a legal agreement that allows utility companies (electric company, gas provider, or fiber internet provider) to access specific parts of private property to install, maintain, or repair essential services.

Think of a utility easement as a hidden pathway under (or over) your property that keeps your neighborhood connected to power, water, gas, and the internet. It’s not something new; most properties already have one written into the deed.

In other words, a utility easement gives us the right to come onto your property when needed — whether that means digging underground to lay new fiber optic cables or accessing equipment to fix an outage.

A key thing to remember: utility easements run with the land. That means if you buy or sell a property, the utility easement stays in place for the next owner. It’s part of what makes reliable services possible for everyone on your street, including you.

How to read markings on your property

When we prepare to work within a utility easement, you may see colorful flags or spray paint on grass, sidewalks, or driveways. These colors follow the American Public Works Association (APWA) code and help protect all underground lines during digging.

Here’s what each color means:

• Blue – Drinking (potable) water lines

• Green – Sewer lines

• Yellow – Gas, oil, or other flammable materials

• Red – Electric power and lighting cables

• Orange – Telecommunications lines (internet, phone, fiber)

• White – Proposed excavation area

Before we dig, we always mark and confirm existing lines to prevent accidental damage to water, power, or gas pipes buried under your yard.

Why we’re on your property & how we respect the utility easements

When you see our trucks, cones, or crews working near your lawn, we’re not trespassing; we’re working inside the utility easement that comes with your property.

Sometimes this means we need to dig underground or use existing utility poles. We know it can feel invasive when someone’s working close to your grass, driveway, or fence line. But this work is what keeps your service running smoothly and future-proofs your neighborhood for decades.

We’re committed to doing it right. Here’s what you can expect when we work within a utility easement on your property:

• We always follow safety laws. Before digging, we mark and check for underground lines to avoid damaging water, power, or gas pipes.

• We only dig where it’s needed. We stay within the defined utility easement — we don’t wander into private areas outside it.

• We repair and restore. We use temporary fixes (like cold patch) to keep sidewalks or streets safe, then return to finish with permanent materials once the project is complete.

• We respect your space. Our crews work as quickly and carefully as possible, and we clean up what we disturb.

Remember: a utility easement means you own the land, but we (and other utilities) have the legal right to access it when needed. You cannot block that access with structures or obstructions.

Call before you dig & protect the utility easement

A utility easement doesn’t just give companies like us the right to access your property — it also protects you as the property owner.

If you ever plan to dig in your yard (planting a tree, putting up a fence, or installing sprinklers), you’re responsible for making sure you don’t hit buried utility lines. Damaging a fiber line, gas pipe, or water main can cause expensive repairs, service outages, or even dangerous situations.

That’s why you should always call 811 before you dig. This free service will mark where underground lines are located within the utility easement and other parts of your property. Knowing what’s below keeps you safe, protects your neighbors, and avoids costly mistakes.

Remember: you can use the land inside a utility easement, but you can’t block it with structures that stop access, and you can’t dig blindly and risk damaging buried lines. When in doubt, call 811.

Why the utility easement work is worth it

We know that work inside a utility easement can feel like a hassle — but the short-term inconvenience brings long-term rewards for you and your neighborhood.

When we install or upgrade fiber internet through the utility easement, you get:

• Gigabit internet with symmetrical uploads and downloads

• 99.99% reliable internet so you stay connected 24/7 with minimal outages.

• No lag, buffering, or dropped connections

• Your own dedicated fiber line without bandwidth congestion

Read more about the benefits of fiber internet here.

A utility easement is what makes all of this possible, helping us deliver modern, future-proof internet that keeps your community connected for decades to come.

Got questions or concerns? Talk to us.

If you’re worried about your yard, your driveway, or anything related to our work in a utility easement, call us at 877-722-3833 ext. 4 — we’re here to help.

Remember: we’re your neighbors too, and our goal is simple — to keep your community connected with fast, reliable fiber internet for decades to come.

FAQ about utility easements

“Why is there paint or flags on my yard?” → Those are safety markings that show where existing underground lines are.

“Why does it look half-finished?” → Construction happens in stages. We use temporary fixes first, then come back to fully restore the area once all work is done.

“I don’t even have fiber yet — why dig now?” → We have to lay the backbone fiber lines first; individual connections come later once the full network is ready.

“Can I block the easement?” → No. You can landscape and use the area, but permanent structures or barriers that block access can be legally removed if they interfere with the utility easement.