Where a utility easement sits on a typical residential lot

Key takeaways

A utility easement is a strip of your property that utilities have a legal right to use. They can install, maintain and repair lines there. You still own the land.
Easements stay with the property. They don’t end when a home is sold, and your title report or county records show where yours are.
Paint and flags mark buried lines before anyone digs. Each color stands for a type of utility. Orange marks communication lines, including fiber.
You can use the area, but you can’t block it. Grass and plants are fine. Fences, sheds and other structures that block access are not.
Contact 811 before you dig anywhere on your property. In California, it’s free and required at least two working days before you start.
Construction happens in stages. Temporary patches come first, and the area is restored once the work is finished.

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.

The work outside your home is the first step to fiber internet

Enter your address to see if Race fiber internet is ready at your home, or get updates while we build in your neighborhood.

Check your address

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.

Front utility easement. A strip along the property line, often next to the sidewalk or street.
Buried lines. Fiber (orange), water (blue) and gas (yellow) often share the same strip.
Access box. A small, ground-level box that lets crews reach the line later without digging again.
Rear or side easement. Some lots have one along the back or side, often where utility poles stand.
Your home and yard. You own all of the land, including the easement strips.

Illustration only. Where easements sit and how wide they are varies from property to property.

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.

Good to know: easements stay with the property

Utility easements run with the land. If you buy or sell a home, the easement stays in place for the next owner. That’s part of what keeps power, water and internet reliable for everyone on your street.

Want to see where yours are? Check the title report or subdivision map from when you bought your home, or ask your county recorder’s office for the recorded easements on your property.

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.

RedElectric power lines, cables and lighting
YellowGas, oil, steam and other flammable materials
OrangeThat’s usCommunication lines: internet, phone and fiber
BlueDrinking (potable) water
PurpleReclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines
GreenSewer and drain lines
WhiteProposed digging area
PinkTemporary survey markings

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:

Safety first
We follow safety laws
Before we dig, existing lines are marked and checked so we don’t damage water, power or gas pipes.
Only what’s needed
We stay inside the easement
We only dig where the work requires it and don’t move into areas outside the easement.
Repair & restore
We put things back
Temporary fixes like cold patch keep sidewalks and streets safe until we return to finish with permanent materials.
Respect your space
We work carefully and clean up
Our crews work as quickly and carefully as possible and clean up whatever they 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.

How to dig safely in California

Contacting 811 is free, and California law requires it before you dig. Calling 811 connects you to the right center for your area: USA North 811 in Northern and Central California, or DigAlert in Southern California.

Contact 811 at least two working days before you dig. Call 811 or submit a request online, no more than 14 days ahead. Your request is valid for 28 days.
Wait for the marks. Each utility marks its lines with paint or flags in its color. Don’t start until every utility on your request has responded.
Dig by hand near the marks. Use a shovel, not power tools, within 24 inches on either side of a mark.
Remember that private lines aren’t marked. Sprinkler lines, a gas line to a grill or power to a shed are yours. A private locating company can find them.

You can

Plant grass, flowers and small shrubs
Mow, water and use the area as part of your yard
Dig after contacting 811 and waiting for the marks
Ask us about any work happening near your home

You can’t

Build sheds, fences, walls or pools that block access
Dig without contacting 811 first
Move or remove paint marks, flags or cones
Plant trees with deep roots right over buried lines

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:

Speeds up to 10 Gig, with uploads as fast as downloads
A reliable connection that’s less affected by weather and electrical interference than copper and cable lines
Smooth streaming, gaming and video calls, even with lots of devices online at once
No data caps, so you never have to watch how much you use
A network built to last for decades, ready for whatever your home needs next

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.

The work outside your home is the first step to fiber internet

Enter your address to see if Race fiber internet is ready at your home, or get updates while we build in your neighborhood.

Check your address

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.

Questions about work near your home?

If you’re worried about your yard, driveway or anything related to our work in a utility easement, call us. We’re here to help.

Call 877.722.3833, ext. 4

FAQ About Utility Easements

Why is there paint or flags in my yard?

They’re safety markings that show where existing underground lines are, so crews can dig without hitting them. Each color stands for a different type of utility. Please leave them in place until the work is finished.

Why does the work look half-finished?

Construction happens in stages. We use temporary fixes like cold patch first to keep the area safe, then come back to fully restore it once all the work is done.

I don’t have fiber yet. Why are you digging now?

We have to lay the main fiber lines through the neighborhood first. Connections to individual homes come later, once the network is ready.

Do I own the land in a utility easement?

Yes. You own the land and can use it as part of your yard. The easement only gives utilities the right to install, maintain and repair lines there.

Can I block a utility easement?

No. You can landscape and use the area, but you can’t build anything that blocks access. Structures like sheds, fences or walls that get in the way may have to be removed, often at the owner’s expense.

Does this work mean I’m signed up for Race internet?

No. Building the network doesn’t sign you up for anything. Once fiber is available at your address, you decide whether you want service.

What should I do if something on my property gets damaged?

Call us at 877-722-3833, ext. 4, with your address and a description of the problem. Photos help us fix it faster.

How do I find out where the utility easement is on my property?

Check the title report or subdivision map from when you bought your home, or ask your county recorder’s office for the easements recorded on your property.