Call 811 Before Stump Grinding
Yes, plan on it. Before stump grinding, the company should submit an NC 811 locate request at least three full working days ahead (G.S. 87-122). Ask them to confirm they have. North Carolina's damage-prevention law does not mention stump grinding by name, but its definition of "excavation" covers moving or removing material in the ground with mechanized equipment, and grinding a stump below grade appears to fit that wording. That is our reading of the statute, not an official ruling. The request is free, and it is far cheaper than a cut gas or fiber line.
What the law says
North Carolina's Underground Utility Safety and Damage Prevention Act starts at G.S. 87-115. Two sections matter here.
The definition: G.S. 87-117(9)
G.S. 87-117(9) defines "excavate or excavation" as:
"An operation for the purpose of the movement or removal of earth, rock, or other materials in or on the ground by use of manual or mechanized equipment ... including, but not limited to, auguring, ... digging, ... grading, ... ripping, scraping ..."
The list is open-ended ("including, but not limited to"), and the statute lists no exclusion for stump grinding.
The notice: G.S. 87-122
G.S. 87-122(a) says notice must be given "no less than three full working days before" the work starts, and that "the person responsible for the excavation" gives it. The notice expires 28 calendar days after the work start date.
Does stump grinding count as excavation?
The statute does not say "stump grinding." Here is how we read it: a grinder is mechanized equipment, and when it cuts below the soil line it removes wood, roots and soil, which are "other materials in or on the ground." On that reading, grinding below grade fits the definition. That is an interpretation of the text, not a ruling from a court, a state agency or NC811. If you want a definitive answer for your situation, ask NC811 directly.
In practice the question rarely needs settling. NC811 is free and urges a locate request for "every digging project, no matter how large or small," including planting a tree. Waiting three working days costs little. Hitting a buried line costs a lot.
Why it matters in a typical Wilmington yard
Grinders often go 4–6 inches below grade for grass, and deeper if you will plant or build. The work also reaches out into the root flare, not just the stump's footprint. Many stumps sit near property lines, driveways and the strip along the street, which are the same places utilities tend to run service lines. A stump that was right next to the house may be close to the line that feeds it.
Who makes the request?
Under G.S. 87-122, notice comes from "the person responsible for the excavation." When you hire a company to grind a stump, that is normally the company doing the grinding. Ask them to confirm they have submitted the request, and ask for the ticket number so you both have a record. If you plan to dig the hole for a new tree yourself afterward, that dig is your project, and NC811 asks you to submit your own request.
Plan the timing
- Three full working days. Weekends and holidays generally are not working days, so a request made Thursday afternoon may not clear until the middle of the next week.
- 28-day window. If the job is delayed past 28 calendar days from the planned start, the request expires and a new one is needed.
- Bundled jobs. If a tree is coming down and the stump will be ground the same week, the locate request should go in before the removal is scheduled, not after.
- Your own lines. Ask the company how they handle buried lines you installed yourself, such as irrigation or landscape lighting, and point them out before work starts.
Renting a grinder yourself?
Some homeowners rent a stump grinder and do the job on their own. The law does not change because the equipment is rented: the definition in G.S. 87-117(9) covers "manual or mechanized equipment," and G.S. 87-122 puts the notice on "the person responsible for the excavation." If you are running the machine, that person is likely you. Submit the request yourself at least three full working days ahead, wait for the marks, and keep the grinder away from them. NC811 asks for a request for every digging project, so the same goes for digging out roots by hand or planting a replacement tree afterward. If you would rather not handle it, hiring a company moves the grinding, and the request, to them.
Overhead lines are a separate issue
811 covers buried utilities. For lines in the air: If a tree is touching or near a power line, stay away and call your electric utility (Duke Energy, or your co-op) — only utility-qualified crews should work near energized lines.
Questions to ask before you book
When you compare stump grinding quotes, ask each company whether it submits the NC 811 request, how many working days ahead, and whether it will share the ticket number. Before you hire, also ask the company for:
- A certificate of general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage.
- Whether an ISA Certified Arborist is on staff (a private credential from the International Society of Arboriculture, not a state license; verify at treesaregood.org).
- Whether the company is TCIA Accredited (a private Tree Care Industry Association program).
- An NC commercial pesticide applicator license (Ornamental & Turf category) if they will spray or inject.
- A written quote that states cleanup, haul-away, stump grinding depth and whether a permit is included.
Grinding typically runs about $298 on average in Wilmington, or about $2–$5 per inch of diameter nationally with many companies charging a minimum around $100, per published cost guides (estimates, not quotes). See the cost guide and calculator for multi-stump math, and stump grinding vs stump removal if you are still deciding which you need. If the tree is still standing, many companies quote tree removal and grinding together. For a lot with many stumps, land clearing involves the same underground-line question at a larger scale.
General information, not legal advice. Wilmington NC Tree Removal is a free quote service. It connects Wilmington-area homeowners with independent local tree companies for free, no-obligation quotes; the company you choose quotes, contracts and does the work directly with you.
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