Lawn “Decor”: Can You Legally Move Those Pesky Yard Utility Markers In Iowa?

Nothing says cute lawn quite like a series of red flags.

Utility crews work year-round but now, with sunny, warmer weather (hopefully) on the way this summer, we could see them out and about more often.

You've seen them dozens of times. You may even have them in your yard. The mini utility marker flags. They're bright orange, red, or maybe the grass is spray-painted.

You can see why utility flags have suddenly appeared in your yard via Iowa's One Call search.

Iowa's One Call Law requires homeowners or excavators to call a number to schedule a time underground utility lines can be found and marked and within 48 hours of that call, crews will show up to mark the grass.

As far as longevity goes, utility marker flags are valid 10-14 days after they're installed. If the work isn't done in that timeframe, the area has to be remarked.

Utility Flag Colors Mean Something

Here's the breakdown:

• Red: Electric power lines, cables, conduit, lightning cables
• Orange: Communication, alarm, conduit, signal lines
• Yellow: Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, anything gaseous
• Green: Sewers, drain lines
• Blue: Water, irrigation, slurry lines
• Purple: Reclaimed water
• Pink: Temporary survey
• White: Proposed excavation

Check with your city first but basically: you can't move the flags at all until the work is done. It's not recommended to move them even to mow. Coralville says you can't move the flags at all until whatever project is completed, while Altoona suggests the "20-day rule", which is waiting a full 20 days after the work appears to be done before moving the flags.

Technically, the contractor is the one responsible for removing the marker flags, but that doesn't always happen.

And yes, you can be fined for moving or throwing away utility flags in your yard. Of course they're not appealing decor, they're unsightly, but pay attention to construction projects around you and if the contractor doesn't come pick them up after they're done, then after a while you can toss them.