IMPORTANT
Trees and plants need space to grow above and below ground. Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place helps reduce power outages, prevent wildfires and maintain reliable service.
- Planting safely
- Tree work safety
- Homeowners
- Excavator resources
Safe planting tips
- Choose the right trees and plants, and the right location, to ensure that they will not grow into pipelines or powerlines
- Create and maintain defensible space. This means creating a buffer zone between your home and nearby trees. This helps make your home more resilient in the event of wildfires.
- Protect yourself when planting. Use proper gardening tools, apply sunscreen and keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
- Always call 811 at least two working days before you dig or plant
- Crews will mark any underground PG&E utilities for free so you can avoid them when digging
- Submit plans for new buildings and major landscaping projects to PGEPlanReview@pge.com to avoid any interference with our equipment
Our brochure and fact sheets provide an overview of planting safely near PG&E equipment.
Our regional guides and posters have detailed planting guidance and recommend trees for your area.
- Northern California
- Bay Area and Inland
- Central California
Safe planting guidelines
Below are guidelines for planting near distribution poles and powerlines. This type of equipment is usually found in residential and rural areas throughout our service area. To learn more, download our Guide to Planting Safely Near Overhead Powerlines Fact Sheet (PDF).
- All powerlines have a wire zone, which is the area immediately around poles and wires
- The Distribution Wire Zone is the area within 15 feet of the wires
- For safety, do not plant trees or plants with mature heights taller than 10 feet in the Distribution Wire Zone
- What you can plant in the Distribution Wire Zone depends on where you live
- To find out if you live in a High Fire-Threat District (HFTD), check the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) HFTD map
- If you live inside an HFTD, plant only small plants shorter than 1 foot when mature in the Distribution Wire Zone (see the diagram below)
- If you don't live inside an HFTD, plant non-tree shrubs shorter than 10 feet when mature in the Distribution Wire Zone
- Trees with a mature height no taller than 15 feet may be planted between 15 and 50 feet from poles and wires
- This is the area outside of the wire zone
- Trees with a mature height of more than 15 feet must be planted at least 50 feet out from the wires
As part of our commitment to safety, we may need to remove any tree identified as a safety risk. This can apply to:
- Plants and trees within 15 feet of a pole or utility structure
- Plants and trees within 5 feet of a guy wire (ground anchor for utility poles)
- Trees beyond 50 feet out from distribution wires
Below are guidelines for planting near transmission towers and powerlines. To learn more, download our Guide to Planting Safely Near Overhead Powerlines Fact Sheet (PDF).
- All powerlines have a defined wire zone, which is the area right around poles and wires
- The Transmission Wire Zone is within 20 feet of the wires
- For safety, do not plant trees in the Transmission Wire Zone
- Note, this distance applies to 60kV equipment
- As the voltage increases, so does the width of the Transmission Wire Zone
- Within the Transmission Wire Zone, plant low-growing grasses and small plants shorter than 2 feet at maturity
- Plant taller plants and shrubs that are shorter than 10 feet when mature about 20 to 60 feet out from the wires
- Trees taller than 10 feet when mature must be planted at least 60 feet out from the wires
- No trees or shrubs may be planted where PG&E has the right to access land to maintain equipment
Vegetation removals
We follow vegetation guidelines as required by law. As part of our commitment to safety, we may need to remove any tree identified as a safety risk. This can apply to trees beyond 60 feet away from the transmission wires. PG&E's land rights do not require us to offer compensation or request permission to remove trees for safety. Planting trees a safe distance away from PG&E equipment can help lower the risk of removal.
Plant at least 8 feet from the front and 2 feet from the back and sides of pad-mounted transformers.
This image is an example of a pad-mounted transformer.
Below are guidelines for planting near gas transmission pipelines, most of which are below ground. To learn more, download our Guide to Planting Safely Near Gas Pipelines Fact Sheet (PDF).
The area near a gas transmission pipeline is separated into three zones.
- The Pipe Safety Zone is within 5 feet of the edge of the pipeline
- The Border Zone is between 5-10 feet of the edge of the pipeline
- The Outer Zone is between 10-14 feet of the edge of the pipeline
Many types of low-lying plants and shrubs work well in the area above the pipeline.
- Pipe Safety Zone – plant lawns, flowers, short grasses and low-growing plants
- Border Zone – plant small to medium shrubs with a trunk or main branch less than 8 inches wide at chest height when fully grown
- Outer Zone – plant large shrubs and small trees with a trunk less than 36 inches wide at chest height when mature
We recommend planting trees as far away from the pipeline as possible for safety. PG&E may need to remove any tree identified as a safety risk. We review multiple factors when considering removal of vegetation near gas pipelines including trunk size and soil condition, among others.
