The new 2025 Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act is in effect to enhance public safety, minimize risks to excavators, prevent disruptions and aid in the expansion of vital public services.
These are a few of the key areas that are addressed in the new legislation. The new legislation contains other substantial changes to the existing law.
The definition of day/days has been changed. A locate request must be submitted at least 2 days, NOT including the day of the notice, but no more than 10 days prior to the proposed excavation. Notice expiration will be 25 days with extensions allowed between day 20 and 25. Day/days do NOT include weekends, JULIE recognized holidays and the day of the notice.
All locate requests will require pre-marking, by physically marking the proposed excavation or route, electronic white lining (when available) or with verbal pre-marking when the description provided is explicit enough to limit markings to the actual excavation area.
The use of an electronic positive response system, offered through JULIE, will be required by excavators and facility owners or operators no later than January 1, 2026. Training on how to use the new electronic positive response system and its codes will be forthcoming. For questions about Positive Response, please contact memberinfo@julie1call.com.
Up to 2 additional days advance notice may be requested by a JULIE member to respond to locate and mark, or provide a no conflict response, when notice volume in a particular place exceeds the reasonable control measurement of the JULIE member. This additional advance notice ONLY applies to excavations where the project owner is a JULIE member or their contractors/sub-contractors. The JULIE Board of Directors passed this policy which creates responses for members and their contractors/sub-contractors to use in Positive Response for Beyond Reasonable Control Requests. Click the here below for a graphic that illustrates scenarios of the Beyond Reasonable Control.
Starting January 1, 2026, Illinois law requires all newly installed or replaced service laterals to be locatable. This update ensures underground connections from mains to properties can be accurately identified before excavation to prevent damage and delays. Contractors should begin using approved materials and methods, such as tracer wire or conductive pipe, to stay compliant.
Our free online training courses cover 10 key aspects of the new 2025 law in short 10-minute learning modules.
View more documents pertaining to the law
LAW OVERVIEW – A 90-minute in-depth look at the new law
Q&A WEBINAR – Hear answers to frequently asked questions
LAW REVIEW – Learn how the new law will impact you in this 60-minute webinar
ARE YOUR READY FOR 2025? – Top things you need to know about the JULIE law
Please feel free to contact the Damage Prevention Manager in your area
Not sure who to call? Click below to view our territory map.