Always call 811 at least two working days before digging or planting so a crew can mark any underground PG&E utilities for free.
Use our interactive map to see if you live near a natural gas transmission pipeline. View the gas pipeline map.
Working safely near powerlines
Contacting a powerline can cause serious injuries or even death. Only line clearance-qualified personnel with special training and tools are legally allowed to work near powerlines.
When planting, trimming or removing vegetation near powerlines:
- Always look up to identify a powerline
- Keep yourself and your tools at least 10 feet away from powerlines
- Contact PG&E to request a free temporary service disconnect
- Report if you have non-emergency concerns about trees near powerlines or your service wire through PG&E Report It
Creating defensible space
You can help stop the spread of wildfire by creating defensible space on your property. This means creating a buffer zone between your home and nearby trees and shrubs. A buffer zone helps make your home more resilient in the event of wildfires. Steps you can take include:
- Trimming trees and other vegetation regularly
- Removing any dry or dead vegetation within 100 feet of your residence or building
- Leaving space around plants by removing debris and creating fuel breaks
- Cutting grass to a maximum height of 4 inches
- Choosing native and slow-growing, fire-resistant plants from your local nursery
Additional resources
For more details about how you can protect your home and community, visit readyforwildfire.org. This website can help with:
- Planting a fire safe landscape
- Hardening your home
- Creating a firewise community
Your local UC Master Gardener may have additional resources for your neighborhood.
Call 811 before you dig
Safe digging starts with 811. Every dig. Every time. If you plan to install a fence, plant a tree or dig for any reason—protect your family, neighbors and nearby pipelines by requesting to have the pipelines marked. Contact 811 to have your underground utility lines marked before the project begins.
811 is a FREE, one-call service to help you dig safely. By calling, you can contact local utility companies to locate and mark their underground facilities so you can dig safely. This can prevent potential hazards like digging into underground electric lines and natural gas pipelines.
What to do if you suspect a gas leak
Emergency Procedures:
- Alert others nearby.
- Leave the area immediately and move to a safe, upwind location.
- Do not light matches.
- Do not use cell phones or flashlights.
- Do not operate vehicles.
- Do not use any electronic devices near the suspected leak.
- Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance right away.
Then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Step1: Mark your project area in white using paint, flags or flour.
Step 2: Call 811 or visit California811.org at least two working days before you dig and plant. California law requires contractors and construction professionals to use this FREE one-call service. The date of notification does not count as part of the two working-day notice. For example, if excavation begins on Friday, call no later than Tuesday.
Step 3: Leave all colored flags, stakes or paint that mark underground lines in place until you finish your digging project. These markers, placed by utility companies are valid for 28 days.
Step 4: Always use hand tools when working within 24 inches of the outside edge of any marked underground lines.
Submit questions about your project to DamagePrevention@pge.com.
Look for these markings to know what utilities are underground.
How to detect gas by smell
Some people may not be able to smell natural gas. They may not detect it because of a diminished sense of smell. They can experience temporary olfactory fatigue. This happens when a person becomes accustomed to an odor or because other strong odors mask it. Sometimes, certain conditions in pipes and soil may also cause the odor to fade. For these reasons, always pay attention to all warning signs and act immediately.
Emergency Procedures:
- Alert others nearby.
- Leave the area immediately and move to a safe, upwind location.
- Do not light matches.
- Do not use cell phones or flashlights.
- Do not operate vehicles.
- Do not use any electronic devices near the suspected leak.
- Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance right away.
Then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Call 811 before you dig
Accidents involving contractors and excavators are among the leading causes of pipeline damage. PG&E has almost 50,000 miles of natural gas pipelines in the PG&E service territory. Unmarked pipelines can be located almost anywhere on the territory. Damage to natural gas pipelines can cause injury or death and result in additional costs. It is important for contractors and excavators to be aware of the potential safety hazards.
Digging, excavation and grading near buried pipelines are major causes of pipeline damage. This type of work can result in injury, costly repairs, natural gas service disruptions and project delays. Regardless of the size or scope of the work you're planning, you must have all pipeline locations marked. This practice helps protect you, your employees and the community.
811 is a FREE, one-call service to help you dig safely. By calling, you can contact local utility companies to locate and mark their underground facilities so you can dig safely. This can prevent potential hazards like digging into underground electric lines and natural gas pipelines.
What to do if you suspect a gas leak
Emergency Procedures:
- Alert others nearby.
- Leave the area immediately and move to a safe, upwind location.
- Do not light matches.
- Do not use cell phones or flashlights.
- Do not operate vehicles.
- Do not use any electronic devices near the suspected leak.
- Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance right away.
Then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
- Standby Hotline: 1-800-875-7915
- To request a free 811 training, email DamagePrevention@pge.com with the subject line "811 Workshop Request"
- Explore available online training resources:
Downloadable PDF resources
- Dig-in Reduction Team (DiRT) Investigator Map (PDF) - coming soon
- 811 wallet card (PDF)
- 811 markings brochure (PDF)
Step1: Mark your project area in white using paint, flags or flour.
Step 2: Call 811 or visit California811.org at least two working days before you dig and plant. California law requires contractors and construction professionals to use this FREE one-call service. The date of notification does not count as part of the two working-day notice. For example, if excavation begins on Friday, call no later than Tuesday.
Step 3: Leave all colored flags, stakes or paint that mark underground lines in place until you finish your digging project. These markers, placed by utility companies are valid for 28 days.
Step 4: Always use hand tools when working within 24 inches of the outside edge of any marked underground lines.
Submit questions about your project to DamagePrevention@pge.com.
Look for these markings to know what utilities are underground.
How to detect gas by smell
Some people may not be able to smell natural gas. They may not detect it because of a diminished sense of smell. They can experience temporary olfactory fatigue. This happens when a person becomes accustomed to an odor or because other strong odors mask it. Sometimes, certain conditions in pipes and soil may also cause the odor to fade. For these reasons, always pay attention to all warning signs and act immediately.
Emergency Procedures:
- Alert others nearby.
- Leave the area immediately and move to a safe, upwind location.
- Do not light matches.
- Do not use cell phones or flashlights.
- Do not operate vehicles.
- Do not use any electronic devices near the suspected leak.
- Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance right away.
Then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Damage Prevention organization
PG&E's Damage Prevention organization's goal is to prevent public safety incidents resulting from excavation damage. Our vision is to work with the excavation community to foster effective communication between our communities.
The Damage Prevention Department at PG&E includes the following specialty teams:
- Locate and Mark (L&M)
- Dig-in Reduction Team (DiRT)
- Aerial and Ground Patrol
- Standby Governance
- Damage Recovery and Metrics
- Public awareness
These groups collaborate, implement safety programs and partner with the public to raise awareness about the 881 system. The 811 system purpose is to improve safety practices and provide helpful resources to the excavation community. A critical part of this work is informing the public about resources available to help keep our communities and work sites safe.
The 811 Program is also critical to improving safety on all excavation sites. and protects the public from excavation damage-related incidents and ensures the reliability of the subsurface utility infrastructure.
Contact: DamagePrevention@pge.com
The L&M Program is delivered through the Damage Prevention organization within PG&E's Gas Operations. The L&M team has locators who respond to 811 notifications. These notifications are also known as "tickets." Tickets are given to excavators who have requested to have their excavation site examined. This is normally done by a locator in the field who reviews records or maps. PG&E has more than 320 full-time employee locators across our coverage territory. Local contractors are also working with us to provide additional locating support. They use specialized equipment to locate the underground utilities. Locators place marks like paint, flags, whiskers or chalk on the ground to identify utilities. The marks are used to indicate the approximate location of an underground natural gas pipeline, electric cable or fiber optic cable.
Contact: LocateAndMarkManagerSupport@pge.com
The Dig-in Reduction Team (DiRT) is responsible for investigating all excavation related damage to PG&E-owned subsurface installations. DiRT focuses on preventing incidents from occurring by developing partnerships with excavators. DiRT members are familiar with California Excavation Law 4216 GC, Common Ground Alliance's (CGA) Best Practices, and other federal regulations related to safe excavation practices.
Contact: DamagePrevention@pge.com
To request a free 811 training, email DamagePrevention@pge.com with the subject line "811 Workshop Request."
Dig-in Reduction Team (DiRT) Investigator Map (PDF) - coming soon
The primary objective of Aerial and Ground patrol is to monitor surface conditions on and near the pipeline right of way (ROW). They monitor potential safety and operational concerns. Ground patrols are conducted in areas where vegetation obscures PG&E's pipeline from aerial view. Additionally, ground patrols are dispatched to investigate aerial patrols observations. This can include excavation activity detected on the ROW and documenting findings that require follow-up.
Contact: AerialGroundPatrolTeam@pge.com
The Standby Governance (Standby) Team provides onsite PG&E representatives anytime excavation takes place near PG&E's assets. PG&E provides Standby as a free service to ensure safe excavation practices. Standby Inspectors are PG&E's "last line of defense" to protect our communities from a critical facility rupture because of unsafe excavation. Request a Standby Inspector for your excavation when necessary during your onsite field meeting.
Standby Hotline: 1-800-875-7915
Download standby hotline areas (PDF) - coming soon
PG&E is committed to actively communicating with the public, excavators, emergency response officials and public officials to maintain public safety. Our goal is to raise awareness and reduce the likelihood and potential impact of pipeline damage. We achieve this through education, resources and programs like 811 "Call Before You Dig." The Public Awareness Program is designed to enhance public safety, emergency preparedness and environmental protection. It includes outreach activities for the following:
- Professional excavators (EX)
- Local public officials (PO)
- Emergency response officials (ER)
- General affected public (AP)
The program supports these professionals who live and work within the service territory or near transmission pipelines, gathering pipelines, storage facilities and compressor stations.
Contact: PublicAwareness@pge.com
Questions?
Most digging questions can be answered by checking your one call ticket. You can submit questions about your project to DamagePrevention@pge.com.
Frequently asked questions
The FREE one call service, or ticket, is the document you submit through your local one call center requesting utilities to mark or locate their facilities at your worksite. Call at least two working days before you begin an excavation. When you call 811 or visit California811.org to submit your ticket online, you will receive a ticket number for your request.
Note: The ticket number format is "YYYYMMDD" followed by the USA ticket numbers and revision number. For example: 2023040412345 00. Be sure to keep the ticket number assigned to your request for at least the duration of the excavation and preferably longer for your records.
California Government Code 4216(g) defines excavation as any operation in which earth, rock or other material in the ground is moved, removed or otherwise displaced by means of tools, equipment or explosives in any of the following ways: grading, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, augering, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing and driving, or any other way.
Utility companies will mark their lines wherever they own and operate their utility at your dig site. This could be in a roadway, sidewalk, front yard or even in a backyard. PG&E will mark on private property if a gas or electric line is present. Private utility will not be marked since they are not owned by a utility. This includes landscape irrigation and lighting, natural gas line to a barbeque or an electrical line to a detached garage or shed, etc.
PG&E crews will work to mark utilities near your property within two business days following the day of your 811 call.
The work area needs to either have marks from the utility or a notification from the utility that there aren't any underground assets.
The utility members will use the American Public Works Association Color Code system to mark their underground facilities for you.
The color code is:
When digging in an area around utility lines, it's critical that you follow the tolerance zone guidelines. The tolerance zone is an area 24 inches on either side of the outside diameter (or center line if diameter isn't provided) of the marked utility line. In the tolerance zone, you are required to excavate using only human powered hand tools.
Always confirm a response from ALL utilities listed on your one call ticket. Contact 811 if no response is received after 2 business days.
Request re-marks or submit a new ticket by contacting 811.
Each person or company performing an excavation needs to have a ticket created under their name. If you were hired to perform work on a customer's property, you need to contact 811 and submit a request.
The customer may also submit a ticket under their name, but be advised that the ticket they submit only covers any work they do themselves. Your ticket does not cover the work they are doing.
Yes, call 811 or visit California811.org at least two working days prior to excavation, including digging and planting. Always use hand tools when working within 24 inches of the outside edge of any underground lines. Hand tools such as shovels or post hole diggers cause the most damage incidents.
If the damaged utility line poses a threat to life, health or public safety, evacuate the worksite. Evacuate at least 300 feet or more upwind from damage. Contact 9-1-1 to dispatch emergency services. If you discover or cause any damage, such as breaks, leaks, nicks, dents, gouges, grooves or other damage to subsurface installation lines, conduits, coatings or cathodic protection, you must immediately report it to the affected utility member. You can get the emergency contact information for the damaged utility owner by contacting 811. Notify them that you have damaged a facility at your work site. Never attempt to fix, repair, pinch, squeeze, zip tie or bury the damaged facility.
If you suspect a gas leak or if you hit, accidentally dent, scrape or damage an underground gas line:
- Alert others to leave the area and go to a safe, upwind location.
- Call 9-1-1 to notify local first responders.
- Contact PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
- When trees grow too close to PG&E equipment, they pose a safety risk and can cause a power outage or ignite wildfire. This equipment includes powerlines and underground gas transmission pipelines.
- Vegetation planted too close to the natural gas pipeline can delay emergency and maintenance crews.
- PG&E may trim or remove trees and plants to keep our communities safe.
- Planting the right tree in the right place keeps our communities safe and avoids future tree trimmings and removals.
- Choosing the right tree can reduce your property's fire risk.
- In general, avoid planting palms and bamboo near powerlines. These can become fire hazards, especially during high winds.
We provide general guidelines to help you plant safely. However, each tree and location is different. Some trees may become unsafe for a variety of reasons. This could include changes in site conditions such as soil stability or tree health.
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